Delaware Recognized for 100% School Connectivity

Report notes Delaware exceeds broadband speeds for students in schools across the state

WILMINGTON, Del. – Delaware is a national leader in classroom broadband speeds and connectivity, according to a 2018 State of the States report Expanding Digital Learning in Every Classroom, Every Day released this week by Education Superhighway. The State of Delaware is recognized for 100 percent school connectivity. The report also highlights that the First State exceeds the 100 kbps per student goal. Over the past three years, connectivity speeds in Delaware schools have increased nearly eight times from 82 to 638 kbps.

“My most important job as Governor is to make sure that Delaware has a strong, growing, and competitive economy. In order to achieve that, we must do everything we can to prepare our students for success,” said Governor John Carney. “That includes helping provide students and educators with reliable access to high-speed broadband service. The availability of high-speed broadband to leverage digital learning is an absolute must and the need for reliable access will only grow.”

“We are really excited that all our schools are connected and we have been able to increase speeds,” said James Collins, Chief Information Officer at the Delaware Department of Technology and Information. “This is part of an ongoing process to improve access to broadband across the State. At the end of the day these students go home and they still need to do their homework and remain connected. We’re working to leverage the investments we have made in our fiber broadband infrastructure. Our hope is to eliminate broadband deserts across our state entirely over the next 24 months through wireless connectivity.”

“Every child should graduate from Delaware’s public schools prepared to succeed in college or in a career,” said Susan Bunting, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Education. “High-speed internet access to information and digital content are not only essential to learning but are also critical to preparing students for work in the future. I’m proud our state has worked to improve access for children and educators across the state.”

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Related news:
Expanding Access to High-Speed Broadband


Expanding Access to High-Speed Broadband

[AUGUST UPDATE: Click here to view request for proposal]

Applying for a job, or recruiting talented employees for your business. Taking a college course. Reading a book. Helping your kids with math homework.

More and more, these are tasks that Delawareans are completing online —to further their education, acquire new skills, and compete in an economy that is evolving every day. My most important job as Governor is to make sure that Delaware has a strong, growing, and competitive economy. That’s why, among other steps we’re taking, it’s so important for us to expand access to high-speed broadband service across our state - especially in areas where service is spotty or unavailable today.

Over the next two years, working with partners in the private sector, we plan to eliminate broadband deserts and ensure that every Delaware citizen and business has access to high-speed broadband service.

Delaware has consistently been recognized for having among the fastest internet speeds in the country. Ensuring reliable access to the internet for even more Delawareans will help prepare our young people for the economy of the future, and it will help our existing workforce do their jobs even better.

“As vice chair of the House Committee on Telecommunication Internet and Technology, I believe that every Delawarean should have equal access to high quality broadband,” said Representative Trey Paradee, a Dover Democrat. “I’m proud of the efforts made in Delaware to expand broadband access throughout the state.”

“Connectivity is the key. Many areas of our county have been under served by the major Internet players for many years,” said Senator Brian Pettyjohn, a Georgetown Republican. “Bringing broadband access will help families, students, businesses, and our agricultural community compete in the modern world.”

On Tuesday, during a tour of Delaware Electric Cooperative in Greenwood, we saw how important broadband access is to the delivery of electricity to customers across Kent and Sussex counties.

Josh Wharton, a Delaware Electric Cooperative operations supervisor, shared one of his favorite stories. One night at 11:00 p.m., Josh received a call from another power company that had a fire on a power line. The company asked Josh to redirect power to 5,000 customers before their service was impacted. From his home in Gumboro, Josh used an iPad to guarantee those customers didn’t lose power. How was that possible? A high-speed, remote internet connection.

Businesses need to reach their customers, and set up shop in locations that enable them to communicate efficiently. High-speed broadband is critical for companies of all sizes, and it’s why we’re working to ensure businesses have access to quality internet service statewide.

