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News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter December 2019

Sun, December 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 11 | December 2019
Download PDF version here.
To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

NTIA Launches Minority Broadband Initiative with Historically Black Colleges and Universities

On November 15, 2019, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched a new Minority Broadband Initiative (MBI) focused on solving broadband deployment challenges in vulnerable communities. NTIA announced the initiative at the 2019 Carolinas Alliance for Success in Education (CASE) Summit held at Johnson C. Smith University. The program seeks to ensure that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can successfully advance broadband connectivity on their campuses and in their surrounding communities, enabling the participation of all Americans in the digital economy. NTIA’s initiative will work with connected HBCUs, or “Smart HBCUs,” to promote them as hubs of digital applications and innovation, and ensure their inclusion and awareness of broadband deployment grant opportunities. The MBI also will seek to partner with federal agencies, local governments, and the private sector to lay the groundwork for extensive expansion of broadband networks across HBCU campuses and throughout the rural South. See more information here.(Photo: Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information.)

Policy Corner

Council to Secure the Digital Economy (CSDE) Forum in Washington, D.C. on November 21, 2019.
Highlights of remarks of Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

Botnets are a global problem, and a challenge for the entire Internet ecosystem. Industry alone – government alone – can’t solve these continually evolving security challenges, working separately. But working together, we can make progress. The model NTIA proposed in our botnet report allows for private-sector stakeholders to lead the way. Where appropriate, government will play a coordinating and collaborative role. CSDE released its International Anti-Botnet Guide, and NTIA was pleased to participate in the development of this effort. I was especially encouraged by the core principles of security advanced by the guide: that security is a shared responsibility that relies on teamwork and demands flexible solutions. We are setting a strong example of what we can accomplish through a strong partnership between the government and the private sector. In the coming weeks, we expect to issue an update to our Botnet Road Map. We are pleased to have a lot of progress to share, with more than half of the tasks either in progress or completed, and many others poised to begin in the near future. As long as we continue to take risks and create new technologies, problems like botnets will always exist. That’s the nature of progress. But we can take action to increase our resilience, mitigate any damage, and dramatically reduce the threat that these attacks pose. Let’s keep working together. See complete remarks here.(Photo: Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information, at the CSDE Forum on November 21, 2019.)

Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

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Public Safety/FirstNet

Broadband Funding

Digital Inclusion

General News

NTIA Events

Please note that BroadbandUSA will not be hosting a webinar in the month of December 2019.

Jan. 15, 2020
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series
Topic: The Benefits of Smart Building Technology
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
Smart buildings are quickly becoming the building blocks of smart cities, providing benefits to both the building owners and tenants. They provide greater energy efficiency, improved use of building resources, and increased productivity of the occupants. Developing smart buildings can lead to an exponentially positive impact on the surrounding community. This panel will discuss smart buildings use cases, the foundational technologies that support them, and the benefits reaped.
Speakers:

  • Benny Lee, Director of SMC Public Wi-Fi, San Mateo County and Councilman, San Leandro, CA

  • Limor Schafman, Senior Director, Smart Buildings Program, Telecommunications Industry Association

  • Jiri Skopek, Board of Governors Vice-Chair, 2030 Districts Network

Moderator:

  • Jean Rice, Senior Broadband Analyst, BroadbandUSA

Visit our Webinar Archives for past presentations, transcripts and audio recordings.

Feb. 12 – 13, 2020
State Broadband Leaders Network (SBLN) Summit, Washington, D.C. BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

Events of Interest

Dec. 4, 2019
Council of Development Finance Agencies (CDFA)-Ice Miller Broadband Financing Bootcamp, online.

Dec. 4 - 6, 2019
National Associated of Development Officers (NADO) Southwest Region Economic Development Association (SWREDA) Conference, Santa Fe, Calif. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Justin Fazzari

Dec. 9, 2019
USDA Arkansas Rural Broadband Solutions Workshop, Little Rock, Ark. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Dec. 12, 2019
Alabama HBCU Broadband Convening, sponsored by the Alabama Governor's Office of Minority Affairs, Alabama A&M University. NTIA BroadbandUSA Speaker: Francine Alkisswani

Jan. 22 – 24, 2020
United States Conference of Mayors (USCM) 88th Winter Meeting, Washington, D.C.

Jan. 23, 2020
Next Centuries Cities: Opportunities for Bipartisan Tech Policy 2020, Washington, D.C.

