I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. WELCOME TO MATTER OF FACT, COLUMBIA, YALE, MIT, NYU DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST THE WAR IN GAZA ARE RIPPLING ACROSS UNIVERSITY CAMPUSES. BUT A DARTMOUTH COLLEGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, TWO PROFESSORS ARE TRYING TO HELP STUDENTS NAVIGATE THE DEBATE. I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE SHARED PROBLEMS. THERE IS ROOM FOR COEXISTENCE. WE SIT IN ON THE CLASS BEING TAUGHT BY BOTH THE CHAIR OF JEWISH STUDIES AND THE HEAD OF MIDEAST STUDIES, PLUS, MEDICAL TESTS ARE GIVING PEOPLE THE WRONG RESULTS BECAUSE OF THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN. THEY’RE UNFAIR. THEY’RE UNJUST, AND THEY’RE FIXABLE. NEW YORK CITY’S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER JOINS ME IN STUDIO TO TALK ABOUT THE ONGOING EFFORT TO FIX A LONG RUNNING PROBLEM THAT PUTS LIVES AT RISK AND TENS OF MILLIONS OF FAMILIES WILL SOON START PAYING MORE FOR HIGH SPEED INTERNET. IF YOU DON’T INVEST IN BROADBAND, YOU ARE SIGNING SOMEWHAT OF A DEATH CERTIFICATE FOR THE AREA. THE EFFORT TO GET RURAL COMMUNITIES ONLINE, THOSE STORIES RIGHT NOW ON MATTER OF FACT. MORE THAN 5000 MILES FROM ISRAEL IN GAZA, DEMONSTRATORS HAVE SET UP CAMP AT SOME OF THE MOST PROMINENT UNIVERSITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. COLLEGES ARE OBVIOUSLY NO STRANGERS TO PROTESTS, AND THEY’RE USED TO THE EXCHANGE OF DIFFERING IDEAS. AND THAT’S WHAT PROFESSORS AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE ARE LEANING INTO. THEIR CO-TEACHING COURSES THEY HOPE INSPIRE DEEP UNDERSTANDING AND NUANCED DEBATE AMONG STUDENTS ABOUT THE MIDDLE EAST’S PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE. OUR CORRESPONDENT LEONE LAKHANI TAKES US TO CLASS. THE CRISP SPRING DAY BRINGS STUDENTS OUT AT DARTMOUTH COLLEGE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE, BUT TWO OF ITS TEACHERS ARE INSIDE PREPARING. FOR A UNIQUE CLASS. PROFESSOR TARIQ RICE IS THE HEAD OF THE MIDDLE EASTERN STUDIES DEPARTMENT. PROFESSOR SUSANNAH HESCHEL, CHAIR OF JEWISH STUDIES. ONCE A WEEK, THEY COME TOGETHER TO CO-TEACH A CLASS, CREATING WHAT THEY CALL A SCHOLARLY EXCHANGE. WHAT CREATES THE SILENCE? THE CLASS COVERS 18TH TO 20TH CENTURY HISTORY, PIVOTAL PERIODS, THEY SAY, FOR BOTH -- AND ARABS IN THE ARABIC CONTEXT, A LOT OF THE WOMEN, THE FEMINIST. ARTS WERE EMBRACING SOME FORM OF EUROPEAN MODERNITY. THE PROFESSORS WEAVE IN AND OUT OF EACH OTHER’S TALKS, WHICH SCRIPTURE SAYS WOMEN SHOULD WEAR A VEIL. YOU TESTAMENT. THE NEW TESTAMENT, BUT NOT THE KORAN, NOT THE HEBREW BIBLE. THEY DELVE INTO IDEOLOGIES LIKE FORMS OF ARAB NATIONALISM AND ZIONISM TO HELP STUDENTS HAVE A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF TENSIONS IN THE REGION. I