We also heard from R.C. Willin and Brent Willin of Willin Farms on how their fifth-generation family farm uses internet connectivity to make adjustments to planting, monitor equipment, and manage business operations.

We want all of Delaware’s farms to have access to this type of technology. Expanding access to high-speed broadband is essential for Delaware’s agriculture sector to remain competitive.

 

 

Here’s how we plan to expand high-speed broadband access in Delaware:

In August, we will release a request for proposals (RFP) to develop partnerships that will improve broadband availability in rural areas throughout Delaware by creating opportunity for the private sector to develop and offer that service. [AUGUST UPDATE: Click here to view RFP.]
Through this RFP and subsequent partnerships, the State will focus on enabling service to homes and businesses where broadband service is not readily available, particularly in rural Kent and Sussex Counties.

Delaware will also prioritize low-cost services for lower income families to enable them to take full advantage of the internet, meeting needs that range from applying for jobs to completing homework assignments.

We will make funds available through a rural broadband grant program to reduce barriers to market entry for private sector providers, and to further attract private investment.

This is about increasing opportunity for all Delawareans - and making sure that no one in our state is left behind because they don’t have adequate access to technology.

We are building on earlier work across our state that has achieved results. Delaware has worked diligently to expand broadband access across the state for several years. Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins has worked with school district leaders to upgrade digital infrastructure and dramatically increase internet speeds in 48 schools statewide - many in areas that are under-served.

As part of the Delaware Department of Technology and Information’s Delaware Broadband Fund Phase Two initiative to promote fixed wireless broadband solutions and reach under-served populations in rural areas, Bloosurf launched a pilot project in the City of Seaford which offered free service to customers within 8 miles of the wireless access points.

That helped Delawareans like Kim Hopkins, a Seaford teacher, who previously had trouble grading papers, preparing lesson plans, and helping her children with their homework because of slow, spotty internet connection.

 

 

We have invested in increasing our fiber infrastructure, with the State’s initial financial contribution, resulting in over $30 million in private investment and 700 miles of fiber.

Delaware’s existing broadband “backbone” features high capacity fiber-optic lines that run the length of the state from Wilmington to Georgetown, and from Seaford to Lewes, improving internet reliability for consumers and increasing internet access speeds by as much as 10 times since 2009.

“We live in an amazing time where technology provides us unprecedented access to information and the ability to collaborate - high-speed broadband is key to that connectivity. Without broadband, we wouldn’t be talking about emerging technologies like the ‘Internet of Things’ or the many cloud-based services available because they wouldn’t exist. It is imperative we continue the work to bridge the digital divide because access to technology levels the playing field. In today’s connected world, broadband access is necessary for the success of our students, communities and businesses. Our hope is that high-speed broadband will become as accessible as electricity for all Delawareans.” - Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins

Thanks in large part to these efforts, Delaware continuously ranks at, or near, the top of broadband speed rankings across the nation. Yet, we still face the same challenges as many other states when it comes to access and affordability, especially in our rural areas where broadband deserts still exist.

Over the next two years, we will directly confront this issue, eliminate those deserts, and make high-speed internet a reality for all Delawareans. That will help all Delawareans connect and compete in a new economy, and help move our entire state forward.


State of Delaware Employees Honored for Excellence and Commitment in State Service, Team Excellence, and Heroism

Event held during the celebration of Public Service Recognition Week, May 6-12, 2018.

WILMINGTON, Del. (May 11, 2018) —Governor John Carney and Cabinet members celebrated Public Service Recognition Week by applauding the extraordinary work of Delaware’s public servants. Awards for exemplary efforts in service to the State of Delaware were presented at the Governor’s Awards Ceremony: Recognizing State Employee Individuals, Teams and Heroes, hosted by the Department of Human Resources on Monday.

“Every day thousands of dedicated state employees are on the front lines protecting our communities, teaching our children, caring for our most vulnerable citizens and providing important services to all Delawareans,” said Governor Carney. “It is an honor to recognize those employees that have demonstrated outstanding commitment to their work and exemplify the best of what it means to provide public service.”

