Building for Digital Equity—Demystifying Broadband Policy and Funding

We’re living through a time with an unprecedented level of broadband infrastructure funding, fueled not only by the American Rescue Plan, but the Consolidated Appropriated Act, the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund, and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. Hundreds of community-driven projects are already underway, but finding solid footing amidst these programs, statutes, and evolving rules is difficult. 

To help, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is teaming up with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for a two-hour livestream event to demystify the landscape.

The event will feature a mixture of short presentations, panels with Q and A across a bunch of different platforms (so you can watch wherever you want), and trivia with prizes.

The topic list will certainly grow, but right now it includes things like:

• How to advocate to state legislatures to best prepare for the flood of federal money
• What cities can do with Rescue Plan, State and Local Fiscal Recovery, and Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Funds
• How to weave digital equity through deployment projects
• How to plan broadband projects to take advantage of the different pots of funding
• Pitfalls to beware of
• How to identify broadband champions in your community

Speakers

• David Keyes, Digital Equity Manager for the City of Seattle
• Shannon Millsaps, Director of Operations at Thrive
• Peggy Schaffer, Executive Director of ConnectMaine Authority 
• Susan Corbett, Founder/Executive Director of the National Digital Equity Center 
• Christopher Mitchell, Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative at ILSR
• Munirih Jester, Digital Inclusion Programs Manager at NDIA
• Abi Waldrupe, Digital Navigator Manager at NDIA
• Christine Parker, Data and GIS Specialist at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance  
• Pamela Rosales, Training and Community Engagement Manager at NDIA