News Resources

News

NTIA Launches Minority Broadband Initiative

Fri, November 15, 2019

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News Media Contact: Anne Veigle, (202) 482-4208,aveigle@ntia.gov

Press release: NTIA Launches Minority Broadband Initiative

Report: NTIA Minority Broadband Initiative Framework

Remarks: Remarks of Acting Assistant Secretary Rinaldo at the 2019 Carolinas Alliance for Success in Education Summit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Today, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) launched a new Minority Broadband Initiative (MBI) focused on solving broadband deployment challenges in vulnerable communities. NTIA announced the initiative at the 2019 Carolinas Alliance for Success in Education (CASE) Summit held at Johnson C. Smith University. The program seeks to ensure that Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) can successfully advance broadband connectivity on their campuses and in their surrounding communities, enabling the participation of all Americans in the digital economy.

To prepare students and surrounding communities to lead in the digital age, this year’s CASE Summit highlights the importance of HBCUs as force multipliers for economic growth and rural prosperity. The summit is committed to building strategies to compete successfully for federal and public-private resources to fulfill HBCUs'historical mission.

NTIA’s initiative will work with connected HBCUs, or “Smart HBCUs,” to promote them as hubs of digital applications and innovation, and ensure their inclusion and awareness of broadband deployment grant opportunities. The MBI also will seek to partner with federal agencies, local governments, and the private sector to lay the groundwork for extensive expansion of broadband networks across HBCU campuses and throughout the rural South.

“We’re excited to launch this initiative that can help address some of the longstanding digital connectivity gaps in our nation,” said Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information. “NTIA’s expertise in convening partnerships will be a tremendous asset in solving these challenges, and we look forward to developing this initiative with our partners in government, industry, academia and public policy.”

“I am pleased to support this new initiative to support economic growth and competitiveness in HBCU anchor communities through high capacity broadband networks and connectivity,” said Johnathan Holifield, Executive Director of theWhite HouseInitiative on HBCUs. “I believe that this initiative will help HBCUs emerge as premier tools and preferred vehicles to inclusively address U.S. competitiveness challenges for themselves and for their communities.”

Broadly, the MBI seeks to achieve the following strategic policy objectives:

  1. Convening a forum where stakeholders can explore options for leveraging HBCU broadband infrastructure to connect neighboring communities of vulnerable populations; an
  2. Using broadband infrastructure investment as a catalyst for adoption that will result in job growth and economic development and deployment of advanced mobile technologies primarily in the economically distressed communities of the rural South.

NTIA’s work on the Minority Broadband Initiative complements theWhite House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities, which supports the nation’s priorities of fully deploying 5G and improving the prosperity of economically distressed and unconnected rural communities. The CASE Summit and Smart HBCU planning teams will facilitate conversations among North Carolina and South Carolina HBCUs, local community leaders, and state stakeholders to ensure affordable broadband in their communities, especially rural areas.

For more information,please see a reportsetting out a framework for discussion.

News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter November 2019

Fri, November 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 11 | November 2019
Download PDF version here.
To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

Summit Empowers Wyoming Rural Communities

Despite freezing temperatures, closed roads, and Wyoming’s first major snowfall of the year, more than 100 stakeholders from across the state joined NTIA, USDA, and the Wyoming Business Council on October 10th for the Wyoming Rural Broadband Summit. The summit focused on community empowerment, specifically on teams, tools and actions necessary for connecting rural communities to broadband services. Governor Mark Gordon spoke in the afternoon and stayed through closing, taking time to talk with attendees. Participants said they appreciated the messages on inclusion and adoption. Keynote speakers Roberto Gallardo from Purdue University Extension and Jeremy Hegle from Federal Reserve of Kansas City spoke about the importance of digital inclusion and adoption to the success of broadband buildouts during the morning session. The afternoon session included roundtables and workshops designed to promote coalition building and improve the use of data when developing broadband plans . (Photograph, left to right: Russ Elliott, Broadband Manager State of Wyoming; Karen Perry, NTIA; Mark Gordon, Governor of Wyoming; Wally Wolski, State Director for USDA Rural Development in Wyoming.)

Policy Corner

Mobile World Congress Americas 2019 in Los Angeles, California, on October 23, 2019
Highlights of remarks of Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

At last year’s Mobile World Congress, representatives from NTIA and the Department of Commerce made a commitment on behalf of the Administration: That America would win the race to 5G. We’ve worked to craft a long-term, comprehensive approach to spectrum policy, removed obstacles to infrastructure buildouts, and we’ve collaborated with industry to put security first. Now, a year later, there are 5G networks in 35 American cities, covering nearly half of the states. By the end of the year, almost 100 networks will be up and running across the country. What I’m most encouraged by, however, is that we’ve once again proved the strength of the American approach. Free market principles are leading the way. We have worked to leverage the unmatched power of the free enterprise system. A country full of entrepreneurs stand ready to use these advances in connectivity to create life-changing products and services. We are on the right path. Let’s continue to work together and make our shared vision for the future a reality. See complete remarks here.

Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

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Public Safety/FirstNet

Broadband Funding

Digital Equity

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NTIA Events

Nov. 20, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series
Topic: Building Digital Workforce Skills at the Local Level
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
A digitally skilled workforce is essential for the economic development of our nation’s communities. Companies of all sizes need employees that understand technology, whether it’s on the business or operational side of the organization. Join NTIA’s BroadbandUSA webinar to hear how local leaders are building partnerships between governments, businesses, nonprofits and education institutions to help residents attain the skills needed to thrive in a digital economy. Click here to register.

Speakers:

  • David Keyes, Digital Equity Program Manager, City of Seattle Information Technology

  • Stacey Wedlake, Research Coordinator and Analyst, Technology and Social Change Group (TASCHA) at University of Washington’s Information School

  • Shonna Dorsey, Senior Business Systems Consultant, Mutual of Omaha

Moderator:

  • Emy Tseng, Senior Program Specialist, NTIA’s BroadbandUSA

Visit our Webinar Archives for past presentations, transcripts and audio recordings.

Nov. 26, 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Monthly Meeting (virtual.) NTIA BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

Events of Interest

Nov. 13, 2019
Southern New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Truth or Consequences, NM. NTIA BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 14, 2019
Northern New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Albuquerque, NM. NTIA BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 15, 2019
Tribal New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Albuquerque, NM. NTIA BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 14 - 16, 2019
Carolinas Alliance for Success in Education (CASE) Summit, Johnson C. Smith University, Charlotte, N.C.

Nov. 20, 2019
Buckeye Hills Regional Council’s (BHRC) Policy Summit: Opportunities for Rural Appalachian Ohio, Marietta, OH

Nov. 20 – 23, 2019
National League of Cities (NLC) 2019 City Summit, San Antonio, TX. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Francine Alkisswani, Maureen Lewis

Dec. 12, 2019
Alabama HBCU Broadband Convening, sponsored by the Alabama Governor's Office of Minority Affairs, Alabama A&M University. NTIA BroadbandUSA Speaker: Francine Alkisswani

News Resources

News

news image

BroadbandUSA Newsletter October 2019

Thu, October 24, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 9 | October 2019

Download PDF version here.

To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

NTIA Releases National Broadband Availability Map for Eight Pilot States

NTIA released the first phase of its National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) on September 30, 2019. The map is accessible to the eight participating pilot states including California, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, North Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, and West Virginia. The first release includes data from the participating states as well as U.S. Census Bureau, USDA, DOI, and FCC. The states will test the map’s functionality in the coming months. Feedback from the states will inform the next phase of the map’s development. Information and updates about the map are available on the BroadbandUSA website.

Nevada Broadband EventA Successful Nevada Broadband Workshop

The BroadbandUSA team went on the road to Reno, Nevada this month to hold the Nevada Broadband Workshop. BroadbandUSA was joined by U.S. Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Nevada state officials, and both U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen. The workshop engaged the public and stakeholders with information helpful in accelerating the rate of broadband connectivity, improving digital inclusion, and supporting local priorities. The broadband workshop provided information on topics including local broadband planning, funding, and engagement with service providers. Speakers voiced support for the expansion of broadband capacity, access, and utilization.

See coverage of the event in Government Technology, The Dos and Don'ts of Community Broadband Network Planning.

Broadband News and Updates

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Public Safety/FirstNet

Broadband Funding

Broadband Mapping

Digital Equity

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Events

NTIA Events

Oct.16, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: Broadband’s Role in Revitalizing Main Street.
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
Broadband connectivity helps to ensure that local communities are vibrant and successful. In parts of the country that are not fully connected, some communities are creating partnerships with local businesses, health organizations, schools and art groups to solve these challenges. These innovative partnerships leverage existing assets to build new opportunities. Join NTIA’s BroadbandUSA to hear case studies of models that are working to successfully connect Main Street in underserved areas.
Speakers:

  • Michael W. Burns, Senior Advisor to the Regional Administrator, EPA Region 4/CUPP Program Manager

  • Mona El Khafif, Associate Professor UVA School of Architecture, RCN Co-Director MainStreet21

  • Fletcher Kittredge, CEO, GWI

Click here to register

Oct. 22, 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Monthly Meeting, Virtual. BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

Events of Interest

Sept. 30 – Oct. 2, 2019
Smart Cities Week Washington DC, Washington, D.C. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice

Oct. 2, 2019
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Conference, Harrisburg, Va. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Hanson

Oct. 2, 2019
Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Rural Broadband Summit, Atlanta, Ga.

Oct. 8, 2019
Utah Digital Summit, Salt Lake City, Utah. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Justin Fazzari

Oct. 8 - 10, 2019
15th Annual Minnesota Broadband Conference, Nisswa, Minn. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Andy Spurgeon

Oct. 8 - 10, 2019
Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo, National Harbor, Md.