WANT THEM TO UNDERSTAND THE SHARED PROBLEMS THAT WE HAVE FACED AS -- AND AS ARABS, AND LOOK AT SOME OF THE SIMILAR RESPONSES WE FORMULATED. SO WE WANT TO ALSO OFFER A MODEL OF, OF OF CONVIVENCE. YES. THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE THAT ONE ELIMINATES THE OTHER, THAT THERE IS ROOM FOR SOME FORM OF COMMUNAL COEXISTENCE. THE PROFESSORS CREATED THIS CLASS THREE YEARS AGO AND THERE ARE OTHER CO-TAUGHT CLASSES BETWEEN THESE DEPARTMENTS, BUT THEY TOOK ON NEW IMPORTANCE AFTER THE OCTOBER 7TH ATTACKS ON ISRAEL AND THE ENSUING WAR IN GAZA. HOW DO YOU THINK THIS KNOWLEDGE WILL HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND AND NAVIGATE THE EVENTS OF TODAY? OUR JOB IS REALLY TO EXPAND THEIR HORIZON AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE GETTING THIS WIDE VIEW THAT GOES INTO THE PAST, AND IT’S NOT LIMITED ONLY TO WHAT WE ARE SEEING ON TV OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. AND THEN THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN, YOU KNOW, POLITICAL CHOICES AND DEVELOP THEIR OWN VIEWS AND ENGAGE THE WORLD IN THE WAY THAT THEY SEE FIT. THE EVENTS OF OCTOBER 7TH AND THE WAR SINCE ARE PARTICULARLY SIGNIFICANT IN THIS CONFLICT. THAT’S 70 PLUS YEARS, AND IT’S POLARIZING. A LOT OF PEOPLE. EL WHAT DO YOU SAY TO THEM WHEN THERE ARE TWO WAYS OF LOOKING AT IT? ON THE ONE HAND, IT’S A MOMENT OF CRISIS, BUT IT’S ALSO A MOMENT OF GREAT, GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR OUR THINKING IN A WAY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD. BUT AT THE SAME TIME, MAKE SURE THAT THEY’RE GETTING THE EDUCATION THAT WE THINK IS ESSENTIAL FOR THEM. STUDENTS I SPOKE TO WHO TAKE THE CLASS, SAY IT’S WIDENING THEIR PERSPECTIVES BECAUSE IT TALKS ABOUT BOTH EUROPE AND BOTH THE MIDDLE EAST, ESPECIALLY IN THE CURRENT CONTEXT. I WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT, UM, THE JEWISH IDENTITY, THE PALESTINIAN IDENTITY AND EVERYTHING. I FEEL LIKE STUDENTS THESE DAYS KNOW FAR LESS HISTORY, FAR LESS BACKGROUND THAN PERHAPS WE SHOULD IN ORDER TO GET A REAL COMPREHENSIVE VIEW OF WHAT THE CURRENT CONFLICT, WHATEVER IT IS. IN SOME WAYS I THINK THERE’S A LOT MORE STUDY YOU NEED TO DO, AND UNTIL YOU CAN REALLY. SAY, I HAVE THIS OPINION BECAUSE OF SORT OF MY DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF OF THE HISTORY, BUILDING A DEEP KNOWLEDGE OF THE HISTORY AND THE PRESENT, WHERE A WAVE OF PROTESTS IS SWEEPING ACROSS SOME COLLEGE CAMPUSES AT DARTMOUTH, THEY’VE BEEN A SMALLER SCALE AND IN THE IMMEDIATE WAKE OF OCTOBER 7TH, THESE PROFESSORS TOOK THEIR CO-TEACHING MODEL AND MADE IT AVAILABLE TO THE ENTIRE STUDENT BODY BY HOLDING PUBLIC FORUMS. HOW DO YOU RECOMMEND THAT WE VOICE OUR DISAGREEMENT? I, I UNDERSTAND THAT EMOTIONS ARE HIGH. I KNOW EVERYBODY OWNS