Whitfield County forms broadband committee, approves $15,187 digital-training MOU

The Whitfield County Board of Commissioners on Feb. 10 approved a six-member broadband committee and ratified a memorandum of understanding with Tech Goes Home for $15,187 from an ARC grant to provide digital-skills training.

Chairman Jensen and commissioners said the committee appointments fulfill grant requirements tied to an effort to expand broadband access in rural parts of the county. The county noted that, as of Jan. 1, new federal/state definitions consider 100 Mbps service as the baseline for “high bandwidth,” and staff said outreach and planning remain necessary to extend coverage outside Dalton.

The board also approved an MOU to use $15,187 of ARC grant funds to contract Tech Goes Home, a Chattanooga-based training provider, to deliver digital-training sessions to residents, including seniors and school-age students. Commissioners said the training is intended to help residents better use broadband service once access is available.

The broadband committee appointments and the Tech Goes Home MOU each passed on 4–0 recorded votes. Commissioners said the committee will work during 2025 to implement grant goals and lay groundwork for future funding opportunities.