Understand the difference between the Internet and Wi-Fi connections. Learn more about routers, and how your connection works.

Learn more about how bandwidth and your internet speed is measured. Compare upload and download speeds and understand what activities require more speed, and which ones take less to optimize your home experience!

Understand how bandwidth works so you can choose the Tri-Co Connections plan that will work best for you!

Tri-County Rural Electric Delivering Connectivity, Expanding Partnerships, in Appalachians.

Tri-County Electric Cooperative in north central Pennsylvania has listened to its members’ wishes and is developing a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network for Internet access. While Christopher was at the October Broadband Communities Economic Development event in Alexandria, Virginia, he met up with Craig Eccher, President and CEO of the co-op, to learn more about the project and the cooperative.

Craig describes how the infrastructure was needed for basic electric operations – to improve communication between substations – and that members had also begun to request Internet access from their co-op. When they sought information through a survey, the results were supportive, but cooperative leadership needed to take a creative approach to get members to attend a meeting for discussion about project details. Craig describes how the demographic support surprised and encouraged them and how state and federal funding provided the boost they needed to confirm the project.

The cooperative is redefining partnerships both in the community and in ways that go beyond the co-op’s service area. Craig talks about business and member partnerships that will help expand the use of the infrastructure. He also describes how the project has breathed new life into the role of the cooperative within the Appalachian community it serves and how, while happy with the new excitement, it’s important to manage expectations.

Original Podcast here: https://muninetworks.org/content/tri-county-rural-electric-delivering-connectivity-expanding-partnerships-appalachians

 

POTTER COUNTY EDUCATION COUNCIL AND TRI-CO CONNECTIONS CONTINUE PARTNERSHIP FOR SENIORS 2 SENIORS PROGRAM

The Potter County Education Council, Tri-Co Connections, the Potter County Human Services Area Agency on Aging, the Seneca Highlands CTC and our local school districts are continuing to team up to implement a county-wide program called Seniors 2 Seniors. This program is teaching basic computer skills, digital literacy, and cybersecurity to senior citizens so that they have the knowledge to utilize the many benefits of the high-speed Internet which include:

 

• Staying connected to friends and family

• Utilizing telemedicine (healthcare from home)

• Accessing numerous government on-line tools

• Using on-line banking

• Working from home for a company

• Shopping from home (for items not available in the local area)

• Improving eye-hand coordination (strategy-based) video games

 

As a part of this program, the Potter County Education Council, Tri-Co Connections and the Area Agency on Aging have local high school students volunteering to provide on-site support to each of the adults who participates in the course. The area high school students are a logical resource to support the senior citizens as they learn about the Internet since this generation of students has grown up with technology as a part of their daily lives. They are a true “tech-savvy” population and can provide valuable support to older adults who are learning to navigate and use new technological skills and information.

 

The Seniors 2 Seniors technology course is being offered at each of the four senior centers in Potter County on an eight-week rotating schedule, meeting on Wednesdays from 12:45 – 1:45 PM (following the school districts’ calendars), throughout the 2019-2020 school year. The first Seniors 2 Seniors course is currently running at the Shinglehouse Senior Center through Wednesday, November 20th. The course will also run at the Coudersport Senior Center (December 4th – February 5th), the Ulysses Senior Center (February 12th – April 1st) and then at the Galeton Senior Center (April 8th – May 27th).