The digital revolution has shifted vast amounts of information online.

Access to reliable, fast Internet connectivity for all has become vital to promoting an informed society and democracy.

The Internet is the third most popular news platform after local and national television, and 61 percent of American adults get some kind of news online, according to the survey released last month, "Understanding the Participatory News Consumer," by Pew Internet and American Life.

If Scranton was representative of the whole country, it would be more likely that you are reading this article at The Times-Tribune.com than in The Times-Tribune print edition.

Moreover, Internet availability increases civic engagement and participation. The Pew survey also found that 37 percent of Internet users "have contributed to the creation of news, commented about it, or disseminated it via postings on social media sites like Facebook or Twitter."

The Lackawanna County commissioners on March 10 took the first steps toward improving high-speed Internet access for our community with their unanimous support to enter into an agreement with ConXX Inc. of Cumberland, Md., to deploy wireless infrastructure.

Commissioners say the plan, dubbed "NEPA Connected," will make Lackawanna County competitive in luring new business while cutting leasing costs - $3.5 million over eight years - of high-speed Internet lines in county offices today. They also say it could potentially draw new revenue by offering access to public agencies, businesses and possibly to residents.

The commissioners hired ConXX, starting with an $11,000 retainer, to apply for Recovery Act funds that, if approved, would cover 70 percent of the $5.5 million project.

With ConXX co-founder David Kartchner and county information technology supervisor Jeff Mando on hand, officials spoke on the matter for about 45 minutes at their regular meeting. But more information is needed: How will the program be executed specifically? What financial liabilities might emerge? How competitive would customer pricing be? And would rural areas be sufficiently served?

Chairman Mike Washo should follow through on his suggestion to hold a public hearing on countywide broadband and the ConXX project to clearly gauge the community' s support for the effort and to survey needs.

Commissioners also should press officials in Cambria County, and Allegany County, Md., two governments with whom ConXX does business, about the quality of their service. The wireless broadband service that began in 2004 in Allegany County was not meeting revenue projections as customer costs increased, according to the May 16, 2008, Associated Press article "Public Costs Mount for Cumberland Wireless," citing the Cumberland Times-News.

Still, commissioners also could look to those areas for the possibilities presented in a wired county, to get the most from expanded broadband.

Successful public/private partnerships on community-wide wireless networks in cities such as Minneapolis have relied upon support and buy-in from the broader community. The public deserves an opportunity to ask questions about the plan before the county enters into any significant commitment.

Community engagement and input is fundamental to deploying a sustainable network. A public hearing should include stakeholders from across the county and from all sectors of society - school, library and public safety officials, academia, health care workers, broadband providers, information technology experts, elected officials, business owners, students, news media and families.

This effort is crucial to ensuring the wireless network will be able to meet the needs and goals of the community and justify the county's investment of taxpayer dollars.

A public discussion here would be among the many taking place in communities around the nation. In March the Federal Communications Commission delivered to Congress the National Broadband Plan, a directive to address broadband deployment and affordability.

Given this unique opportunity, it is important that Lackawanna County get it right.