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Read MoreWANT TO LEARN COMPUTER BASICS?
FREE classes. Learn email, video conferencing, internet basics & cybersecurity PLUS get a free chromebook computer.
NEED A COMPUTER?
ROANEnet provides free refurbished computers to any student or household in Roane County that does not have a working computer in their home.
HAVE EQUIPMENT TO DONATE?
If you have computers or other digital equipment that you or your business is not using you can donate it to ROANEnet for refurbishing and distribution to the community. ROANEnet will also properly dispose of old or unwanted digital devices.
In The Loop
Revving Up Life Again: How Digital Access is Fueling Dale Youngblood’s Passion After Health Setbacks
By Hugh Willett Dale Youngblood worked on automobiles, air conditioners and other mechanical things for most of his life. He says he can fix just about anything. “When I worked at a machine shop in Rockwood years ago my boss taught me that anything that can be made by a […] Read More
Windows 10 has a ‘best by’ date. Here’s what you can do when support ends.
The Washington PostBy: Chris Velazco Updated Thu, August 8, 2024 at 1:17 PM EDT·5 min read The end is in sight – for Windows 10, anyway. It’s been nearly a decade since Microsoft first launched its popular Windows 10 operating system, and to this day it remains widely used. That’s even […] Read More
ROANE YOUTH PROVIDE SMARTPHONE TRAINING
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEROANE YOUTH PROVIDE SMARTPHONE TRAININGVolunteers from Roane County’s Youth Leadership Class of 2024 and Harriman nonprofit Digital Smart will be conducting a free smartphone training class in July. The class, geared to novice and intermediate smartphone users, will be held July 11 at Morrison Hill Christian Church in […] Read More
Tennessee Broadband Accelerate Program
Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society, and Heartland Forward worked on a new planning and capacity-building program to help Tennessee communities leverage historic broadband infrastructure funding for community-driven broadband expansion. The Tennessee Broadband Accelerate program helped local […] Read More
ROANEnet Receives Grant For Digital Literacy
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 30, 2024 ROANEnet, a Harriman, TN-based 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to improving digital literacy, has received a grant from the state to provide computer training to citizens of Roane and Rhea Counties. ROANEnet will receive $254,079.00 for digital literacy training, according to a press release from the […] Read More
ROANEnet Offers Free Computer Training Classes at Loudon Senior Center
By Hugh Willett Loudon County residents will be able to take advantage of free basic computer training classes to be held at the Loudon County Senior Center. The classes, which are geared toward seniors and beginners, are being conducted by ROANEnet, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Harriman. Each student that […] Read More
11 Smart Ways to Save on Your Internet, Phone & Entertainment Bills
Saving money on your internet and other digital services is crucial for managing your budget. Here are several strategies you can employ to save money. 1. Leverage Free WiFi Locations: Many public spaces such as libraries, cafes, retailers, grocery stores, parks, churches, and community centers offer free WiFi access. By […] Read More
Give Your Digital Devices a Second Life: Donate Your Desktops, Laptops, and Monitors
In today’s digitally-driven world, technology rapidly evolves, often leaving older desktops, laptops, and monitors collecting dust in the corners of our homes and offices. However, these devices, which may seem outdated to some, can be a treasure trove for others when donated to a computer refurbisher like ROANEnet. Turning E-Waste into […] Read More
Bridging the Digital Divide in East TN: The ROANEnet Mission
In today’s fast-paced, digitally-driven world, the ability to access and utilize technology is no longer a luxury – it’s a necessity. Yet, in the scenic expanses of East Tennessee, a significant portion of our community remains isolated from the digital world. This is the digital divide – a gap that […] Read More
Nurturing Hope in the Heartland: The Vital Role of Digital Literacy for East Tennessee’s Vulnerable Communities
East Tennessee, a region renowned for its natural beauty and hospitable spirit, has challenges. In the heartland of the Volunteer State, a particularly vulnerable population exists: the poor, the isolated, and senior citizens. Bridging the Information Gap In the rugged landscapes of East Tennessee, access to information can be a […] Read More
Free Computer Basics Training Classes
Computer basics training that includes free instruction and a free Chromebook is available in East TN. The class is designed for those with no computer experience, said Dayle Beyer, executive director of ROANEnet, a non-profit dedicated to digital equity and access. “Our goal is to help everyone in the community […] Read More
Another Successful ROANEnet Donation of Computers
Recently, 10 computers were donated to the @bgctnv, at an event organized by @ATTImpact. @ROANEnet helped provide the computers for this successful donation event.#ATTImpact #NonProfitNetwork #DigitalInclusion #DigitalEquity pic.twitter.com/x6aBl8aTp1— Digitunity (@digitunity) January 13, 2023
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Summer Ready Online Auction
Summer-Ready-Online-Auction starts June 22nd to benefit ROANEnet’s ongoing programs including free computers and computer basics classes. ROANEnet (roanenet.org) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) provides complete computer systems at no cost, to families and individuals who cannot otherwise afford them and computer basics education to create a community that empowers people to […] Read More
FREE Computer Basics For Older Students – Ages 60+
These computer basics classes help seniors learn email, google apps, internet security, health and financial tools, and more! Sign up at https://roanenet.org/free-computer-basics-class-for-seniors/ https://roanenet.org/free-computer-basics-class-for-seniors/
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ROANEnet Needs You!
