One of the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of equitable broadband access to ensure our communities have access to high-speed internet for school, work, government services, medical visits and consultations, quality of life applications, and more. The state of New Jersey has set a goal of 100% broadband availability throughout the state. To help achieve this goal, the state has created the Broadband Assessment Project to identify areas that are lacking sufficient broadband access. These areas will then be eligible for broadband expansion with the use of federal and state grant programs.

Atlantic County residents and businesses are encouraged to provide firsthand information about the availability of broadband within their communities, its cost, reliability and competition, by participating in an online survey available at www.broadband-nj.com. The information obtained from the survey will reveal the current state of broadband and any gaps in our service provider infrastructure.

With the belief that knowledge and trusted information can help guide progress and change, ProQuest Technology Company is providing free access to explore the new Black Freedom Struggle website. Visitors of all ages can find historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence and more from specific time periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom:

• Resistance to Slavery and the Abolitionist Movement (1790-1860)
• The Civil War and the Reconstruction Era (1861-1877)
• Jim Crow Era from 1878 to the Great Depression (1878-1932)
• The New Deal and World War II (1933-1945)
• The Civil Rights and Black Power Movements (1946-1975)
• The Contemporary Era (1976-2000)

By centering on the experiences and perspectives of African Americans, ProQuest hopes the Black Freedom Struggle website imbues the study of Black history with a deeper understanding of the humanity of people who have pursued the fight for civil rights, and the significance of movements like Black Lives Matter. This resource is appropriate for educators, students, and independent researchers of all ages to learn or help teach the role of the past in the present, and to prepare for the challenges of tomorrow.