SEINER ATTENDED A FORUM. HE’S ALSO A STUDENT IN THE CLASS. AND SAYS IT HELPS TO BREAK STEREOTYPES. I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE PRONE TO PUTTING ARABS AND -- IN VERY SEPARATE BOXES. AND LIKE IN DOING SO, THEY IGNORE A LOT OF SHARED HISTORY AND SHARED UNDERSTANDING. PROFESSOR HESHEL AND ALLERY SAY OTHER INSTITUTIONS ARE APPROACHING THEM ABOUT THEIR MODEL. WE’VE BEEN ASKED TO CONSULT WITH A LOT OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES AND ALSO PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES, WHERE THERE’S A TERRIBLE POLARIZATION, AND THEY ASK US FOR ADVICE, ADVICE THAT COULD CREATE GREATER UNDERSTANDING EVEN BEYOND THEIR OWN CAMPUS FOR MATTER OF FACT, THIS IS LEONE LAKHANI IN HANOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE. NEXT ON MATTER OF FACT, A BIAS TEST HAS KEPT THOUSANDS OF BLACK PEOPLE FROM GETTING KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS. I TALKED TO NEW YORK CITY’S CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER ABOUT WHAT’S BEING DONE TO STOP THE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN THE MEDICAL FIELD AND SAVE LIVES AND LATER, MORE THAN 400 MILLION TONS OF PLASTICS ARE PRODUCED EACH YEAR. CAN THE WORLD COME TOGETHER TO PREVENT PLASTIC POLLUTION. IN AND DESPERATE FOR A DIGITAL CONNECTION? WHAT’S NEEDED TO GET RURAL AMERICA FAST, RELIABLE. INTERNET? YOU’RE WATCHING. MATTER OF FACT, AMERICA’S NUMBER ONE NATIONALLY SYNDICATED PUBLIC AFFAIRS NEWS MAGAZINE. AN ARTICLE IN THE ASSOCIATED PRESS RECENTLY CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION HERE AT. MATTER OF FACT, IT’S ABOUT A WOMAN WHO NEEDS A KIDNEY TRANSPLANT. SHE JUST LEARNED SHE SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT ON THE WAITING LIST. MUCH SOONER, AND SHE LOST CRITICAL TIME. BUT THE TRUTH IS, STORIES LIKE HERS ARE NOT NEW. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF OTHERS JUST LIKE HER. SHE’S BLACK AND THE TEST USED TO DETERMINE KIDNEY FUNCTION OVERSTATES THE HEALTH OF BLACK PEOPLE’S KIDNEYS. GETTING HOSPITALS TO STOP USING THAT TEST, THOUGH. WELL, THAT’S BEEN A CHALLENGE. IT’S A CHALLENGE THAT DOCTOR MICHELLE MORSE TOOK ON. SHE’S THE CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICER. FOR NEW YORK CITY. DOCTOR MORSE, IT’S SO NICE TO HAVE YOU IN STUDIO WITH ME. THESE TESTS, ARE THEY USED EVERYWHERE? INTERESTINGLY, THIS KIDNEY FUNCTION CALCULATOR WAS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR EVERY LABORATORY ACROSS THE WHOLE ENTIRE COUNTRY UNTIL VERY RECENTLY. AND THIS GETS AT THE VERY HEART OF THE ISSUE IS BLACK A BIOLOGICAL CATEGORY OR NOT? IS RACE A BIOLOGICAL CATEGORY OR NOT? AND EVERYTHING TELLS US THIS IS A SOCIAL AND POLITICAL CATEGORIZATION, NOT A BIOLOGICAL ONE. AND IN FACT, BECAUSE OF THAT, THIS CALCULATION