Volume 3 | Issue 1 | January 2018

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

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Digital Inclusion Funding Champions

Successful digital inclusion programs tap a diverse mix of funding sources, including public and private sector organizations. A few examples of a mix the types of organizations that are funding digital inclusion work today include the following:

• The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Through its support of The Nashville Digital Inclusion Fund, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is helping underserved families and individuals access the tools and devices they need to succeed. To date, the program has trained more than 1,000 families, who also receive a laptop upon completion of the program.

• Charter Communications. Charter Communications recently announced the winners of its Spectrum Grant Program. This Program supports non-profit organizations that educate community members on the benefits of broadband and how they can use it to improve their lives.

• The Cleveland Foundation. The Cleveland Foundation is helping build a strong, equitable and resilient digital community in Greater Cleveland by funding DigitalC’s ReStart program, which provides unemployed residents with the digital literacy skills they need to secure in-demand jobs.

• The Comcast Foundation. In partnership with Easter Seals, The Comcast Foundation is funding programming to expand assistive technology training and services for veterans, children and adults living with developmental disabilities.

• NTCA - The Rural Broadband Association. Through its Collaboration Challenge, NTCA matches third-party funds to support digital inclusion efforts. These funds have supported education in Alaska, elder care in Minnesota, economic development in Vermont and recently, an innovative telehealth program for veterans in Kentucky.

Interested in learning more about other funding sources for digital inclusion work? Attend BroadbandUSA’s Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar on innovative funding solutions for digital inclusion programs Wednesday, January 17 or contact us at broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov or 202-482-2048.

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Broadband News and Updates

Federal News

• NTIA Recommends Improvements to the FCC’s Broadband Data Collection

• NIST is seeking comments on the second draft of its cybersecurity framework

• The FCC adopted a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Rural Health Care program reform

• NTIA has a YouTube Channel where you can access all 2017 NTIA videos

State News

• Nebraska telecommunications companies testified that state and federal support is necessary to provide better services across the state

• Georgia and AT&T announced a new statewide technology training initiative

• Twenty-seven West Virginia counties applied for state funding that could expand broadband

• Ohio legislators proposed bipartisan legislation for rural entities to build out broadband Internet

Public Safety/FirstNet

• All 50 States Choose FirstNet Public-Private Partnership for Public Safety Broadband Network

• PSAC Winter Meeting: Looking Ahead to 2018

Stakeholder Resources

• Fiber Broadband Association released The Road to 5G is Paved with Fiber, a white paper on the necessity of fiber to 5G networks

• Route Fifty released Big Ideas and Key Challenges for Cities in 2018, a special report about city infrastructure, technology, data and resilience

• NLC released The Future of Equity in Cities to help cities prepare for inclusive technological advancement and economic growth

Other Broadband News

• Goodwill and Google.org announced the first round of nationwide Goodwill Digital Career Accelerator recipients

• San Francisco is launching a $30 million smart city project

• Verizon opened a 5G-enabled Open Innovation Lab in New York City

• Telehealth groups are urging Congress to double rural broadband funding

• The Sustainable Cities Institute at NLC is selecting seven cities to participate in its Leadership in Community Resilience program

• AT&T launched its largest 5G fixed wireless trial

• Remembering Executive Director of the ISOC-DC Chapter, David Vyorst

• Remembering technology advocate and San Francisco’s Mayor, Ed Lee

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New Broadband Resources

BroadbandUSA published a Smart Communities Glossary, a compilation of abbreviations, acronyms and technical terms related to smart communities and the deployment of infrastructure necessary to support them. While not an exhaustive list, the glossary aims to help stakeholders understand some of the language used in discussions about smart initiatives. Click here to access the glossary.

Purdue University’s Center for Regional Development released a brief literature review on the value of broadband to local and regional growth. The publication summarizes academic and think tank research on the impact of broadband to economic development, entrepreneurship, telehealth and remote work, among other topics. Click here to read the literature review.

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BroadbandUSA Spotlight

The DoT Federal Highway Administration recently awarded South Carolina’s Greenville a $4 million Advanced Transportation and Congestion Management Technologies Deployment grant for a project conceived under NIST’s Global City Teams Challenge (GCTC) and based on technology US Army developed. The project, called A-Taxi shuttles, uses autonomous electric vehicles to enable disadvantaged, mobility-impaired and senior citizens to move easily from their homes to public transit, health care and employment centers. The project is a public-private partnership, with an additional $2 million in support from the non-profit Global Autonomous Vehicle Partnership and $1 million from a local developer to build a multimodal transit center.

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Events

NTIA Events

January 17, 2018
BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations: Innovative Funding Solutions for Digital Inclusion Programs
BroadbandUSA will host the next webinar in its series from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT. Click here to learn more.

Events of Interest

January 22, 2018
NATOA—National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors Teleconference
NATOA will host a teleconference: Right-of-Way Control: The New Frontier. Click here to learn more.

January 24-26, 2018
The United States Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting
The United States Conference of Mayors’ Winter Meeting will be held in Washington, D.C. Click here to learn more.

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Policy Corner

On December 5, David Redl delivered a keynote address at the Phoenix Center Annual U.S. Telecoms Symposium, one of his first public remarks as Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information at the Department of Commerce and Administrator of NTIA. Mr. Redl highlighted the importance of managing federal spectrum use and investing in broadband infrastructure, particularly for rural Americans. Click here to read the transcript of his remarks.

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Webinars

BroadbandUSA Practical Broadband Conversations Webinar Series

Topic:Practical Broadband Conversations: Innovative Funding Solutions for Digital Inclusion Programs

Date: Wednesday, January 17 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. EDT

Overview: Effective digital inclusion programs are essential for communities, supporting efforts such as workforce development, educational attainment, financial literacy and better access to health care. Finding financial support for such programs requires creative partnerships, coordination with civic leaders and messaging that articulates the benefits of such programs to communities. Join our webinar to learn how communities have funded digital inclusion programs using a variety of funding options such as local philanthropies, city budget mechanisms and private sector support. Click here to register.

Please pre-register forthe webinar. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

Want to access past Practical Broadband Conversations webinars?Visit our webinar archives for past presentations, transcripts and audio recordings.

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What broadband speed do you need?

Find out with this BroadbandUSA guide:What Speed Do You Need?

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NTIA's BroadbandUSAprogram promotes innovation and economic growth by supporting efforts to expand broadband access and meaningful use across America. In this role, BroadbandUSA serves communities, industry and non-profits that want to expand broadband infrastructure and promote digital inclusion.

Contact Us:If you are interested in receiving technical assistance, please send an email to broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov or call 202-482-2048. For more information, visit our website at www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandusa.