Tahoe businesses and families are struggling as a result of slow internet, according to a recent poll by the Tahoe Prosperity Center. Reno Public Radio's Amy Westervelt has more on that story.
At first blush, bringing high-speed internet to Tahoe sounds like a pet project for the wealthy. But Heidi Hill Drum, executive director of the Tahoe Prosperity Center, sees it differently.
"The Lake Tahoe Unified School district every child from third to 12th grade is given a netbook to use to do their homework but so many in our community don't have access to internet at home."
That means kids have to go find someplace with internet to do and submit their homework. Drum says there's also an impact on local businesses, according to a survey the Center recently conducted.
"Almost 100% said broadband was critically important but between 70 and 80% said they weren't getting the service they expected. And that's all the way around the lake."
Tahoe Prosperity Center's Connected Tahoe project is working to improve broadband access by conducting more of these studies and partnering with local utilities to get broadband cable installed whenever other public works projects are happening.