The Why & How to Get a Seat at the Broadband Table
In response to Covid-19 pandemic on top of the years loing backlog of promises to connect the unconnected, Congress has appropriated 10's of $billions for an array of broadband internet expansion and inclusion programs as "Connectivity for All: Broadband and Beyond"
"Lawmakers are now seeing internet connections as a must-have, not a nice-to-have," says Kathryn de Wit, Director, Pew Charitable Trusts Broadband Access Initiative.
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act - $65 billion. Major programs fueling broadband deployments:
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Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program - $42.45 billion
The BEAD program has three associated priorities for use of the funds: building infrastructure, developing broadband action plans, and supporting programs to promote user adoption of new networks.
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Affordable Connectivity Program - $14.2 billion
Other funding -
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$2.75 billion for a Digital Equity program;
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$2 billion for a Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program;
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$2 billion for the Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning, Telemedicine and Broadband Program;
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$1 billion for a new Middle Mile grant program
Register to hear Doug Dawson of POTs and PANs: Broadband for All lead us through the Why and How libraries can be represented at this critical juncture in mapping out the future for the nation's broadband internet infrastructure and fulfilling its promise for universal service.
In response, Doug will be joined by John Windhausen, Excutive Director of the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition