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April 27, 2020 AZBSN COVID-19 Task Force Meeting

See Meeting Agenda and Conferencing links below
 Steve Peters 520-321-1309 
[email protected]
 ​If possible, please engage by video rather that just audio so that we can also share our screens with you. 
Monday, April 27, 2020
Time: 7:30 - 8:30:00 AM
Audio and Video Conference Only - See Audio Video Tab below

Next Task Force Meetings
Mondays May 4 and 11. Ad hoc meetings as needed.
All meetings are Monday morning 7:30 am - 8:30 AM  by audio and video conferencing

We're mobilizing our Subcommittees!  
If you haven't already done so, please fill out this survey to volunteer for one or more of our subcommittees. We also want to know if you will step-up as the Champion/Facilitator of a subcommittee to help facilitate the work of the subcommittees. Need more info about the subcommittees see the About COVID Task Force Tab below.

• About COVID Task Force
• Apr. 27 Meeting Agenda
• Updates/Resources
• Audio Video Conferencing
  

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AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force Mission and Strategy 

Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic the world is creating the largest telecommunity of all time. Social and physical distancing is becoming the new normal requiring unpresented demand for digital access for all Arizona communities including tribal, rural and other underserved communities and low-income neighborhoods in Arizona. 

AZBSN, the Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network, led by ATIC, the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council, GAZEL, the Greater Arizona Educational Leadership organization, in cooperation with many other stakeholder organizations, have created  an AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force.

What Is Digital Access
​Digital access is more than just access to fast affordable and reliable Broadband Internet access.

​Everyone, especially students, also require access to technology such as computers, laptops, smart phones and other digital equipment such as routers, hotspots, security cameras, telemedicine hardware/software, etc., and digital content resources.​

The Task Force will:

• Facilitate collaboration, coordination, information sharing and communication among key public, private and nonprofit stakeholders
• Collaborate on priority initiatives for schools, libraries, telemedicine, communities, and more
• Develop a statewide COVID-19 digital access strategy to support, schools, universities, community colleges, students, homes, libraries, health care facilities, businesses and communities
• Identify and advocate for funding to enable implementation of COVID-19 Digital Access Projects

Task Force Participation
Participation will include representation from: state and local government officials, public policy makers, rural community leaders, economic development, education, local or state government, health services, public safety, libraries, telecommunications and technology companies, and more.  

AZBSN COVID-19 Task Force Plans and Subcommittees

• Regular Task Force informational, coordinating and planning meetings
• Task Force Subcommittees including Education, Libraries, Telemedicine, Service Providers, Communities, and Funding
• Regular Community, Stakeholder, and Citizen Communications by newsletters, webinars, web site and informational meetings, social media, etc.
• Service Provider Resources with Arizona Contacts
• Federal and State Digital Access Briefings
• Short Term Initiatives
• Online Database: Resources, Needs, Contacts, etc.
• Collaboration Platform
• A State plan defining short term plans and priorities that will identify challenges, barriers and recommendations related to  key issues including Education, Libraries, Telemedicine, Service Providers, Communities, and Funding
• AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force Web Pages, with links to and from the Arizona Commerce Authority and other sites providing related information
• Statewide Webinars and stakeholder informational meetings
• AZBSN Newsletters to all relevant stakeholders in Arizona
• Social Media Announcements 

Charge To The Teams
Teams will address the following questions:

• What do you perceive are the major Digital Access/Digital Inclusion needs such as Internet access and devices, as well as training, funding and technical support. What are the issues/barriers?
• What specific strategies, initiatives, resources, partnerships, technologies or opportunities can we recommend to help address these needs. If we can determine it, what specific funding do we need?
• Who else needs to be involved in your Committee?
• Others Questions?

Teams

• Education: What are the Digital Access/Digital Inclusion needs such as Internet access and devices, as well as training, funding and technical support are needed for public and private K-12 schools, community colleges, universities, students, families, faculty? What are the barriers? What specific strategies, initiatives, resources, partnerships, technologies or opportunities can we recommend/initiate to help address these needs.
• Libraries: What are the Digital Access/Digital Inclusion needs such as Internet access and devices, as well as training, funding and technical support to enable access and support for libraries, library patrons and the community. What are the barriers? What specific strategies, initiatives, resources, partnerships, technologies or opportunities can we recommend/initiate to help address these needs.
• Communities: What are the Digital Access/Digital Inclusion needs such as Internet access and devices, as well as training and funding to support community needs such as small business owners and employees, economic development, government services, public safety, nonprofit organizations, etc. What are the barriers? What specific strategies, initiatives, resources, partnerships, technologies or opportunities can we recommend/initiate to help address these needs.
• Technology: (changed from Service Providers): What Digital Access/Digital Inclusion technologies should be considered to provide Internet access to schools, libraries, families and communities such as wire line, satellite, mesh networks, cellular microwave, WiFi on buses, open schools and libraries Erate networks. What kinds of devices are needed and should be considered such as computers and tablets, cell phones, hot spots, web cams, software, conferencing services?
• Funding/Resources: What funding and resources opportunities are there such as federal, state and local funding, foundations, donation campaigns, volunteer support, refurbished equipment, donations and support from Internet providers and technology companies, etc.