Be a part of something important to your community. ROANEnet, a non-profit organization dedicated to digital inclusion, seeks volunteers to serve on the board of directors. Candidates should have experience in business, technology, education or related fields. Duties include participation in ROANEnet activities, board meetings, and other volunteer activities. Interested […] Read More
Lee Garrott Joins ROANEnet Board
Harriman, TN — ROANEnet has announced that Lee Garrott has joined the ROANEnet board of directors. A resident of Roane County, Lee came to East Tennessee from Mayfield Kentucky, and Murray State University with a BS in construction technology. Arriving in Tennessee in 1974 he worked for TVA for 28 […] Read More
ROANEnet Announces Winners of 2021 Essay Contest
ROANEnet has announced the winners of the 2021 Student Essay Contest. Winners in each of five categories were notified last week that they will each receive a new Dell Laptop Computer from Comcast and $100. Contestants, including students from elementary, middle, and high school, college, and Tennessee Reconnect, were asked […] Read More
United Way Grant Supports ROANEnet Digital Advocacy
ROANEnet announced this week that it has received a Roane County United Way Community Enhancement grant in the amount of 1,000.00 for computer parts and licensing expenses. The Harriman-based non-profit said that the funding will be used to further the organization’s endeavor of providing digital literacy in Roane County. ROANEnet provides […] Read More
Richard Glover named Volunteer of the Month for ROANEnet
Richard Glover has been named Volunteer of the Month of November 2021 for the non-profit ROANEnet. Richard has been volunteering for ROANEnet since January 2021 to help apply his knowledge and experience serving Roane County. He is responsible for the management of ROANEnet’s Digital Lab, mentoring desktop support interns and […] Read More
CONTEST OFFERS STUDENTS CHANCE TO WIN $$, LAPTOP
ROANEnet, a Roane County non-profit dedicated to digital inclusion, is sponsoring an essay contest for Roane County students. The winners will receive $100 and a laptop computer. State Representative Kent Calfee will be one of the volunteers judging the contest and presenting prizes to the winners. The contest is open […] Read More
ROANEnet Receives Funding from Comcast for Local Lift Zone Initiative
(Harriman, Tenn.) November 1, 2021 — ROANEnet announced this week that it has received $2,500 from Comcast to provide education and digital literacy classes at their Comcast Wifi-powered “Lift Zone.” Earlier this year ROANEnet launched the first Comcast “Lift Zone” community center in Roane County. A Lift Zone offers access […] Read More
Curious About Starlink?
