Cohorts

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program convenes and facilitates the State Broadband Leaders Network (SBLN), a community of state and territory practitioners who work on increasing high-speed Internet deployment and access at the state level.;

SBLN participants meet virtually each month and in-person two times a year. They share priorities and best practices and discuss emerging telecommunications policy issues at the federal and state level. SBLN provides a forum to strengthen policy and program connections among states, local jurisdictions and federal agencies, providing opportunities to improve funding coordination, align policies and address barriers to collaboration across states and agencies. NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) works with SBLN participants to support state and territory government staff with technical assistance on effectively implementing the BEAD and Digital Equity grant programs and sharing suggestions and best practices on how to work and partner with communities, businesses, and organizations within their jurisdictions.

More than 400 state and territory government staff from all fifty states, American Samoa, the District of Columbia, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands actively participate in SBLN. Because each state and territory approaches broadband access and deployment differently, a variety of state level offices participate in the SBLN. Participants are affiliated with a dedicated broadband office in their state or territory or have broadband identified as a specific responsibility. The offices generally reside in the governor’s office, economic development or commerce office, the CIO’s office, or the public utility/public service commission.

The SBLN serves as a space for trainings, conversations, and technical assistance for states and territories during all stages during rollout of the following programs:​

• The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 56 states and territories.​
• The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion to establish three grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. ​

The BroadbandUSA website lists broadband programs in each state and territory including BEAD, Digital Equity, mapping, technical assistance, policy developments, and others. Click on a state in the map to learn more.

If you are interested in contacting your state broadband office, the SBLN page has the contacts listed.

For more information, contact Zoë Meeken: zmeeken@ntia.gov.

NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program convenes and facilitates the Tribal Broadband Leaders Network (TBLN), a community of practitioners who work on increasing broadband deployment and access on Tribal lands.

TBLN participants meet virtually each month and have periodic in person meetings. They share priorities and best practices, discuss emerging telecommunications policy issues, and identify engagement strategies with state broadband leaders. TBLN provides a forum to strengthen policy and program connections among Tribal leaders and broadband providers, providing opportunities to improve funding coordination, align policies, and address barriers to collaboration with other state and federal agencies. NTIA’s Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) works with TBLN participants to support Tribal leaders and providers with technical assistance on effectively implementing the Tribal Broadband Connectivity grant program and facilitating conversations amongst the participants to share best practices on how to work and partner with communities, businesses, and organizations within their jurisdictions.

More than 250 attendees comprised of Tribal leaders from over 150 Tribes, Tribal Organizations and their selected appointees actively participate in TBLN. Since each Tribal entity approaches broadband access and deployment differently, TBLN includes both Tribal leaders and providers.

TBLN serves as a space for trainings, conversations, and technical assistance for tribes during all stages of the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) which supports Tribal governments bringing broadband to Tribal lands, including telehealth, distance learning, affordability, and digital inclusion initiatives.

On BroadbandUSA’s Tribal Nations Page, you can find information on tribal consultations, TBCP webinar recordings, state engagement, mapping resources, and contacts for TBCP staff. Additionally, the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program Resource Page provides information about the TBCP program, including the Awardee Map.

For more information, contact TBLN@ntia.gov.