Oct. 10, 2019
Wyoming Rural Broadband Summit, Casper, Wyo. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Oct. 16 - 18, 2019
2019 AnchorNets Conference, Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, Crystal City, Va

Oct. 20 - 23, 2019
International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Nashville, Tenn. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Katherine Bates, Karen Hanson

Oct. 21, 2019
Mississippi Rural Broadband Workshop, Raymond, Miss. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Oct. 22, 2019
Mississippi Rural Broadband Workshop, Verona, Miss. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Oct. 24 - 25, 2019
Oregon Connections Telecommunication Conference, Ashland, Ore. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Jean Rice, Karen Archer Perry

Oct. 30, 2019
Bridging the Digital Divide: Broadband Communities’ 2019 High-Speed Broadband: Driving America’s Growth Conference and Expo, Alexandria, Va. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Tim Moyer

Nov. 13, 2019
Southern New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Las Cruces, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 14, 2019
Northern New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Albuquerque, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 15, 2019
Tribal New Mexico Rural Broadband Workshop (Sponsored by the USDA, NTIA, State of New Mexico), Albuquerque, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry

Nov. 20 – 23, 2019
National League of Cities (NLC) 2019 City Summit, San Antonio, TX.

Diane RinaldoPolicy Corner

Data Privacy Conference USA 2019 in Washington, D.C., on September 18, 2019
Highlights of remarks of Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

Internet privacy and security are sometimes treated as separate concerns, but the simple fact is even the strongest privacy laws won’t do much to protect consumers if our networks aren’t secure. We know that consumers care about both of these issues. Data from NTIA’s most recent Internet use survey show that nearly three quarters of households that use the Internet expressed concern about privacy and security risks, such as identity theft or loss of control over personal information. NTIA is working to address both concerns. There is broad consensus that we cannot have a patchwork regulatory landscape within the U.S., especially surrounding privacy. As new technologies like 5G, the Internet of Things and AI become more integrated into our daily lives, we must strive to have the right policies in place so that the United States can continue to harness the economic benefits of our technological leadership. See complete remarks here.

Event

November 2019 Webinar: Building Digital Workforce Skills at the Local Level

Date: Wednesday, November 20th, 2019
Time: 02:00 PM EDT

A digitally skilled workforce is essential for the economic development of our nation’s communities. Companies of all sizes need employees that understand technology, whether it’s on the business or operational side of the organization. Join BroadbandUSA to hear how local leaders are building partnerships between governments, businesses, nonprofits and education to help residents attain the skills needed to thrive in a digital economy.

Speakers:

  • David Keyes, Digital Equity Program Manager, City of Seattle Information Technology
  • Stacey Wedlake, Research Coordinator and Analyst, Technology and Social Change Group (TASCHA) at University of Washington Information School
  • Shonna Dorsey, Senior Business Systems Consultant, Mutual of Omaha
  • Kagan Coughlin, Co-Founder, Trustee Base Camp Coding Academy

Moderator: Emy Tseng, Senior Program Specialist, BroadbandUSA

Event Resources

News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter September 2019

Sun, September 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 8 | September 2019

Download PDF version here.

To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

Nevada Broadband Workshop September 27, 2019

NTIA's BroadbandUSA Program will host a broadband workshop in Reno, Nevada on Friday, September 27, 2019. The workshop is designed to provideinformation on how to accelerate broadband connectivity, improve digital inclusion, and support local broadband priorities. Topics to be discussed include local broadband planning, funding, and engagement with service providers. Speakers and attendees from Nevada, federal agencies, and across the country will come together to explore ways to facilitate the expansion of broadband capacity, access, and utilization. See details here.

NTIA Data: Two-thirds of U.S. Internet Users Do Not Participate in the Sharing Economy
Summary of NTIA Blog

In our most recent Internet Use Survey, conducted in 2017, NTIA included questions about participation in the sharing economy for the first time. The results show that a third of Internet users in the U.S. reported selling goods or requesting or offering services from others through online platforms. This compares with the significant majority of Internet users – 69 percent – who reported using the Internet for more traditional e-commerce activities such as online shopping or travel reservations. See complete blog here. BroadbandUSA will explore Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband in its September 2019 webinar. See details below.

