A digitally skilled workforce is essential for the economic development of our nation’s communities. The BroadbandUSA November 20, 2019 webinar, “Building Digital Workforce Skills at the Local Level,” showcased initiatives in Seattle, Omaha and rural Mississippi that help individuals develop technology skills, such as basic digital literacy, STEM and coding, needed for a digital economy.

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA joined with the U.S.

In 2019, the Trump Administration launched the American Broadband Initiative (ABI) with the release of the Milestones Report.  A year later, federal agencies have made significant progress across government to improve broadband access for Americans.

The majority of states across the country are increasing resources devoted to broadband deployment, supporting digital inclusion initiatives and focusing their attention towards broadband policy coordination across different state agencies. While there is no one size fits all, states are implementing innovative approaches to increase broadband access and adoption.

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:

Time: 8:30 AM MSTLocation: U.S. Forest Service Training Center, 4000 Masthead Street NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109Program summary: Connect with federal, state, and local resources to activate local broadband planning teams. Learn about: 1) digital applications that will reshape your community’s economic and educational future, 2) federal and state funding programs, and 3) tools for local broadband projects.  This workshop is sponsored by NTIA, USDA, and the State of New Mexico.

Time: 8:30 AM MSTLocation: Truth or Consequences Civic Center, 400 West 4th Street, Truth or Consequences, NM 87901Program summary: Connect with federal, state, and local resources to activate local broadband planning teams. Learn about: 1) digital applications that will reshape your community’s economic and educational future, 2) federal and state funding programs, and 3) tools for local broadband projects.  This workshop is sponsored by NTIA, USDA, and the State of New Mexico.