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thankful for," said Adam, a truck dispatcher.
• High-speed Internet can also facilitate new opportunities in other areas. Ellendale Public Schools are able to offer more distance learning options and use more technology in the classroom, and Oakes Regional Hospital was able to install a system in their emergency room that connects them to board-certified physicians at the touch of a button, according to comments made on a video on the Living Well Connected website.
• Kusser said they have been able to offer a local school its own television channel to do with what they want. Students produce much of the content for it.
• "That's all broadband--it's all possible because of the high-speed Internet," Kusser said.
• Hauck said the two N.D. telecommunications companies are just starting to work with economic development groups in their area to promote their fiber optic network, but the people who have heard of it have been impressed.
• "They are amazed that we have such a large footprint of all fiber," Hauck said. "It gives us a lot of marketing availability for our area. For people who are looking at our area (as a place to relocate their family or their business), it's definitely an advantage to them."
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• Map shows what's available where you are
• • To check the available broadband speeds in your area, go to www.broadbandmap.gov and type in your ZIP code. To see whether a fiber optic connection is available in your area, click on "Explore maps" button from the broadbandmap.gov page, and then make sure "Fiber to the end user" is the only option selected at the top of the map.
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