NTIA’s BroadbandUSA was joined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to host Rural Broadband Workshops in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico on November 13^th, Albuquerque, New Mexico on November 14^th, and Little Rock, Arkansas on December 9^th.

All three events engaged state, federal, and business leaders to support local efforts to improve broadband expansion and adoption in rural communities. These workshops showcased local Internet Service Providers (ISPs) and digital applications and highlighted the power of community stakeholders creating solutions to local challenges. BroadbandUSA shared information about federal initiatives to support broadband through the American Broadband Initiative and NTIA’s computer and Internet use survey data administered in partnership with the U.S. Census Bureau. USDA provided updates on their grant and loan programs, such as ReConnect.

The Albuquerque workshop featured Lynn Trujillo, Cabinet Secretary for the Department of Indian Affairs for the State of New Mexico and a member of Sandia Pueblo, as well as a number of representatives from Tribal carriers and programs. The Little Rock workshop featured Elizabeth Bowles, President and Chairman of Aristotle Wireless and Chair of the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee.  Nathan Smith, Director of Broadband Programs at the Arkansas Department of Commerce, used the workshop as an opportunity to outline the new rules for the recently announced Arkansas Rural Connect grant program which will focus on expanding high speed broadband connectivity. The three workshops brought together over 300 participants.

For our upcoming events, please visit the BroadbandUSA Events page.

(Photograph of New Mexico Workshop Planning Team, left to right: Gar Clark, Andres Corral, Melanie Goodman, Art Garcia, Terry McDermott, Karen Archer Perry, Ernie Watson, Kendra Karp. Not pictured: Megan Sandoval.)