SpaceX Starlink Internet Service May Leave Beta In October – How To Sign Up. Here is the link to signup for service and you can look at coverage for your location. Starlink Here is a LiveView of Starlink satellites across the globe. Live Starlink Satellite and Coverage Map (satellitemap.space) BY […] Read More
ROANEnet Offers Internships to Local Students
HARRIMAN, TN — ROANEnet has announced the creation of the Yager IT Internships to be awarded to local students interested in developing their technical skill sets. Named in honor of digital inclusion advocate and TN State Senator Ken Yager, the internships provide students with resume quality technical skills and hands-on […] Read More
Comcast Donates Laptops to Support Closing the Digital Divide in Roane County
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ROANEnet is delighted to have received 30 New Dell Latitude 3190 laptops from Comcast to bring more Digital Equity to Roane County, TN. Digital Equity is a condition in which all individuals and communities have the information technology capacity needed for full participation in our society, democracy, and […] Read More
FREE Refurbished Desktop for K-12 Students
If your school-aged child, K-12 (who lives in and goes to public, private, or is homeschooled in Roane County) needs a computer and you or the residents in your home have NO working computer in your home, ROANEnet has FREE refurbished desktop computer packages available for your child (desktop computer, […] Read More
Donate Your Computer Technology For Good
Demand for refurbished computers never been higher. This is why ROANEnet created the ROANEnet Digital Lab – to create a sustainable way for digital devices to be refurbished and recycled while getting tech into the hands of those who don’t currently have digital access. As we continue to pursue our […] Read More
UTK, ROANEnet, Signal Power & Ubiquity Networks Partner on Innovative Mesh Network Project
On February 12, 2021, members of two University of Tennessee – Knoxville (UTK) undergraduate senior design teams, consisting of multidisciplinary engineering and business students and ROANEnet will be testing a low-cost mobile mesh Wifi network in Rockwood, Tennessee.The goal is for communities to rapidly implement this network for disaster relief, […] Read More
Communities Connect for Student Internet Access Solutions
Instead of expecting more from overburdened schools, local communities are striving to help provide solutions. CONNECT Roane is a community-based volunteer-run program in support of Roane County Schools with a twofold purpose: create an emergency plan for providing internet access to students and a broader goal of providing broadband access to […] Read More
Win an HP EliteBook Laptop
ROANEnet (roanenet.org), a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocate for affordable, robust and reliable high-speed internet access, equitable availability of digital devices and training required to enhance the quality of life within Roane County, TN. is conducting a CONTEST to win a FREE HP EliteBook laptop computer donated by Verizon Wireless PLUS $100 […] Read More
Roane County Libraries Are Opening: Check Them Out
During these unprecedented times, your local library can be an excellent resource for internet access and to check out electronic books to read. Electronic books do not require you to physically go to the library to check out books nor to be concerned about handling physical books or magazines that may or may […] Read More
Household Pulse Survey: Measuring Social and Economic Impacts during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Updated April 23 at 5:28 p.m. ET Over the next three months, you may see emails from an unusual source — the U.S. Census Bureau. While the federal government’s largest statistical agency scrambles to salvage the constitutionally mandated 2020 census, it’s also rolling out a $1.2 million experiment called the “Household […] Read More
Free Public WiFi in City of Rockwood
Rockwood Mayor and Roane County School Board member, Mike “Brillo” Miller has announced that starting Friday, April 17, 2020, Free Wifi will be available outside of the Rockwood City Hall, the Rockwood Public Library and the Rockwood Community Center. See the coverage maps above. Newly installed technology enables the public […] Read More
Comcast Franchise Agreements
In today’s Roane County news, there is an article about a pending Roane County Comcast Franchise. The truth is that not only is the county’s franchise agreement expired, but each city in Roane County also has an expired Comcast Franchise Agreement.I don’t watch cable TV and even if was available […] Read More
As Schools Close, Families Face the Digital Divide
By Dayle Beyer / ROANEnet.org Madison, a 2nd grader at Bowers Elementary school, Harriman has a new FREE refurbished desktop computer and printer. When asked what she thought of getting this computer package, she gave it a rating of 5 stars which translates to “awesome” for a 2nd grader. Her […] Read More
2019 Digital Device Donation Drive
In October 2019, ROANEnet, a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocate for digital inclusion conducted a Digital Device Donation Drive and collected computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, etc. We accepted all device donations even if the equipment didn’t work. Thank you to our partners who helped us in this drive which were Tellico Village […] Read More
ROANEnet Technology Access Program (RTAP)
Receive, Restore, Redistribute Receive In conjunction with our alliance partners, ROANEnet provides the ability for Roane County citizens to donate old digital devices, digital literacy training and FREE refurbished working computer systems to families with no home computer. During our DIGITAL DEVICE DONATION DRIVE, Roane County individuals and businesses can […] Read More
This Is What Digital Inequality Looks Like
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:10:30 AM – March 18, 2020 Philly teachers told to halt remote instruction due to equity concerns Philadelphia [K-12 public school] teachers may no longer offer remote instruction to students, according to a memo sent by the Philadelphia School District to principals Tuesday night. “To ensure equity, […] Read More
Social Security Online Help
Social Security offices closed: How to get help with benefits during coronavirus pandemic. The Social Security Administration is closing its offices throughout the country to protect workers and benefit recipients from the coronavirus pandemic. The administration closed the offices as of Tuesday, March 17, and is directing beneficiaries to seek […] Read More
Keeping ROANE COUNTY Connected During Coronavirus pandemic
Broadband and wireless companies are signing a “Keep Americans Connected Pledge” at the request of Federal Communications Commission Chairman Ajit Pai, to ensure customers in the US aren’t cut off from communications services during the coronavirus pandemic.Internet and wireless providers will waive late fees and keep Americans connected. This is part of a […] Read More
Delivering Computer Packages to Roane County Students
ROANEnet (roanenet.org), a non-profit 501(c)(3) advocate for affordable, robust and reliable high-speed internet access, equitable availability of digital devices and digital literacy skills training delivered our first refurbished computer package to a deserving young student. Today, Savanna Dandron, a 2nd grader at Bowers Elementary, is receiving her free “new” computer […] Read More
How to Bridge the Broadband Gap: A Conversation with State Leaders
New research identifies promising practices for expanding access to high-speed, reliable internet Though access to high-speed, reliable internet is an increasingly critical tool for modern American life, the Federal Communications Commission estimates that at least 21 million Americans still lack broadband access. Other counts suggest this number could be as […] Read More
AT&T Access Program Obligation expires April 22, 2020
ROANEnet has heard from our partner, National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) that the AT&T Access program created under the terms of AT&T’s 2016 agreement with the FCC in the DirectTV merger will formally be not required to be provided after April 22, 2020. The AT&T Access program provides wireline internet […] Read More
VEC Applies For Grant To Bring Fiber Optic Broadband To South Roane/Ten Mile
Volunteer Energy Cooperative has submitted a grant application to the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development to bring fiber optic, world-class broadband to homeses in the South Roane County and Ten Mile areas. If you or someone you know lives in the coverage areas in the maps below, please […] Read More
Digital Device Donation Drive
DIGITAL DEVICE DONATION DRIVE During Digital Inclusion Week, October 7-11, 2019, ROANEnet will be hosting a DIGITAL DEVICE DONATION DRIVE. During our DIGITAL DEVICE DONATION DRIVE, Roane County individuals and businesses can donate unneeded digital devices such as computers, monitors, keyboards, printers, etc. We will accept your device donations even if the equipment doesn’t […] Read More
Recent Podcast about Municipal Broadband in North East Tennessee
Chris Mitchell with the Institute for Local Self Reliance interviewed Stacy Evans, the Chief Broadband Officer for BrightRidge, the public electric utility and now broadband provider for Johnson City and the surrounding area. https://muninetworks.org/content/exploring-eastern-tennessees-brightridge-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-374
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Upload Speeds Matter: Why Cable and DSL Home Internet Speeds are Outdated.
Customers of the local cable and telephone companies that don’t have fiber to the home available and left with no better option for upload speed greater than 20 Mbps are finding out that those speeds just aren’t good enough. Why? Primarily because cloud-based security cameras can chew up 6 to […] Read More
Senate Bill 1166 – Internet Exchange Act of 2019
In April, Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) introduced the Internet Exchange Act of 2019 which will help to improve internet access for consumers, especially those in rural areas.“You can’t have a 21st century education, 21st century healthcare, or a 21st century business without access to 21st century […] Read More
Testimonials
“Once again, you guys have helped me when nobody else would or could! Yaʼll got me qualified for the affordable connectivity program, and l will finally have dependable WiFi and will finally be able to use the beautiful Dell laptop you gave me! Thank you so very much. You are the absolute best!” – Robin H.
Robin H.
I liked everything about the computer basics class. I had help when I needed it. The people teaching were knowledgable. The class was easy to understand. Today, I learned everything to get me started and what a computer was able to do. I am satisfied about using a computer.
Bob W.
Roanenet is such an amazing place that is doing amazing things helping children in our community! These people are soooooo nice! They helped my kids and I’m very grateful for everything that they done! I just want you all to know what you all are doing is life changing and it’s amazing how much heart all these people have! They deserve to be known for the things they do for our community and in general. I respect and appreciate you all! God bless you all! I cannot explain my gratitude I have for you all! Keep doing what you’re doing because you all are doing an amazing thing for Roane County! My family thanks you!
Mandy M.
I cannot express the gratitude we have for Roanenet gifting us this wonderful technology in our home for our children. Without Roanenet we wouldn’t have been afforded to get a computer, or laptop for them to use at all, let alone through this very stressful time. If you are in the percentage of people that can afford these types of technologies, please consider donating any old technology you have to them. They repair them and then give it back to the community. My children’s lives have been impacted greatly during this time, just like everyone else, however, having this gives them a connection to the world, a bit of normalcy in their school work, as well as a huge distraction from the scariness happening around them. It has helped me greatly with teaching them during this time as well, there’s no way without the internet I would be able to explain all these things. I know have a way to look up videos of someone else explaining it in a way I would have never thought. This project is such a wonderful and heartful thing. If you have old keyboards, mouses, monitors, or actual computer boxes sitting around donate them. It’s a wonderful thing. Thank you ROANEnet!!!
Chelsi D.
Thank you so much for the computer for my 2nd grade daughter. This is just in time for my daughter to do her book report she has due next week.