Broadband Access
In an increasingly connected world, access to reliable, affordable high-speed internet is crucial for individuals, businesses, and communities. This page will serve as a valuable hub, providing you with information, insights, tutorials and resources to navigate the landscape of broadband funding opportunities and technical assistance programs. Whether you’re a rural community seeking to bridge the digital divide or an entrepreneur looking to leverage broadband connectivity, you’ll find a wealth of knowledge here to support your endeavors.
National Broadband Resource Hub
www.broadbandhub.org
The National Broadband Resource Hub is a philanthropic initiative empowering government and community leaders to build a better broadband future.
Center on Rural Innovation
https://ruralinnovation.us/
The Center on Rural Innovation (CORI) is a national nonprofit action tank committed to advancing economic prosperity in rural America through the creation of inclusive digital economy ecosystems that support local entrepreneurship and job creation.
Broadband Bootcamp
The Appalachian Regional Commission, in partnership with the National Broadband Resource Hub, is offering a Zoom-in broadband bootcamp of one-hour sessions over six weeks that will cover everything about broadband that local leaders need to know.
Session 1: Foundations of Broadband
In this first session, equip yourself with the concepts and terminology to have nuanced conversations about broadband technology, understand what technology is right for your contexts, and go deeper in understanding the specific challenges new broadband programs are intended to address. The session covers: the history of connectivity; terminology and technology; and barriers and benefits.
Session 2: Approaches to closing broadband gaps
In this second session, learn about some of the general best practices to broadband planning in every context — and how many different paths can lead to good outcomes. This session will cover: planning frameworks, typical steps in planning process, example scenarios, and public-private partnership case studies.
Session 3: Broadband data and why it matters
In this third session, learn why mapping is important and the role local mapping can play in federal funding opportunities, along with community survey and speed testing tools. This presentation will cover: FCC 477 forms and issues with current data; how “quality” internet speeds are being redefined; changes to service coverage eligibility; the new FCC maps and challenge process; and a robust Q-and-A session!
Session 4: Partnership models for providing high-speed internet service
In this fourth session, we will cover the different forms that public-private partnerships can take when it comes to deploying broadband in rural areas. This includes understanding common partners and considerations, what makes a good ISP partner, partnership structures, and best practices for partnership formation.
Session 5: Broadband funding in the ARC region
In this fifth session, we will cover the information you need to make sure your region can target the right funding at the right time, and be as competitive as possible. We’ll discuss: federal and regional grant programs; local and state funding, private financing options, matching funding, and maximizing grant scores.
Session 6: Digital inclusion
In this sixth session, we dive into the subject of digital inclusion and topics such as: defining the digital divide, digital inclusion, and digital equity: digital equity requirements of funding programs; best practices for enabling greater adoption, including affordability, ACP enrollment, and digital navigators programs; and how to create a digital inclusion plan.