Broadband News and Updates

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Events

NTIA Events

Sept. 18, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: Measuring the Economic Impact of Broadband
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
Description:The digital economy accounted for 6.9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, or $1.35 trillion, according to a recent survey by the Department of Commerce. Understanding how to measure and communicate the benefits of broadband is critical to building support for efforts to expand connectivity and use. Join BroadbandUSA and leading U.S. researchers to discuss their research into the economic impact of broadband deployment and adoption in the United States.
Speakers:

  • Roberto Gallardo, Assistant Director - Center for Regional Development, Purdue University

  • Brian Whitacre, Professor, Oklahoma State University

  • Alison Grant, Research Assistant and Instructor, Department of Agriculture, Purdue University

Moderator:

  • Katherine Bates, Manager of State and Local Partnerships, BroadbandUSA

Click here to register

Sept. 24, 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Monthly Meeting, Virtual. BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

Sept. 27, 2019
Nevada Broadband Workshop, Reno, Nev.
NTIA's BroadbandUSA Program will host a broadband workshop in Reno, Nevada on Friday, September 27, 2019 at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Lawlor Events Center, 1664 North Virginia Street, Reno, NV 89557.

Oct. 22, 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Monthly Meeting, Virtual. BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

Events of Interest

Sept. 10-12, 2019
Global Cities Team Challenge (GCTC) Global Tech Jam, Portland, Ore. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice

Sept. 10-12, 2019
Telecommunications Association of Maine and Telecommunications Association of New England, Rockland, Me. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Aimee Meacham

Sept. 16, 2019
Washington State Rural Broadband Workshop, Olympia, Wash. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Archer Perry

Sept. 17 - 20, 2019
Broadband Training Opportunities for EPA’s College/Underserved Community Partnership Program (CUPP) Target schools: Clemson University, Tuskegee University and the University of West Alabama, Livingston, Ala. BroadbandUSA Facilitators: Scott Woods, Don Williams

Sept. 18 - 19, 2019
Kansas Broadband and Technology Opportunities Conference, Wichita, Kan.. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice

Sept. 19, 2019
Washington State Rural Broadband Workshop, Davenport, Wash. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Archer Perry

Sept. 23 - 26, 2019
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors 2019 Annual Conference, Tampa, Fla.. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Scott Woods

Oct. 2, 2019
Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Conference, Harrisburg, Va. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Hanson

Oct. 2, 2019
Georgia Municipal Association (GMA) Rural Broadband Summit, Atlanta, Ga.

Oct. 8 - 10, 2019
15th Annual Minnesota Broadband Conference, Nisswa, Minn. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Andy Spurgeon

Oct. 8 - 10, 2019
Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo , National Harbor, Md.

Oct. 16 - 18, 2019
2019 AnchorNets Conference, Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition, Crystal City, Va

Oct. 20 - 23, 2019
International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Nashville, Tenn. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Katherine Bates, Karen Hanson

Oct. 24 - 25, 2019
Oregon Connections Telecommunication Conference, Ashland, Ore. BroadbandUSA Speakers: Jean Rice, Karen Archer Perry

Oct. 30, 2019
Bridging the Digital Divide: Broadband Communities’ 2019 High-Speed Broadband: Driving America’s Growth Conference and Expo, Alexandria, Va. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Tim Moyer

Policy Corner

Internet Governance Forum USA 2019 in Washington, D.C., on July 25, 2019
Summary of remarks of Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

NTIA understands the power that bottom-up processes can have in creating sustainable, adaptable solutions. We’ve worked hard to build relationships with key stakeholders and gain their trust, which allows us to lead complex, difficult discussions related to the Internet. These discussionstypically lead to the creation of best practices or codes of conduct that enable industry leadership in areas of emerging technology, where regulation would be ill-fitting or premature. Since the early days of the Internet, NTIA has not shied away from confronting hard problems facing the Internet. We do not plan to stop now as we take on issues like cyber and supply chain security, secure 5G competition, and protecting American values online.

See complete remarks here.

News Resources

News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter August 2019

Thu, August 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 7 | August 2019

Download PDF version here.

To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

Rinaldo Calls for Increased Vigilance in the New Broadband Era

Acting Assistant Secretary Diane Rinaldo hailed the work of the Internet Governance Forum USA in a July 29 speech, congratulating the group on celebrating its 10th anniversary. With great progress come challenges, Rinaldo told the IGF-USA 2019 meeting. The new era of connected devices demands an increased vigilance, she said. Since the early days of the Internet, NTIA has not shied away from confronting hard problems, she added. “We do not plan to stop now as we take on issues like cyber and supply chain security, secure 5G competition, and protecting American values online.” She also talked about NTIA’s continued work on the national broadband availability map, as directed by Congress, and work on smart cities concepts. Read her remarks here.

Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas Releases Digital Divide Report at State Broadband Leaders Network Meeting

BroadbandUSA joined with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City for a State Broadband Leaders Network (SBLN), meeting July 31-August 1, 2019, in Kansas City, Missouri. The meeting allowed SBLN participants to discuss ways to engage policymakers and stakeholders, work with broadband task forces/councils, and learn about broadband data and mapping efforts. The Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City also released its report Disconnected: Seven Lessons on Fixing the Digital Divide at the meeting. To find your state broadband leader, see the State Broadband Programs map.

Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

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Public Safety/FirstNet

Smart Communities

Federal Funding

Digital Equity

Broadband Mapping

General News

Events

Aug. 5 – 8, 2019
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 2019 Legislative Summit, Nashville, TN.

Aug. 17, 2019
Office of Rep. Abigail Spanberger (VA-7) is hosting a Community Event to Attract Broadband Providers Panel: Broadband and How to Expand Broadband Service, Mineral, VA. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Aimee Meacham

Aug. 19, 2019
16th Annual Kentucky Cable and Telecommunications Conference, Lexington, KY. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Aimee Meacham

Aug. 21, 2019
Utilities Technology Council (UTC) Broadband Workshop, Kansas City, MO, BroadbandUSA speaker, Karen Perry

Aug. 28, 2019
USDA ReConnect Broadband Workshop, Independence, OR. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry.

Aug. 29, 2019
USDA ReConnect Broadband Workshop, Madras, OR. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry.

Sept. 10-12, 2019
Telecommunications Association of Maine and Telecommunications Association of New England, Rockland, ME. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Aimee Meacham

Sept. 16, 2019
Washington State Rural Broadband Workshop, Olympia, WA. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Archer Perry

Sept. 17, 2019
Washington State Rural Broadband Workshop, Chehalis, WA. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Archer Perry

Sept. 17 - 20, 2019
Broadband Training Opportunities for EPA’s College/Underserved Community Partnership Program (CUPP) Target schools: Clemson University, Tuskegee University and the University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL. BroadbandUSA Facilitators: Scott Woods, Don Williams

Sept. 18 - 19, 2019
Kansas Broadband and Technology Opportunities Conference, Wichita, KS. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice

Sept. 19, 2019
Washington State Rural Broadband Workshop, Davenport, WA. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Archer Perry

Sept. 23 - 26, 2019
National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors 2019 Annual Conference, Tampa, FL. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Scott Woods

Sept. 24, 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Monthly Meeting, Virtual. BroadbandUSA Facilitator: Katherine Bates

News Resources

News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter July 2019

Mon, July 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 6 | July 2019

Download PDF version here.

To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

Global Cities Team Challenge Encourages Smart Community Innovation

The Global Cities Team Challenge (GCTC) was launched by U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in 2014 to encourage collaboration among those building smart city/community solutions. To date, GCTC has created over 200 teams of more than 150 cities and 400 organizations working on solutions that could be deployed across multiple cities — a key component of these projects is that they are replicable and scalable. These teams will share their work at the GCTC Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Expo in Washington, D.C. on July 10-12, 2019, sponsored by the National Telecom-munications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate. Community representatives and their technology innovator partners will share how they are using networked computer systems and Internet of things devices to solve community and quality of life issues and improve rural health, agriculture, building management, public safety, transportation and more. For more information, see Global City Teams Challenge Smart and Secure City Expo.

Broadband News and Updates

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Resources

Events

NTIA Events

July 10-12, 2019
The Global Cities Team Challenge (GCTC) Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Expo, co-hosted by U.S. Department of Commerce's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), and NTIA, Washington, D.C. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice.

July 17, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: FirstNet Deployment - Status of the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
In 2012, Congress created the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet) to develop, build and operate a nationwide, broadband network that equips first responders to save lives and protect U.S. communities. FirstNet has made significant strides in delivering on this mandate. Today, nearly 7,250 agencies utilize more than 600,000 connections on the FirstNet network. In addition, over 100 devices with public safety-focused features and functions are approved and certified for use on the FirstNet network. The webinar will provide an overview of FirstNet's accomplishments to date, as well as provide insights from a first-responder network user.
Speakers:

  • Dave Buchanan, Executive Director of Public Safety Advocacy, FirstNet

  • Doug Clark, Assistant Vice President, FirstNet Program, AT&T Public Safety Solution

Moderator:

  • Scott Woods, Manager of Technical Assistance, NTIA, BroadbandUSA

Click here to register

July 31-Aug 1 2019
State Broadband Leaders Network Summer Meeting, hosted by BroadbandUSA and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Kansas City, KS

Events of Interest

July 8, 2019
Digital Equity Summit: Bridging the Learning @ Home Gap, Richmond, VA. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry.

July 10-12, 2019
Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge (GCTC-SC3) Expo, Co-hosted by NIST and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Washington, DC

July 10, 2019
Smart Cities and Communities Leadership Forum, Washington, DC. Hosted by NTIA, NIST, NSF and DHS S&T.

July 31, 2019
New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) New Mexico Regulation Rural Networks Conference, Farmington, NM. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Douglas Kinkoph.