LED TO A LOT OF INACCURACIES FOR PEOPLE’S KIDNEY FUNCTION THAT DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BLACK PEOPLE AND DELAYED THEIR CARE. SO WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO THOSE FOLKS NOW THEY KNOW THAT THEY’VE GOTTEN DELAYED CARE. COULD YOU TURN BACK THE CLOCK AND ACTUALLY SAY, OKAY, WE CAN FIX THIS? WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO SHOW WITH THIS PARTICULAR EXAMPLE IS THAT BY CHANGING THE CALCULATION, BLACK PEOPLE WHOSE KIDNEYS WERE KIND OF CONSIDERED HEALTHY BUT REALLY WEREN’T ACTUALLY WERE ABLE TO BOTH GET REFERRED FOR KIDNEY SPECIALTY CARE AND ACTUALLY RECALCULATE THE WAIT TIME THAT THEY HAD FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION. AND THAT IS UNPARALLELED IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO CHANGE HEALTH INEQUITIES IN SUCH A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. AND IT TELLS US THAT THESE RACIAL HEALTH INEQUITIES THAT WE SEE ARE NOT NORMAL. THEY’RE COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE, THEY’RE UNFAIR, THEY’RE UNJUST, AND THEY’RE FIXABLE. WE’VE DONE OTHER STORIES ON, UM, SORT OF THESE RACIAL INJUSTICE IN IN HEALTH CARE. ARE THERE JUST MANY, MANY EXAMPLES? AND WHERE DO THEY COME FROM? OFTEN WHAT YOU SEE IN MEDICAL SCHOOL IS WE ARE TRAINED ON A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT ALGORITHMS THAT USE RACE IN A WAY THAT CONFLATES RACE WITH BIOLOGY, AND THAT’S WHAT REALLY HAS TO CHANGE. AND BE ROOTED OUT OF MEDICAL NURSING AND OTHER MEDICAL PROFESSIONS. UNFORTUNATELY, THAT TAKES A LONG TIME. AND WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY IS THAT WE’RE NOT SAYING THAT RACE SHOULD NEVER BE USED IN ALGORITHMS. IN FACT, IT CAN BE A TOOL TO ADVANCE RACIAL JUSTICE AND HEALTH EQUITY IF IT’S USED IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY ACKNOWLEDGES THE INEQUITIES IN HEALTH OUTCOMES. BUT MOST OF THE ALGORITHMS THAT WE’VE LOOKED AT, AND THERE HAVE BEEN A NUMBER OF PUBLICATIONS IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS DEMONSTRATING HOW RACE IS MISUSED IN THESE ALGORITHMS IN A WAY THAT ACTUALLY NORMALIZES RACIAL INEQUITIES WHEN THEY’RE NOT NORMAL, THEY’RE COMPLETELY FIXABLE, BUT WE’RE NOT THERE YET. REALISTICALLY, HOW FAR AWAY ARE WE? WE’VE GOT A WAYS TO GO. SO ONE OF THE REASONS THAT WE’RE DOING THE WORK IN NEW YORK CITY THAT WE’RE DOING IS BECAUSE AVERAGE EVIDENCE TELLS US THAT IT TAKES ABOUT TEN YEARS FOR US TO GO FROM RESEARCH TO MAINSTREAM PRACTICE, CHANGE AND AND WE FELT LIKE THIS CANNOT WAIT FOR TEN YEARS. WE CAN’T WAIT FOR EVERYONE TO SLOWLY BUT SURELY CHANGE THEIR PRACTICE. IT HAS TO BE ACCELERATED. HOW QUICKLY, IF AT ALL, DOES THAT THEN TRANSLATE OUT OF NEW YORK CITY? THERE ARE ALWAYS, I WOULD SAY, A GAP IN SOLUTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO