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Getting Connected: Benefits of Broadband in your Home Tanesha Hixon Office of Technology Partnerships Michigan Department of Information Technology
Getting Connected:Benefits of Broadband in your Home
Tanesha HixonOffice of Technology Partnerships
Michigan Department of Information Technology
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From Vision to Action
Getting Connected… It could be the best thing you ever do!
Broadband is bringing people just like you: More Convenience to their Everyday Life Valuable Information A Wealth of Entertainment Improved Employment Opportunities Better Educational Tools Numerous Cost Savings Opportunities
and so much more……
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From Vision to Action
Why Get Connected?Convenience!
Get online and accomplish ordinary tasks in half the time....from the comfort of yourhome!
Online Banking Pay bills online! 24x7 access to your account information
Schedule your family’s doctor appointments or package pick ups
Order postage stamps, books, movie tickets and apparel
Renew your vehicle registration, drivers license, and subscriptions
Shop online anytime!
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From Vision to Action
Information, information, and……even more information!
Research the symptoms and treatments of common medical conditions
Compare the prices of goods and services
Check the value and consumer reviews of a vehicle before you purchase it
Look up driving directions
Find out what resources are available in your community
Search for employment
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From Vision to Action
Information, information, and……even more information!
Find recipes for any and everything Get the latest on news, weather, and your
favorite sports team…in real time! Need to know “how to”?....
Fix a television Play poker Speak Spanish Sew
And anything else you want to know…It’s only a click away! Learn online!
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From Vision to Action
Work from home
Telecommuting allows for: Reduced to no travel time and costs More and improved work
opportunities You can work for a company anywhere
from the comfort of your own home! More time with your family A better balance of work and family
life Participation in the local community Flexible work hours
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From Vision to Action
Broadband increases education and income levels Broadband permits participation in online degree
programs—enrollment in online courses have increased 40 percent since 2005
Individuals with a bachelor’s degree make $23,000 more than high school graduates per year.
A recent survey of remote and rural broadband networks in British Columbia found:15% of subscribers had higher incomes39% had lower household expenses
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From Vision to Action
Help your children educate themselves…
and do it safely Give your kids access to valuable and important information
Allow them to do educational research or get help with their homework
They can even entertain themselves with educational games or learn new things, such as, how to speak a foreign language.
The internet can also provide your children with information you may not what them to be exposed too…but that an easy fix and the benefits are worth the effort.
You can: Use web filtering tools to block inappropriate website and/or content Establish online rules and agreements Place your computer in a area of the home that make it easy to supervise you child
online Monitor the time spent online and ask them what they are doing online
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From Vision to Action
Broadband allows you to have fun! Send emails and pictures to your long distance
family and friends instantly!
Download your favorite videos and music
Print photos whenever!
Watch the latest movies
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From Vision to Action
Broadband can…… Save you money!
Many companies offer special savingsonline only: Online Coupons Web rebates A discount on service charges if you pay
online
There are web sites that offer: Discounted airline and hotel rates Low-priced car rentals
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From Vision to Action
Ready to Get Connected?1. Determine which broadband option is right for you:
DSL – Internet connection requiring a telephone line; allows you to leave your internet connection open and still use the phone line for voice calls
Cable – Internet connection that receives access from local cable television line; cable modem required
Wireless - Internet connection using radio waves; wireless router required. Allows for mobility.
Satellite – Internet connection that uses a satellite dish to provide access; satellite modem required
2. Contact your local broadband providers to get connected
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From Vision to Action
Contacts & QuestionsMDIT Office of Technology Partnerships
George Boersma, [email protected] (517) 335-1507
Tanesha [email protected] (517)373-9502
