Project Title:
Broadband Use and Adoption
Funding Program:
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
Project Purpose/Type:
This Broadband Use and Adoption project proposes to provide broadband education, awareness, training, access, and equipment for Native American communities within Oklahoma County, Oklahoma. UUIC is targeting specific populations to include low-income families, disabled individuals, seniors, and minority-owned businesses. The implementation of this project will enable broadband adoption activities, including telehealth, distance learning, and digital inclusion efforts.
State(s):
-
$144,952.15Funding Amount
The project will implement digital literacy training programs free of charge to Native Americans, delivered through community seminars and workshops, focused on the areas of telehealth, distance learning, telework, entrepreneurship, economic growth, and job creation. Specific activities include:
- Hiring IT staff and instructors to provide digital literacy training;
- Purchase of broadband equipment for Native Americans who attend courses; and
- Provide stipends for attendance and transportation to digital literacy training programs, as necessary.
UUIC will use its office facilities for one-on-one digital literacy training sessions with a small number of participants. UUIC has agreements with the Chickasaw Nation, Choctaw Nation, and the North Care Pete White Health & Wellness Center to use their local community centers free of charge for meeting space with ample room for the number of participants they would host for their digital literacy training sessions. All three facilities are equipped with Wi-Fi and broadband capabilities that meet or exceed 25/3 Mbps broadband speeds, large and small meeting rooms, a large stage supported by an audio-visual system with sound booth, projector, screens and several large TV monitors to facilitate the training sessions.
The project’s expected outcome is to increase access to broadband equipment and services for Native American communities and individuals, expanding broadband adoptions including telehealth, distance learning, telework, and digital literacy.
The project intends to benefit Native American populations within Oklahoma County, OK in addition to 242 individuals who will receive broadband equipment upon completion of digital literacy training.