Project OVERCOME Report

As a nonprofit dedicated to guiding communities into the connected future, US Ignite partnered with the National Science Foundation (NSF) to design Project OVERCOME to test creative solutions to connect the unconnected. The
project’s design ensured careful consideration of both the technical requirements of broadband access and the community collaboration, outreach, and engagement needed to explore sustainable success. US Ignite selected communities to build proof-of-concept networks - including fiber, fixed wireless, and wireless deployments - across a mix of rural and urban communities. Selected communities received funding to deploy a novel solution to connect unserved and underserved areas and measure the project’s social impact. The project aimed to understand the strengths and weaknesses of novel broadband solutions that communities can deploy to expand their reach. Project OVERCOME illustrated successes across rural and urban communities, bridging the digital divide with a variety of technologies. With financial support and input from the NSF and Schmidt Futures, participants expanded job opportunities, increased access to health and educational resources, and strengthened community ties. This report celebrates the successes of the projects and the human stories behind those connections.