As college students return home to attend school online, and the likelihood grows that K-12 schools will close and necessitate online learning for students, it is important to note that for some, this is not an option. In Bernardston, 30% of the town is without internet capable of supporting the streaming necessary for online courses. Cable service does not extend to the entire town, leaving many of us with outdated DSL service from a provider with no plans to upgrade. Our town is not alone in this respect; Northfield faces the same issue, and I suspect there are other towns as well. Upgrades may not be possible for this pandemic, but future emergency preparedness should include a commitment to functional internet capability for every household in Franklin County, so students can continue to learn and adults are truly able to telecommute.
Cris Coffin
Bernardston