HEALTH INEQUITIES. WE’RE RELATIVELY GOOD AT DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM, BUT WE FIND IT OFTEN VERY HARD TO TAKE ACTION TO MAKE THE CHANGES. THE CENTER, WHICH I NOW LEAD, HAS REALLY HELPED TO CREATE WHAT I WOULD SAY A TOOLKIT OF PRACTICES TO MAKE THESE CHANGES. WE WERE VERY EXCITED TO LAUNCH IN 2021. THE FIRST EVER COALITION OF ITS KIND. IT’S CALLED CIRCA THE COALITION TO END RACISM IN CLINICAL ALGORITHMS. AND WHAT WE’RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT IS THAT SEVERAL OTHER CITIES NOW ARE STARTING TO THINK ABOUT SIMILAR COALITIONS. SO SOMETHING SOMEWHAT SIMILAR HAS BEEN LAUNCHED IN PHILADELPHIA, ANOTHER IN SAINT LOUIS. AND WE’VE HAD LOTS OF CONVERSATIONS WITH PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO WERE THEMSELVES ALSO TRYING TO ACCELERATE THESE CHANGES. WE CANNOT WAIT TEN YEARS FOR THE CHANGES IN THESE ALGORITHMS TO HAPPEN. WE NEED TO SEE THAT CHANGE YESTERDAY, DOCTOR MICHELLE MORRIS, THANK YOU FOR JOINING ME. APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME COMING UP FROM STRAWS TO CHIP BAGS, THE NEW RULES THAT COULD ROLL BACK OUR USE OF PLASTIC PRODUCTS. PLUS SHOULD BROADBAND BE CONSIDERED AN ESSENTIAL UTILITY LIKE WATER OR ELECTRICITY? WHY ONE COMMUNITY SAYS IT CAN’T THRIVE UNLESS IT GETS ONLINE. WELCOME BACK TO MATTER OF FACT. RIGHT NOW, THOUSANDS OF NEW DATAS FROM 175 COUNTRIES ARE GATHERED IN CANADA WITH ONE GOAL DEVELOP A LEGALLY BINDING TREATY TO CURB PLASTIC POLLUTION. THIS IS THE FOURTH MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR PLASTICS. RIGHT NOW, DELEGATES ARE NARROWING DOWN WHAT WILL BE INCLUDED IN ANY FINAL TREATY, AND THAT COULD INCLUDE MEASURES TO PROTECT HUMAN HEALTH BY REDUCING MICROPLASTIC SIX, WHICH CAN FIND THEIR WAY INTO FOOD AND WATER. THEY COULD ALSO LIMIT THE OVERALL PRODUCTION OF PLASTIC. WWF FOR NATURE AND PLASTIC FREE FOUNDATION CONDUCTED A MASSIVE SURVEY 24,000 PEOPLE ACROSS 32 COUNTRIES IS. 85% OF PEOPLE POLLED SAY THEY WANT A GLOBAL BAN ON SINGLE USE PLASTICS. AARON SIMON IS THE VICE PRESIDENT AND HEAD OF PLASTIC WASTE AND BUSINESS AT WWF, U.S. NONE OF THIS IS EASY, AND NONE OF IT COMES WITHOUT A SACRIFICE. BUT IT IS THE BEST CHANCE WE’VE GOT TO ACTUALLY GET TO A LEGALLY BINDING INSTRUMENT THAT COULD END PLASTIC POLLUTION. COMING TO AN AGREEMENT WILL BE CHALLENGING MAJOR OIL AND GAS PRODUCING COUNTRIES DON’T WANT LIMITS ON EXTRACTING AND EXPORTING FOSSIL FUELS TO MAKE PLASTIC. RIGHT NOW, THE US GOVERNMENT’S POSITION IS THAT NATIONS SHOULD TAKE VOLUNTARY STEPS TO END PLASTIC POLLUTION, BUT OFFICIAL LIMITS WILL BE NEEDED AS COMPANIES HAVE BEEN VERY SLOW TO MAKE ANY VOLUNTARY CHANGES TO THEIR PLASTIC USE AHEAD ON. MATTER OF FACT, THIS ARKANSAS MOTHER DROVE HER SON TO A MCDONALD’S PARKING LOT EVERY