Aug. 5 – 8, 2019
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) 2019 Legislative Summit, Nashville, TN. BroadbandUSA Attendee: Katherine Bates

Aug. 19, 2019
16th Annual Kentucky Cable and Telecommunications Conference, Lexington, KY. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Aimee Meacham

Aug. 21, 2019
Utilities Technology Council (UTC) Broadband Workshop, Kansas City, MO, BroadbandUSA speaker, Karen Perry

Aug. 28, 2019
USDA ReConnect Broadband Workshop, Independence, OR. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry.

Aug. 28, 2019
USDA ReConnect Broadband Workshop, Madras, OR. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Karen Perry.

News Resources

News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter June 2019

Sat, June 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 5 | June 2019

Download PDF version here. To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

Cutting the Cord: NTIA Data Show Shift to Steeaming Video as Consumers Drop Pay-TV
Summary of blog by Edward Carlson, Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Analysis and Development

Americans increasingly are moving away from cable and satellite pay-TV services and opting to stream online video offerings, data from NTIA’s latest Internet Use Survey show. While most households still subscribe to cable or satellite television services, the survey shows the proportion of Internet users watching videos online has grown from 45 percent in 2013 to 70 percent in 2017. Internet-based video services typically provide on-demand streaming from a large content library, and are not dependent on the offerings made available by any particular cable or satellite provider. The shift away from pay-TV services crosses all age groups, but younger Internet users have consistently been much more likely to watch video online than their older counterparts. See complete blog here.

NTIA Releases Complrehensive Guide to Federal Broadband Funding

NTIA is announcing a new searchable database of 50 federal broadband programs, spanning a dozen federal agencies with billions of dollars for broadband grants, loans and other resources. The database, created with help of participating federal agencies, fulfills a goal set out in the American Broadband Initiative announced in February to make it easier for community leaders to find federal funding and permitting information. “Consolidating these critical resources into a one-stop, easy-to-use resource provides an important tool in spurring efforts to expand our nation’s broadband infrastructure projects,” said Diane Rinaldo, Acting Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information.See complete new release here.

Broadband News and Updates

FederalNews

State News

Public Safety/FirstNet

Federal Funding

Digital Equity

General News

Events

NTIA Events

June 19, 2019
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series
Topic: Building Smart Cities and Communities at the Regional Level
Time: 2:00 PM Eastern
Regional teams that span jurisdictions and disciplines are working together on projects to address issues that impact an entire region such as economic development, resiliency, health, public safety, connectivity, agriculture, mobility, and more. Join BroadbandUSA to learn about these efforts and others that cross jurisdictional boundaries to create efficiencies, improve sustainability, and increase the quality of life for all residents.
Speakers:

  • Maci Morin, Program Coordinator, National Association of Regional Councils

  • Danielle Hughes, Capital Program Manager, Tahoe Transportation District

  • Karl D. Darin, VP & Program Lead, Smart Region Movement, Greater Washington Board of Trade

  • Moderator:Jean Rice, Senior Broadband Program Analyst, BroadbandUSA, NTIA

Click here to register

Events of Interest

June 4, 2019
Digital Southeast: A Regional Broadband Convening Hosted by Next Century Cities (NCC), Roanoke, VA

June 5-6, 2019
National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT) Annual Legislative Fly-in, Washington, DC. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Don Williams.

June 9-12, 2019
National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) 53nd Annual Conference & Exhibition, Omaha, NE. BroadbandUSA Speaker: Jean Rice

June 10, 2019
Missouri Broadband Summit, Camdenton, MO

June 21 - 25, 2019
Georgia Municipal Association 2019 Annual Convention, Savanna, GA

June 27, 2019
Agriculture Broadband Summit on Thursday, June 27th, hosted by the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council

June 28-July 1, 2019
United States Conference of Mayors’ 87th Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI

July 8, 2019
Digital Equity Summit, Richmond, VA

July 10-12, 2019
Smart and Secure Cities and Communities Challenge (GCTC-SC3) Expo, Co-hosted by NIST and U.S. Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate (DHS S&T), Washington, DC

July 10, 2019
Smart Cities and Communities Leadership Forum, Washington, DC. Hosted by NTIA, NIST, NSF and DHS S&T.

July 10-12, 2019
BroadbandUSA State Broadband Leadership Network Summer Meeting, hosted by the Kansas City Federal Reserve, Kansas City, MO.

News Resources

News

BroadbandUSA Newsletter May 2019

Wed, May 01, 2019

Vol 4 | Issue 4 | May 2019

Download PDF version here. To sign up for BroadbandUSA’s newsletter, email broadbandusa@ntia.gov.

Digital Economy Accounted for 6.9 Percent of GDP in 2017

Highlights of blog by the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) and cross-posted by NTIA.