Note: Telemedicine and Public Safety: While the Task Force also has interest in Telemedicine and Public  Safety, Nancy Rowe Associate Director, Public Policy & Outreach with the Arizona Telemedicine Program / Southwest Telehealth Resource Center is leading an Arizona Telehealth Broadband Action Team, and Karen Ziegler, Public Safety Program Manager with the Arizona Department of Administration is also leading a Public Safety initiative so we will coordinate with, but not duplicate those efforts

Subcommittee Teams

• Education
  
• Libraries
  
• Communities
• Technology
• Funding

Tentative Agenda
Primary agenda item is to continue our discussion on the AZBSN COVID-19 Response.Welcome and Introductions

• Welcome and Introductions
• April 20 Meeting Summary
• Meeting Schedule: April 27 and May 4 and 11
• Thanks Cory Ter Eick  MSS Management Consulting Services, and Terence Ford Insight
• Purpose Of Meeting; Continue the process of mobilizing the Subcommittees
• Federal and State Updates: Jeff Sobotka, State Broadband Manager; Mala Muralidharan, E-rate Administrator for Public Libraries Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Karen Ziegler, Arizona Public Safety Program Manager with the Arizona Department of Administration; Janet Major, Associate Director for Education & Facilities with the Arizona Telemedicine Program; others, Sofia Maberry, Project Manager, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Department of Education
• Purpose of Task Force & Digital Access -See About COVID-19 Task Force Tab
• Mobilizing The Subcommittee Teams Update – Cory and Terence
• Microsoft Teams Training Webinar. View Here
• Survey and Champions
• Time Line – 30, 60 and 90 days
• Engagement with others-newsletter, webinar, invites to participate in Task Force & Subcommittees - Online sign-up and input
• Satellite Industry Updates
• Mesh Networks -
• Announcements ​
• Sponsorships

Updates and Resources

• Arizona Department  Of Education School Technology Survey - For Use Only By School Districts: Sophia Mayberry, Project Manager in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at ADE, is working with Milan Eaton (State E-rate Director at ADE) on conducting a research survey of state schools to understand the digital divide issues of Internet access and devices needed by students  during the COVID-19 school closures.  The survey has been sent to school principals and school district superintendents (rather than families)
• Link to the document for parents to find Broadband that the Arizona Commerce Authority provides to ADE. The document includes help for AZ families to determine Broadband carrier options and COVID-19 specific offers, the statewide map of free WiFi hotspots and instructions for parents to turn on their cellular hotspots which is a much better option now that many carriers’ data caps have been lifted.
• Link to the free WiFi access points statewide developed with State Land and the State Library:
• Mobile Hotspot Donation Drive Form: Gov. Doug Ducey and Supt. of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced a Mobile Hotspot Donation Drive to help K-12 students without home internet access online curriculum. To kick the drive off, the Arizona Department of Administration identified more than 200 hotspot devices across state government that the state is offering to students.
• Pima Community College parking lot WiFi access. It is limited to PCC students. Students can access WiFi in the parking lot of the West Campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Students must show ID or proof of enrollment and must remain in a vehicle.  Only one student per vehicle is permitted. Contact: Michael Amick, Vice President of Distance Education, Pima Community College,Tucson, AZ, 520.206.2308 [email protected]
• Arizona Technology Council Partners with AZ StRUT to Launch a Community Laptop Drive Initiative for Students in Greater Phoenix
• PBS At Home Learning: An Arizona Public Education Partnership. Arizona Public Media and Arizona PBS are partnering to offer Arizonans broadcast programming and accompanying digital resources that adhere to our state curriculum to provide continued at-home learning.
• ​Arizona Together Web Site: See Business Resources page with links for Help with Internet Services and Help with Wireless Services
• Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation Community Laptop Drive for Education: The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation has partnered with Data Doctors, Cox Communications, Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology (AZ StRUT), and School Connect AZ to provide critical laptop access to our K-12 students. Contact Kimberly Vegliante, Education Partnership Manager, at [email protected] or 602.495.2199.
• ​Arizona Public Libraries Digital Inclusion - Wi-Fi Maps: The link will take you to the Digital Inclusion web page with the map. 
• Arizona Commerce Authority: Ensuring Connectivity in Arizona: Resources and Support in Response to COVID-19. Download PDF below
• ​Education Leaders Letter: Letter signed by  over 50 education leaders around the state asking the legislature to approve emergency funding for districts to solve challenges with a digital-divide during long-term closures. Link or download file below
• Article: Phoenix Chamber News Telecom companies keep Arizona connected during COVID-19
• Arizona ​Telemedicine Executive Order: Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order requiring health care insurance companies to expand telemedicine coverage for all services that would normally be covered for an in-person visit. 
• FCC Keep Americans Connected Pledge. See pledge and other FCC waivers, provider commitments and rule changes. FCC Empowers Schools, Libraries to Open Wi-Fi to Community Use - What does this Mean for Arizona - How do we expedite? Barriers and Issues.  
• Proposed FCC Keeping Critical Connections Act would appropriate $2 billion for a Keeping Critical Connections fund at the FCC under which small broadband providers with fewer than 250,000 customers could be compensated for broadband services—if they provided free or discounted broadband services or upgrades—during the pandemic for low-income families who could not afford to pay their bills or provided distance learning capability for students.
• EveryoneOn.Org is a nonprofit connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers, and delivering digital skills training. Multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have made updates to their low-cost internet service programs to ensure individuals and families stay connected . EveryoneOn has updated its low-cost internet service options tool to reflect these changes. For more information, visit EveryoneOn.org​.
• Arizona Department of Education Virtual Resource Hub: These resources are to assist Teachers as they plan for non-traditional instruction including synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning. These resources could compliment your current district adopted online resources.
• Unlicensed 2.5 GHz spectrum over tribal lands: On July 10, 2019 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an Order that made available unassigned portions of key spectrum for broadband use. The order established a tribal priority window for Native American tribes beginning in 2020 and gives tribes an opportunity to file for a license to obtain the spectrum without having to buy it at auction. The Rural Tribal Priority Window opened on February 3, 2020 and will close on August 3, 2020.  Learn more about this opportunity for your lands and your internet sovereignty
  

Commerce Authority Broadband COVID Resources2020.pdf
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