DAY, SO HE COULD ATTEND SCHOOL. THE CHANGE, SHE SAYS, NEEDS TO HAPPEN NOW TO PREVENT KIDS IN RURAL AMERICA FROM FALLING BEHIND AND EARNED A UNIQUE SCIENCE PROJECT ON A MULTI-YEAR, MULTI-COUNTRY TOUR. THE ENERGY TRANSITION IS A IS A GLOBAL THING. HOW THIS VESSEL IS MAKING THE VOYAGE WITHOUT A TRADITIONAL MOTOR CAR TO STAY UP TO DATE WITH. MATTER OF FACT, SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER AT MATTEROFFACTTV. NEARLY 23 MILLION AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS, DEPENDING ON FREE OR DISCOUNTED HIGH SPEED INTERNET, MAY LOSE THEIR SERVICE OR HAVE TO PAY MORE STARTING NEXT MONTH. THAT’S BECAUSE MONEY IS RUN OUT FOR THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM GAVE FAMILIES UP TO 75 BUCKS A MONTH TOWARD INTERNET BILLS BY ENCOURAGING PROVIDERS TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICE TO MORE LOW INCOME AND RURAL AREAS. BUT NOW, WITH THE PROGRAM WINDING DOWN, CONNECTIVITY ISSUES WILL AGAIN FALL ON THESE COMMUNITIES. AS OF RIGHT NOW, THE FCC ESTIMATES 7.2 MILLION HOMES AND BUSINESSES DON’T HAVE HIGH SPEED INTERNET SERVICE. OUR CORRESPONDENT DINA DEMETRIUS VISITED PHILLIPS COUNTY, ONE OF THE POOREST COUNTIES IN ARKANSAS, WHERE NEIGHBORS ARE WORKING TO JOIN THE DIGITAL AGE IN THE HEART OF THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA. THE SMALL AGRICULTURE TOWN OF ELAINE, ARKANSAS, IS A PICTURE OF HISTORIC DIVIDES RACIAL, ECONOMIC AND NOW DIGITAL. THIS IS THE NORTH SIDE OF TOWN WHERE IT’S PREDOMINANTLY BLACK, AND THIS THE SOUTH SIDE THAT’S PREDOMINANTLY WHITE. LISA HICKS GILBERT IS TRYING TO BRIDGE THOSE DIVIDES WITH FIBER OPTICS. NOTHING WORKS WITHOUT THE INTERNET. AND DEFINITELY NOTHING WORKS WITHOUT INTERNET. YET THAT’S RELIABLE. LAST YEAR, GILBERT RETURNED TO HER HOMETOWN FROM LITTLE ROCK AND IS NOW PROGRAM MANAGER OF A LOCAL NONPROFIT ADDRESSING RURAL DISPARITIES. SHE SAYS WHEN THE PANDEMIC HIT, THE SLOW SERVICE FROM THE TOWN’S ONLY PROVIDER PRACTICALLY BROUGHT IT TO A STANDSTILL. YOU HAD SOME PEOPLE WHO HAD LOST THEIR JOBS. THEY’RE TRYING TO MAYBE SELL JEWELRY, YOU KNOW, GET AN ONLINE BUSINESS. THE CHILDREN ARE TRYING TO DO HOMEWORK. YOU REALIZE HOW HOW INADEQUATE THE SERVICE IS LAYING FIBER LINES IN RURAL AREAS IS COSTLY. THE SMALLER CUSTOMER BASE MEANS A SMALLER RETURN ON INVESTMENT. THAT LEAVES RURAL COMMUNITIES IN THE DUST. ELAINE HAS JUST BEEN GETTING CRUMBS, AND WE CAN NO LONGER ALLOW THAT TO CONTINUE TO HAPPEN. FOR CANDACE WILLIAMS, AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AT RURAL COMMUNITY ALLIANCE, AND HER NINE YEAR OLD SON CALEB LACK OF INTERNET SERVICE DURING THE PANDEMIC FORCED THEM TO DRIVE A HALF HOUR EACH WAY DAILY TO HELENA FOR CALEB’S VIRTUAL SCHOOL. I WOULD HAVE TO GO VO TO TO MCDONALDS TO USE THEIR FREE WI-FI. I WOULD JUST SIT IN