The digital economy accounted for 6.9 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, or $1.35 trillion, in 2017, according to a new batch of statistics released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. How does that compare with traditional U.S. industries? The digital economy ranked just below professional, scientific, and technical services, which accounted for 7.4 percent of GDP, and just above wholesale trade, with a 6.0 percent share. New BEA data also show that:

  • The digital economy supported 5.1 million jobs in 2017, which accounted for 3.3 percent of total U.S. employment of 152.1 million jobs. The digital economy’s share of total employment is about same as the transportation and warehousing industry’s share.

  • Employees working in the digital economy earned $132,223 in average annual compensation in 2017, compared to $68,506 per worker for the total U.S. economy.

See the complete blog here.

Broadband News and Updates

FederalNews

State News

Public Safety/FirstNet

Federal Funding

General News

Resources

BroadbandUSA Sportlight

Unplugged: NTIA Survey Finds Some Americans Still Avoid Home Internet Use

Highlights of blog by Rafi Goldberg, Policy Analyst, Office of Policy Analysis and Development

NTIA’s most recent Internet Use Survey depicts a rapidly evolving nation eager to take advantage of technological innovation. Mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, and wearables are increasingly dominating the computing landscape, as more Americans than ever use the Internet. Yet a portion of the population still does not use the Internet at home, consistent with findings in previous NTIA and U.S. Census Bureau surveys on Internet use. According to the most recent data collected in 2017, 22 percent of U.S. households—approximately 28 million households in total—did not use the Internet from home, with most citing either lack of interest or concern about price. See complete blog here.

Events

NTIA Events

May 15, 2019

BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series: Infrastructure Week: Leveraging Public Assets to Accelerate Broadband Deployment (See details in column on right.)

May 15, 2019

Topic: Smart Campus/Smart Community HBCU Webinar
Time: 1:00 PM
Learn about successful uses of broadband technology for creating “smart communities” with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and (HBCU.) The School of Law at North Carolina Central University has developed a “Virtual Legal Education” that provides vital education and services to underserved communities throughout the State. The County of San Mateo, California, has used public Wi-Fi to assist local school students with their homework, promote economic development, and provide technical solutions for complex regional problems. Wabash Heartland Innovation Network (WHIN), a consortium of 10 counties in North-Central Indiana in partnership with Purdue University and Ivy Community Colleges, will report on its use of Internet-enabled sensors to enhance agriculture applications and next-generation manufacturing. The webinar is hosted by the White House Initiative on HBCUs and NTIA.
Speakers:

  • Gregory W. Clinton, Sr., Director of Information Technology & Facilities, North Carolina Central University, School of Law

  • Ulysses Vinton, Chief, Smart Communities Officer for the County of San Mateo, California

  • Johnny Park, CEO of Wabash Heartland Innovation Network, Indiana

  • Moderator: Jean Rice, Senior Program Specialist for NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program

Click here to register.

Events of Interest

May 16, 2019
NYC Digital Inclusion Conference, New York, NY

May 13 - 20, 2019
Infrastructure Week, Nationwide

May 14 - 15, 2019
2nd Annual National Summit on Digital Equity and Economic Inclusion, Washington, DC

May 14 - 15, 2019
Broadband and Bagels: Using Broadband to Close the Urban-Rural Divide, Washington, DC

May 19 - 22, 2019
Government Finance Officers Association (GFAO) Annual Conference, Los Angeles, CA

May 20 - 23, 2019
Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA) Connectivity Expo, Orlando, FL

May 22 - 24, 2019
Partnership for Progress on the Digital Divide (PPDD) 2019 International Digital Divide Conference, Washington, DC

June 4, 2019
Digital Southeast: A Regional Broadband Convening Hosted by Next Century Cities (NCC), Roanoke, VA

June 5-6, 2019
National Association of Towns and Townships (NATaT) Annual Legislative Fly-in, Washington, DC

June 9-12, 2019
National Association of Regional Councils (NARC) 53nd Annual Conference & Exhibition, Omaha, NE

June 10, 2019
Missouri Broadband Summit, Camdenton, MO

June 21 - 25, 2019
Georgia Municipal Association 2019 Annual Convention, Savanna, GA

June 28-July 1, 2019
United States Conference of Mayors’ 87th Annual Meeting, Honolulu, HI

Policy Corner

Supporting the President’s Call to Action Against Opioid Abuse

Highlights of blog by David J. Redl Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information

Fighting opioid abuse is a major priority of the Trump Administration. Nearly $6 billion in new funding over the past two years has gone into multiple programs to stop the flow of these dangerous drugs, and help those struggling with addiction. The President’s call to action resulted in the Justice Department’s shutting down the largest “darknet” for the online distribution of drugs in 2017. We’re proud to announce a new step in the online battle against illegal opioid distribution. The Food and Drug Administration and NTIA have joined in a novel approach to work with domain name industry players to curb online availability and sales of illegal opioids. See the complete blog here.

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