Cornell designs statewide IoT network to close New York's digital divide
Source: Smart Cities Dive Published: September 30th, 2020
Researchers at Cornell University are designing the nation's first statewide internet of things (IoT) network to bridge New York's digital divide.
University faculty received a $1.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Smart and Connected Communities (S&CC) program for the project, which will implement a public IoT network across each of New York’s 62 counties using low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) technology. The county-by-county deployment is driven by a partnership with the Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE).
Those involved in the three-year project said they are hopeful the IoT network can help close the digital divide between the state’s urban and rural communities. Max Zhang, an engineering professor and the project’s principal investigator, said the network can also increase efficiencies in sectors like agriculture, building management and traffic monitoring, but getting more people online is the project's major point of emphasis.
"I think that's one area where I think we can make a difference," Zhang said. "If our vision is achieved, no matter where you are, you will have this reliable connection."
The statewide network will build on counties' existing IoT structures, often in place for utilities maintenance and monitoring. CCE's local offices will set up the IoT infrastructure in each county and then connect it to make the network statewide.
CCE will also run experiments and outreach programs to showcase its capabilities. A key factor of this community engagement will be in building trust in IoT technologies among New York residents, Zhang said. Concerns continue to be raised nationally about data privacy and whether the public can embrace the growth in IoT devices or will always find them unsettling.
Zhang said he is hopeful that any mistrust of the public network can be put to rest through these outreach efforts, though he acknowledges it will take time and a cohesive effort among the team's engineers, community partners and social scientists.
"The short answer is, we don't know everything," Zhang said. "[Privacy] is the question we have to figure out, so I think that's the point of the community engagement… If I were to design something [alone] and then we gave it to the community saying, you can use it for free, I don't think they’d take it. If I was on the receiving end, I would be very suspicious."
While New York's elected officials have expressed a willingness to close the state’s digital divide, progress has felt slow at times. In his 2020 State of the State address, Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D, pledged a comprehensive plan to put the state "on a path" to full cellular service coverage, but updates on those efforts have been limited amid the new coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
New York did meet its goals to bolster statewide broadband coverage, however. That effort, first announced in 2015, has brought upgrades for 2.42 million locations statewide, enabling broadband access for 99.9% of New Yorkers.
"The short answer is, we don't know everything."
Max Zhang
Principal Investigator, Cornell University
Experts say there are still areas for improvement, despite New York faring well in broadband activity and investment compared to its peers. New York City still struggles with a yawning digital divide exacerbated by COVID-19, with Mayor Bill de Blasio announcing an acceleration of its Internet Master Plan earlier this year in a bid to connect 600,000 New Yorkers by the end of 2021.
In more rural settings, local coalitions are trying to move things forward. One group, the Finger Lakes Digital Inclusion Coalition, has tried to improve internet access in rural counties around Rochester, NY through creative solutions like lending out a limited number of Wi-Fi hotspots or providing internet access on long bus rides.
Internet availability can be spotty in some areas, so having IoT infrastructure made publicly available could be a better long-term solution, NSF officials said, as it helps reduce the barrier to access.
"I think it'll make a difference," said NSF program manager Linda Bushnell. "You see a lot of S&CC ideas for projects, and you have to say, 'Well, how are the people in rural areas actually going to be able to use that app, or use that new system you're thinking of, because they don't even have Wi-Fi.'"
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