Fast Forward: Meeting the Technological Needs of South Carolina Residents

Connect South Carolina is working to identify community anchor institutions who play a pivotal role by providing broadband access to the general public including vulnerable populations such as low-income, unemployed, aged, children, minorities and people with disabilities. Here is one group’s story.

Since 1999, 11,000 South Carolinians have come to Fast Forward for assistance with their technological challenges. Some are taking advantage of computers for school assignments while others are completing technology certifications and looking for jobs. To meet those needs, the volunteers of Fast Forward, a Columbia, South Carolina nonprofit, are ready to help those who have been underserved through traditional programs.

“Fast Forward is about connections and helping people,” said Fast Forward Executive Director Dee Albritton. “I’ve seen people’s lives transformed.”

Albritton mentioned multiple examples of individuals whose lives have changed because of Fast Forward. Lucy volunteered at Fast Forward while she was in high school. After graduation, Lucy went on to college and later the Peace Corps where she started a community technology center in Namibia.

Another beneficiary was Jesse, who was living in her car when she first came to Fast Forward for help. Fast Forward helped her achieve technology certificates, learn life skills, and eventually obtain a job at a local grocery store. Jesse is now taking advantage of Fast Forward’s technology to search for a home.

Fast Forward also opened its doors to a local student working his way through high school and college without a computer at home. Fast Forward was where he went to complete his homework assignments.

Fast Forward also uses technology to teach community residents at the Babcock Center which serves adults with lifelong disabilities. Twice a week participants and program leaders come to Fast Forward to use technology to provide training on life skills. Also, Fast Forward is using technology to teach at-risk students geography, digital photography, robotics, nutrition, and many other creative classes. Creative classes include learning how to create cities using Google sketch and make music videos for local bands.

According to Albritton “there are technology jobs available, but people aren’t qualified for them.” Fast Forward is working to prepare people for these jobs.

Fast Forward is open to everyone. Class participants set up e-mail accounts that allow them to save their cover letters, resumes, thank-you letters, and class resources so that they can have access to Fast Forward tools if they move or relocate due to a job opportunity.

“Instead of teaching technology, we’re using technology to teach,” Albritton said.

USDA rural broadband loan program updated

Washington, DC - The USDA today released new information for applicants for its broadband loan program for rural areas. The program is designed to provide loans for the costs of construction, improvement, and acquisition of facilities and equipment to provide broadband service to eligible rural communities.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced that the USDA has issued a Notice of Solicitations of Applications and regulations implementing the 2008 Farm Bill for the broadband loan program.

“Broadband investments are an essential part of the Obama Administration’s effort to ‘win the future’ by out-innovating, out-educating, and out-building our global competitors,” Vilsack said in the announcement. “Investments in rural broadband networks create jobs and economic opportunity for rural America. Broadband is critical communications infrastructure of the twenty-first century, and it is vital to building vibrant rural communities.”

The notice is being issued prior to passage of a final appropriations act to allow applicants time to submit proposals and give the agency time to process applications within the current fiscal year, according to the USDA. Upon completion of a 2011 Appropriations Act, RUS will publish a subsequent notice identifying the amount of funding available for broadband loans.

The application guide to assist in preparing applications is available at: http://www.rurdev.usda.gov/utp_farmbill.html.

USDA’s Farm Bill broadband loan program has invested mote than $1 billion over the past decade in more than 100 projects nationwide, according to the USDA announcement. RUS is planning to schedule training opportunities to educate applicants on new program requirements, and how to submit complete and competitive applications. Dates for the training will be published on the USDA website.