Description: The federal government compiles huge broadband datasets cataloguing broadband availability and subscriptions through the US Census Bureau and Federal Communications Commission, among others. These can be augmented with commercially available speed test data to provide a better insight into broadband access and availability. Join BroadbandUSA on February 17, 2021 to gain a fuller understanding of these datasets and how to use data to strengthen your broadband planning efforts.

Speakers:

Rural America’s economic development is tied more and more to broadband connectivity. BroadbandUSA’s November webinar illustrated how communities, broadband providers, and other stakeholders can build partnerships to foster resilient economies through broadband infrastructure buildout and adoption in rural areas.

BroadbandUSA’s October Webinar, Digital Inclusion and K-12 Education: The Impact of COVID-19 on Students and Educators, focused on the challenges that communities and schools are facing during the pandemic. The panel of community leaders also highlighted longstanding issue of digital inclusion, particularly in low-income, rural, and tribal communities.

In mid-September, BroadbandUSA’s State Broadband Leaders Network (SBLN) held its semiannual Summit to discuss broadband issues and policy at the state level. NTIA provided an update on its National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) and introduced BroadbandUSA’s new State Broadband Mapping Cohort.

Description: While communities adapt to the challenges brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, economic development in rural America has been hard hit, the difficulty exacerbated by the lack of broadband. Join BroadbandUSA on November 18 to hear how communities and broadband providers are working together to expand broadband access to residents and businesses to build resilient economies.

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program has added a new digital inclusion section to its website. This webpage compiles resources and program information from federal agencies as well as state and local governments that are working across the country to close gaps in broadband adoption and use, affordability, access to devices, and digital skills. NTIA is particularly pleased to announce this resource during Digital Inclusion Week.

Post-workshop materials: 

Smart Regions Innovation, Resilience & Recovery Workshop webpage 

Smart Regions Virtual Workshop YouTube playlist