Nearly 200 attendees were on hand to celebrate the remarkable achievements of the nominees and recipients of the Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service, Governor’s Team Excellence Award, and Delaware Award for Heroism.

Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service
The Delaware Award for Excellence and Commitment in State Service, established in 1990, is given to five State of Delaware employees, or groups of employees, who exemplify the highest standards of excellence and commitment in state service. Recipients of the 2018 award are:
• Ozden Basaran, and Mark Barrett, Department of Transportation/Department of Technology and Information
• Erika Bradley, Superior Court
• Kim C. Cloud, Department of Technology and Information
• Kyle Conner, Department of Finance
• Amanda A. McAtee, Office of Management and Budget

Governor’s Team Excellence Award
The Governor’s Team Excellence Award is presented annually to a team of six to 20 state employees and encourages teamwork by recognizing groups of state employees for their efforts to use continuous quality improvement tools to excel in leadership, team dynamics and communication to produce superior customer service and tangible results. The 2018 award recipient is the Dealer Portal Team from the Department of Transportation.

In addition, the following team finalists were recognized:
• The NVF – Yorklyn Project Team, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Southern Health Services 2nd Annual Drive-thru Influenza POD Leadership Planning Team, Department of Health and Social Services
• Small Wireless Facility Team, Department of Transportation
• Trauma Informed Care Committee, Department of Services for Children, Youth, and Their Families

Delaware Award for Heroism
The Delaware Award for Heroism was established in 2013 to recognize state employees for acts of heroism and courage. The 2018 recipients are:
• Christie Bonniwell and Trevor McColley, Department of Transportation
• Stewart Douglass & Matthew Palsgrove, Department of Transportation
• Christie Ray, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Angela Riddle, Department of Health and Social Services
• Karol Ann Shyers and Brian Payton, Department of Correction
• Kristen Thornton, Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control
• Gabriel and Jessica Vorous, Department of Correction
• William Walker, Department of Correction
• Jamie Whitehouse, Department of Transportation
• Cpt. Patrick Sheets, Lt. Brian Forte, Lt. Bradford Apa, Lt. Benny Dotson, C/O Jesse Cohen, C/O Michael Dunston, C/O Larry Welch, C/O Brian Dorrell, C/O Jacob Stauber, and K9 Spencer Alexander, Department of Correction

“State employees are incredibly driven and committed to serving the people of Delaware,” said Saundra Ross Johnson, Secretary of the Delaware Department of Human Resources. “It is an honor to have the opportunity to recognize those who have gone above and beyond their usual level of excellence.”

Detailed information about the 2018 award recipients can be found on the State of Delaware’s Employee Recognition Program web page.


Governor Carney Honors “Kids Safe Online” Poster Contest Winners

Fourth grade students at Gallaher Elementary sweep top three spots

DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney, joined by Chief Information Officer James Collins, Christina School District Superintendent Richard Gregg, and other officials, parents and students from Christina School District, today celebrated the winners of the 2018 “Kids Safe Online” Poster Contest at Gallaher Elementary School. For the first time in the ten year history of the contest there was a complete sweep of winners from the same school. Art teacher Kelly Walzl’s fourth grade students Aubrie Rodriguez, Clayton Starkey, and Catalina Syto placed first, second and third, respectively. These students’ posters were judged to be the best among 1,400 submissions. Gallaher Elementary School has placed in the top three for the last five consecutive years and has two previous national winners.

“The importance of cyber safety cannot be overstated and the ‘Kids Safe Online’ Poster Contest is a creative way to encourage young people to be cautious about what they share on the Internet, teaching them the potential risks,” said Governor John Carney. “Awareness and education are key to ensuring our children know how to stay safe online.”

