ELWOOD — Up until this summer, students in the mostly rural Frankton and Summitville areas studied in their local libraries accessing the internet through outdated T1 lines.
That changed when fiber lines came to nearby Elwood, which is the main branch for the North Madison County Public Library System. From there, the other two libraries had long-needed, quicker access.
"We had two T1 lines and we kept maxing them out," said North Madison County Library Director Jamie Scott. "The internet access, especially in Summitville, was a big need."
Financial assistance for fiber lines came in part from the Education Networks of America which works to upgrade technology in schools and libraries.
Broadband availability has been a problem for Indiana's rural areas, according to a study released Wednesday by Ball State University researchers. And that lack of accessibility is harming education efforts, the study found.
The lack of access is in places that lag in income, health and educational attainment, said Michael Hicks, director of the university's Center for Business and Economic Research (CBER).
"Rural places remain terribly underserved," Hicks said.
However, when it's available, broadband is being used in rural households at the same rate as urban homes, he said.
But the lack of broadband in certain areas implies a digital divide among students, the study indicated.
“Inequities in broadband connectivity, which is most obvious across urban and rural areas, appears to accentuate inequality rather than mitigate it,” said Emily Wornell, research assistant professor and study co-author. “This digital divide remains a troubling concern for policy makers and researchers worldwide.”
During the last session of the Indiana General Assembly, efforts were made to widen access to broadband which is generally used to describe internet transmission systems with a high capacity. An interim committee for the Indiana General Assembly is exploring the availability of broadband in rural areas and how to fund wider accessibility.
The BSU study, titled "Assessing Indiana's E-Readiness in the Development of the Digital Society: An Exploratory Study," found that the five most highly connected Hoosier counties are Hamilton, Tippecanoe, Monroe, Boone and Porter. The five least connected are Switzerland, LaGrange, Crawford, Scott and Ohio counties.
About one in six Hoosiers do not have access to broadband, said Lucinda Nord, executive director of the Indiana Library Federation, told the committee.
"While broadband is available in many areas, the cost is simply too much for the household budget when a family is trying to pay for rent, utilities, food, healthcare and transportation," she said, adding that libraries are commonly used as mobile hot spots allowing students to log in and work from home.
"As you explore solutions for expanding broadband, please consider all the types of needs for all types of residents, many who still will not be able to afford what has become an essential utility," Nord asked the committee.