THE PARKING LOT HEADING UP TO HELENA. IT’S RESIDENTS DON’T FARE MUCH BETTER. AT LEAST 40% CAN’T GET ONLINE RELIABLY. NANCY MCKEE TRIES TO LURE NEW BUSINESSES AND LIFE TO PHILLIPS COUNTY. WOULD YOU SAY BROADBAND AND THE LACK OF IT IS PRETTY MUCH THE NAIL IN THE COFFIN WITH EVERY CONVERSATION YOU HAVE? AND THEY SAY, WHICH OF THESE BUILDINGS HAS, YOU KNOW, PRETTY GOOD FIBER IN AND I’M LIKE, NONE. ZERO. THEY JUST KIND OF LOOK AT ME LIKE, WHAT? WHERE AM I? IS THIS PREHISTORIC? IT WOULD COST $550 DOLLARS TO FINISH COVERING ARKANSAS WITH FIBER AND MANY RURAL OFFICIALS DON’T HAVE TIME TO PURSUE FEDERAL AND STATE BROADBAND GRANTS. MCKEE SAYS IT’S TIME FOR A FEDERALLY FUNDED WORK PROGRAM TO LAY THAT FIBER, BECAUSE ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU’RE GROWING, RIGHT? WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GROW? OH, WELL, YOU GET A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD. OH, WELL, YOU GET A WHOLE NEW DEVELOPMENT AREA DEVELOPMENT THAT WOULD MEAN HIGHER PAYING JOBS. SO PEOPLE CAN GROW IN SMALL TOWNS AS WE REIMAGINE OUR LIVES AND OUR FUTURES. HERE IN ELAINE, IT’S GOING TO HAVE TO START WITH BROADBAND IN PHILLIPS COUNTY, ARKANSAS. I’M DINA DEMETRIOS FOR MATTER OF FACT, STILL AHEAD ON MATTER OF FACT, THIS UNIQUE BOAT IS NO CRUISE SHIP. I’M GOING TO SHOW YOU HOW IT FINALLY, A UNIQUE BOAT HAS BEEN NAVIGATING THE WORLD’S OCEANS FOR ALMOST SEVEN YEARS. THE ENERGY OBSERVER ANCHORED HERE IN NEW YORK CITY LAST WEEK. ONE OF ITS LAST STOPS SINCE 2018. IT’S TRAVELED TO FIVE CONTINENTS AND THE ARCTIC AND SAILED SEVERAL OCEANS. IT’S THE WORLD’S FIRST SELF-SUFFICIENT ZERO EMISSIONS LABORATORY VESSEL. SCIENTISTS ON BOARD COULD CARRY OUT TESTS TO FIND LOW CARBON WAYS TO POWER THE BOAT. IT PRODUCES ITS OWN ENERGY FROM THREE DIFFERENT SOURCES SOLAR PANELS, WIND. CHECK OUT THESE STRANGE LOOKING SAILS AND HYDROGEN, WHICH IS MADE ON BOARD FROM OCEAN WATER ENERGY OF OBSERVERS GOAL IS TO RAISE AWARENESS ABOUT RENEWABLE ENERGY OPTIONS AND SHOW THEM IN USE. ONE OF THOSE RESEARCHERS IS BEATRICE CORDIANO TO CONVINCE PEOPLE TO INVEST IN THIS KIND OF TECHNOLOGY, YOU NEED TO TO PROVE AND SHOW THEM THAT TECHNOLOGY IS THERE AND IT IS RELIABLE. IT IS SUSTAINABLE. UM, EFFICIENT. THE ENERGY OBSERVER CAN HELP PEOPLE REALIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF TRANSITIONING AND THE FACT THAT WE DON’T HAVE TO LOOK FOR OTHER SOLUTIONS BECAUSE WE ALREADY HAVE THIS ENERGY. OBSERVER HEADS BACK TO FRANCE IN TIME TO TRAVEL DOWN THE SEN RIVER INTO PARIS FOR THE OLYMPICS IN JULY. KIND OF GUARANTEED TO BE A PRETTY DRAMATIC ENTRANCE. THAT’S IT FOR THIS EDITION OF MATTER OF FACT, I’M SOLEDAD O’BRIEN. I’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE NEXT WEEK TO WATCH MORE STORIES LIKE THIS ANY TIME, HEAD TO MATTEROFFACTTV DOT TV.