DIGITAL EQUITY
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Community Broadband
Webinars

Community Webinars

Building for Digital Equity: Demystifying Broadband Policy and Funding
Wednesday, March 16th, from 12-2 MT (2-4pm ET)

Reserve your spot now! We are teaming up with the
National Digital Inclusion Alliance for a two-hour livestream event to offer practical insights on how communities can seize this unprecedented moment to pursue community-driven broadband solutions and understand how to leverage the flood of federal funds available in the American Rescue Plan, the Consolidated Appropriation Act, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This event will bring together local stakeholders, policy advocates, and funding experts from across the country. But this isn't your average conference or webinar with 45-minute panels that make your butt go numb and your eyes glaze over. Nope. We're aiming for a fast-paced, fun, and interactive conversation between policy advocates, network buildings, local officials, and anyone else interested in learning.

Key features of the event include:

  • It will be emceed by our own Christopher Mitchell, director of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative, and NDIA’s Training and Community Engagement Manager,Pamela Rosales. 
  • David Keyes, the Digital Equity Manager for the City of Seattle and the first recipient of NDIA’s Charles Benton Digital Equity Champion Award, will share a talk that was very popular at Net Inclusion on how to talk with government officials. 
  • The main event is a 50-minute block with multiple presentations on coalition building that will cover what regional governments and coalitions are doing to leverage the flood of federal funds for broadband in the American Rescue Plan, the Consolidated Appropriation Act, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. 
  • Another block will zero in on key details about the buckets of federal funds available to states and local communities, centered around the five things every local community should know about how these funds can be used most effectively. 

The event will also include a Q&A for participants through a variety of popular social media platforms, along with fun trivia questions and prizes. To register for the event please follow this 
link and be sure to share with those in your network who may be looking to learn more about the funding opportunities available. We look forward to seeing you all there!


Community Broadband Spotlight:
​Chattanooga, Tennessee

10,000 Mbps to every Home and Business? How do they do It?
Mar 4, 2022 11:00 AM - 12 noon Mountain Time (US and Canada) 

Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAtcuCrqT0uGNx_EXQY2r1qx71X_pBpe5u6  

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.REGISTER

​All advocates and community members concerned, curious, or working on Broadband connectivity issues are invited to attend including Connect NM Council, Broadband Collective, Homework Gap Team, New Mexico DoIT, Smart and Connected Cities, Pueblo Connect, regional COGS, state agencies, counties, tribes, municipalities, coalitions, schools, libraries, community centers, neighborhood networks, and concerned citizens of all ages including students, teachers, and Seniors.
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USDA Rural Development Grants
Connect Your Community with the USDA Rural Development Telecommunication Programs
Join us for a webinar on loan and grant funding available  |
January 13, 2022 at 10 AM MST

High-speed broadband is vital to the prosperity of rural America. This can be accomplished in your commuity through loans and grants to build infrastructure and install equipment providing modern, reliable, high-speed Internet. Join this webinar to hear the latest information on accessing funding to build and expand telecommunication systems in rural communities. Ultimately, the creation of these systems will provide rural residents better access health care and education opportunities. Presented by USDA Rural Development’s Rural Utilities Service (RUS) staff
What:    Webinar highlighting program opportunities in our telecommunications programs to include the Re-Connect, Community Connect,and Distance Learning Telemedicine (DLT) programs for rural communities.
When:   January 13, 2022 at 10 AM MST
Why: To provide the latest information on how a rural community can apply for funding to build or expand broadband telecommunication services. To register for the webinar click here.
To learn more about Rural Development’s Telecom Programs, click here.
For more information or questions about the webinar contact amy.mund@usda.gov.
National League of Cities Digital Equity Playbook Webinar:
​How City Leaders Can Bridge the Digital Divide

Thursday, December 09, 2021
​In this webinar, attendees heard about findings from NLC’s new Digital Equity Playbook, which helps city leaders determine the causes of the digital divide in their communities, shares recommendations to address it, highlights stories from other local government leaders, and provides additional resources to consider in this work. A panel of digital inclusion experts and city leaders discussed why addressing the gap in broadband access is so important, and the critical role of cities, towns and villages in driving this work forward.
Slides and Webinar Recording: a-digital-equity-playbook-how-city-leaders-can-bridge-the-digital-divide
Link to online Digital Equity Playbook
ReConnect Loan and Grant Program Workshop - "Rural E-Connectivity Program"
Wednesday, November 17, 2021 9-10am MT
The _New Mexico Department of Information Technology_ (NM DoIT) has partnered with _CTC Technology & Energy_ to host a workshop on the USDA's Broadband ReConnect program. This informational workshop will provide detail regarding opportunities 
associated with the USDA ReConnect Program. This program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement,
and/or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service to eligible rural areas.
The USDA's Broadband ReConnect Program new rules dramatically expand eligibility and effectively redefine broadband. Entities that can apply for ReConnect assistance include corporations, limited liability companies/partnerships, cooperative or mutual organizations, states/local governments including agency/subdivision/instrumentality/political subdivision, and Tribal (as defined in Section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b)). Please join us as we review the program's new rules, provide guidance on how to take advantage of this funding opportunity, and share tips on how to position your application.
Register: https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJElcOyuqzsvHtIJvHxkULVAbtPhK8zyAE7t
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
DoIT New Mexico Broadband Program and CTC Technology and Energy
Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA)
ReConnect Program Fact Sheet

