Wheat State's August 2021 Newsletter

Cornerstone Group © 2021 Why Don’t Some Rural Communities Have Access to Fiber Yet? The biggest challenge to deploying fiber broadband in rural areas is the lower population density, which results in higher infrastructure costs. With fewer potential subscribers reached by a fiber rollout, the infrastructure price per connection is much higher in a rural area than in a city, often making it economically unfeasible for the provider to make a return on its investment. What does fiber infrastructure cost? That varies depending on whether the infrastructure is aerial (attached to poles) or buried underground, what type of fiber-optic cable is used, and the labor required. But it can be as high as $20,000 to $30,000 per mile. To encourage providers to build broadband networks in rural com- munities despite the enormous costs, there are a variety of federal and state government programs available to give financial support. These programs are helping to expand fiber broadband to reach more areas of the United States, but this process will not happen overnight. Wheat State Technologies is working with Lyon County and is currently conducting an analysis of services within the county. This will assist providers in planning and requesting resources for broadband expansion or deployment in the future. Keep your eyes peeled for more information in the coming weeks. We currently offer fiber services in all of our Wheat State Tech- nologies service area. Visit www. wheatstate.com for details. Managing Screen Time and Maintaining a Balance How much screen time is too much for children? And what’s the best way to balance the benefits of screen time with the problems it can potentially cause? The answers will vary from family to family, and even day to day, based on careful consideration of several factors. One of those factors is that screen time is a sedentary activity. When children are glued to the screen watching a TV show or playing games on a tablet, they’re not being physically active, and physical activity is a critical part of health. So it’s important to make sure children put down their devices each day and get some form of exercise— outside in the fresh air if possible. Another consideration is the type of content children are engaging with during screen time. Without parental controls and guidance, children can be exposed to concerning content such as violence, negative stereotypes, inaccurate information, or cyberbully messages. This can lead to issues including trouble sleeping, anxiety and depression, and poor self-image. Beyond setting a defined limit of screen time hours allowed for each child depending on age, your family can take other steps to reduce screen time and its negative impacts: • Turn off screens during family meals. • Avoid using screens to stop temper tantrums. • Prioritize quality content, like educational programs or a live camera at a local zoo. • Shut off screens 30 to 60 minutes before bedtime to foster better sleep. • Be a role model for your children by limiting your own screen time. • Understand and use the parental controls available with your household’s devices. • Talk to your children about online threats and how to stay safe. When managed well, screen time can also be beneficial to children. It can connect them to a range of educational opportunities, teach them new skills, enable them to stay in touch with friends and family, and provide much-needed ways to relax. Finding the right balance between screen time and other activities is key. You can create a Personalized Family Media Use Plan with help from the American Academy of Pediatrics at www.healthychildren.org/ English/media/Pages/ default.aspx. Wheat State Technologi es • 1/800 442-6835 • www.wheat s tate. com