“I’d like to commend all kids that participated in this year’s contest and a special congratulations to the winners at Gallaher Elementary,” said Chief Information Officer James Collins. “We’re so glad to be able to partner with schools across the entire state to bring cyber security safety presentations and the ‘Kids Safe Online’ Poster Contest to the classroom to engage our young people on their level.”

“Congratulations to these Gallaher students for their outstanding work. Their posters will help spread this important message to their peers across the state,” said Secretary of Education Susan Bunting.

The “Kids Safe Online” poster contest is sponsored on the state level by the Delaware Department of Technology and Information. The program encourages young people to use the Internet safely and securely and engages them in creating messages and images to communicate to their peers the importance of staying safe online. The contest is run in conjunction with cyber safety presentations given in schools across the state in October, which is National Cyber Security Month. Over 1,400 students from fourth and fifth grades across Delaware submitted high quality posters for consideration. The top three state selections were also submitted to the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) for entry into its national 2018 Kids Safe Online poster contest.

For more information about how to stay safe online, please visit digiknow.dti.delaware.gov.


DNREC, DTI electronics recycling partnership saved Delaware more than $110,000 in 2017 energy costs

DOVER – A partnership between the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Delaware’s Department of Technology and Information (DTI) with the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC) in the national State Electronics Challenge has saved the state more than $110,000 in energy costs for 2017. Participation in the State Electronics Challenge was open to all state agencies with IT services managed by DTI, including DNREC.

The annual electronics challenge encourages state, tribal, regional, and local governments to responsibly manage their offices more energy-efficiently by purchasing greener office equipment; by reducing the impacts of these products during use; and by managing obsolete electronics at the end-of-lifecycle in an environmentally safe way.

“Through DNREC’s partnership in the State Electronics Challenge Program we are supporting the state’s efforts at managing the lifecycle stewardship of electronic equipment,” said DNREC Secretary Shawn M. Garvin. “The program provides tools to track progress, measure results, and see environmental benefits. DNREC’s efforts also included sending most of our electronic equipment for reuse in Delaware schools, with the remainder going to a certified recycler.”

“It is a priority of Governor Carney’s administration to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of Delaware government, and our participation in the State Electronics Challenge has been a great way for us to save the State money in energy costs,” said Delaware Chief Information Officer James Collins. “DTI supports DNREC’s, and all of our IT centralized agencies’ efforts to leverage our purchasing power and manage the IT environment in a way that aligns with our sustainability goals.”

The collective action of Delaware’s state agencies participating in the State Electronics Challenge Delaware yielded the following environmental benefits during 2017:

  • Savings of over 1 million kWh of energy, equivalent to powering 83 homes/year;
  • Reducing 163,800 metric tons of carbon equivalents, equivalent to removing 34,630 cars from the road/year;
  • Reduced toxic materials, including lead and mercury, by 5 pounds; and
  • Prevention and diversion of 24,840 pounds of municipal solid waste, equivalent to waste generated by seven households/year.

DNREC and DTI chose electronics that meet the state’s IT and sustainability goals for purchasing and performance, using criteria based on Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool-registered products as a required or preferred standard in bids, contracts, and/or leases for IT equipment in calendar year 2017.

Many state agencies practice responsible reuse of electronic devices and partner with the Delaware Center for Educational Technology’s Partners in Technology Program (Par-Tech) to distribute the devices to schools where they are refurbished and serve a second life. This program provides a cost-effective alternative to new equipment purchases for those schools that need additional computer systems.

Responsible reuse also reduces mining of raw materials and the carbon footprint of manufacturing. All electronic equipment that is not refurbished for schools is sent to a certified e-Stewards electronics recycler to ensure recycling best practices for toxic materials and high standards of environmental, health, and safety protections.

For more information, including the full report on the states’ actions and benefits in the State Electronics Challenge, please email Don Long of DNREC’s Recycling Program within the Division of Waste & Hazardous Substances, or call 302-739-9403.

Media contact: Joanna Wilson, DNREC Public Affairs, 302-739-9902

Vol. 48, No. 87

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