Link to ReConnect Program Service Area Maps from the USDA
Evaluation Criteria
- https://www.usda.gov/reconnect/evaluation-criteria
Webinar Resources
  • USDA ReConnect Funding Webinar Slides
  • USDA Reconnect Funding Webinar Recording
  • Federal Funding Webinar Slides
  • Federal Funding Webinar Recording
Technical: Gar Clarke, Broadband Project Manager
Programmatic: Rand Tilton, Broadband Program Manager

Bridging the Digital Divide on Tribal Land - Esri Webinar
Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | 8:00 a.m.–9:00 a.m. (PT)
Recording  http://go.esri.com/Digital1116
Leverage ArcGIS to communicate the need and build your plan for expanding access to broadband.
Join Esri experts to learn how tribal communities can promote universal connectivity through a data-driven approach that facilitates collaboration, provides transparency, and drives results. In this webinar we'll discuss the following, all with the goal of helping bridge the digital divide:
  • Broadband availability on tribal land
  • Adoption and infrastructure data available in ArcGIS Living Atlas of the World
  • How ArcGIS and its range of capabilities can be leveraged to help enhance understanding, inform decision-making, and improve program management
    Register: ​https://www.esri.com/en-us/lg/industry/government/bridging-the-digital-divide-on-tribal-land0?adumkts=industry_solutions&aduse=national_government&aduc=industry_manager_outreach&utm_Source=industry_manager_outreach&aduca=modernizing_tribal_government&aduco=gbd&adut=G2319350&adulb=multiple&adusn=multiple&aduat=webinar&adupt=awareness&sf_id=7015x000001P1yRAAS
New Mexico Technical Assistance Program - Funding and Webinars
The New Mexico Department of Information Technology (DoIT) is the recipient of a U.S. Economic Development Administration grant to provide technical assistance for entities seeking to expand broadband infrastructure and services in response to the critical need for internet access. DoIT has partnered with CTC Technology & Energy (CTC) to execute this program, the New Mexico Technical Assistance Program (NM TAP).
FEDERAL FUNDING AND STAKEHOLDER WEBINARS
DoIT and CTC will host two sessions with New Mexico broadband stakeholders in support of these efforts. The goals of these sessions are to: 
·     Provide an overview of federal funding opportunities available to municipalities, communities, and service providers 
       that may assist with funding broadband development in New Mexico

·     Share information on recent legislation impacting broadband policy in the state
·     Share information about the technical assistance program including the RFI process and services offered
·     Engage stakeholders regarding broadband needs and where technical assistance will be impactful

SESSION ONE – Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities Webinar  
Wednesday, September 15, 2021, 11AM-12:30PM Mountain.
Will provide relevant highlights of current federal funding opportunities for broadband. There will also be a question-and-answer session. 
​https://zoom.us/j/95803012995?pwd=Z2twMGZ6dEcvdVNWczU4R3BYb1o2dz09


SESSION TWO – Technical Assistance Program Webinar for Stakeholders 
Thursday, September 16, 2021,  2-3PM Mountain
Share information on the new legislation and the technical assistance program, and to provide a forum for stakeholder input on technical support needs.  
https://zoom.us/j/95618515371?pwd=SzZwRmFyVzlGY3RmRGdPNkpkNCtJdz09
Karen White
VP Client Solutions | CTC Technology & Energy 
kwhite@ctcnet.us | www.ctcnet.us
202-796-0472 office 
303-808-7393 cell
Gar Clarke
NM Broadband Project Manager
New Mexico Department of Information Technology
George.Clarke@state.nm.us
505.827-1663 office
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This website initially established in response to community needs by CommUNITY Learning Network (CLN) with support from the, National Science Foundation Smart and Connected Cities Pueblo Connect initiative and the Broadband Office of the New Mexico Department of Information Technology (NM DoIT) as well as other collaborating agencies and advocates listed here.
Copyright ​© 2021
  • Home
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