Arizona Telecommunications & Information Council
  • Home
  • COVID-19 AZBSN Task Force
  • ATIC
    • About
    • ATIC Board >
      • ATIC Board
      • Board Meetings >
        • Current Board Meeting
        • Board Minutes
    • Partnerships/Business Model WG >
      • Partnerships/Business Model Working Group
      • Current Working Group Meeting
    • ATIC Projects >
      • Broadband Stakeholder Network
      • Labster Virtual Laboratories
    • ATIC Resource Documents >
      • ATIC Background & Resources
    • ATIC Accomplishments
    • Conferencing Links
  • Stakeholder Network
    • About Stakeholder Network
    • AZBSN COVID-19 Task Force >
      • COVID-19 About
      • Task Force Report 2020
      • Media Release 2020
      • Funding Request 2020
      • COVID-19 Contacts
      • Cyber Security AZBSN Team
      • CPLC & AZBSN EDA Grant
      • COVID-Design Team >
        • COVID Design Team Dec 16 2021 >
          • COVID Design Team Summary Dec 16 2021
        • COVID Design Team Nov 18, 2021
        • COVID Design Team Apr 8
        • COVID Design Team Mar 8
      • COVID Updates >
        • COVID Update January 2022
        • COVID Update December 2021
        • COVID Update November 2021
        • COVID Update September 14 2021
        • COVID Update Aug 26 2021
        • COVID Update July 23 2021
        • COVID Update July 1 2021
        • COVID Update June 23 2021
        • COVID Update June 16 2021
        • COVID Update June 10 2021
        • COVID Update June 7, 2021
        • COVID Update May 20, 2021
        • COVID Update May 13, 2021
        • COVID Update May 4, 2021
        • COVID Update April 22, 2021
        • COVID Update April 15, 2021
        • COVID Update April 8, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 29, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 25, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 16, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 11, 2021
      • Task Force Networking Apr 22, 2021
      • COVID MEETINGS & MINUTES >
        • March 27, 2023 AZBSN Meeting
        • March 20, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • March 13, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • March 6, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • February 27, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • February 13, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • February 6, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • January 30, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • January 23, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • January 9, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • December 19, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • December 12, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • December 5, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 28, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 21, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 14, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 7, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 31, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 24, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 17, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 3, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • September 26, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • September 19, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • September 12, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 29, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 22, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 15, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 1, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • July 18, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • July 11, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 27, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 20, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 13, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 6, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 23, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 16, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 9, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 2, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • April 25 2022 COVID Meeting
        • Apri 18, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • Apri 11, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • April 4, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 28, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 21, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 14, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 7, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • February 28, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • February 14, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • February 7, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 31, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 24, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 10, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 3, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • December 20 2021 COVID Meeting
        • December 13, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • December 6, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 29, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 22, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 15, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 8, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 1, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • October 25 2021 COVID Meeting
        • October 18 2021 COVID Meeting
        • October 4 2021 COVID Meeting
        • September 27 2021 COVID Meeting
        • September 20 2021 COVID Meeting
        • September 13 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 30 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 23 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 16 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 9 2021 COVID Meeting
        • July 12, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • July 19, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • July 26 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 2 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 28, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 21, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 14, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 7 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 24 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 17 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 10 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 3 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 26 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 19 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 12 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 5 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 29 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 22 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 15 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 8 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 1 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 3 2021 Coordinating Meeting
        • Feb 22 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Feb 8 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Feb 1 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Jan 25 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Jan 11 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Jan 4 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Dec 14 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Dec 7 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 30 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 16 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 9 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 2 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct 26 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct -19 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct -12 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct -5 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Sept-28 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Sept-21 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Sept 14 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 31 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 24 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 17 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 10 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 3 2020 COVID Meeting
        • July 27 2020 COVID Meeting
        • July 20 2020 COVID Meeting
        • July 13 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 29 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 22 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 15 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 8 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 1, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • May 18, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • May 11, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • May 4, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 27, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 20, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 13, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 6, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Mar 30, 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Mar 27 2020 Covid Meeting
      • COVID MINUTES >
        • Minutes Apr 27 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Apr 20 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Apr 13 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Apr 6 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 30 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 27 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 23 2020 Covid Meeting
      • COVID-Resources >
        • FCC EBB & Lifeline
      • TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLANNING >
        • COVID-19 Planning
        • Strategic Plan Update 2023
    • AZBSN 2020 Initiatives
    • Leadership Team >
      • Meetings >
        • Mar 27 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Mar 23 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Mar 6 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Feb 7 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Jan 7, 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Oct. 31 2019 Committee Meeting
        • Oct. 7, 2019 Committee Meeting
        • July 12, 2019 Committee Meeting
        • Mar.21, 2019 Committee Meeting
        • Mar. 14, 2019 Committee Meeting
      • Team Members & Contacts
      • Meeting Minutes >
        • Minutes Mar 23 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 6, 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Feb 7, 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Jan 7, 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Oct 31, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Oct 7, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes July 12, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 21, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar. 14 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 7 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes May 7 Team Meeting
      • To Do List
    • Join Stakeholder Network
    • Roundtables >
      • About Roundtables
      • May 29, 2019 Roundtable
    • Sponsorships
    • Plans and Resources
    • Contact Us
  • AZ Broadband
    • Why Broadband
    • AZ Initiatives >
      • AZ Broadband Strategic Plan
      • AZ Broadband For Education
      • AZ Broadband Assement Project
      • AZ FirstNet
  • Resources
    • Funding >
      • Community Reinvestment Funding
    • Organizations >
      • Resource Organizations
    • Documents >
      • Arizona's Strategic Plan for Digital Capacity
    • Contacts >
      • Resource Contacts
  • Events
    • MAY 28, 2019 ROUNDTABLE >
      • About May 2019 Roundtable
      • AFTER THE ROUNDTABLE >
        • Roundtable Survey
        • Additional Roundtable Info
      • Roundtable Sponsors
      • Roundtable Partners
      • Roundtable Registration
      • Roundtable Program
      • Organizations
      • Ignite Invite
      • Webinar
      • Roundtable Exhibitor Requirements
    • FCC Forums 2020
    • DEC 2019 WEBINAR >
      • About Dec. 2019 Webinar
      • Webinar Program
      • Webinar Registration
      • Webinar Organizations
      • AFTER THE WEBINAR >
        • Webinar Survey
    • JAN 2020 WEBINAR >
      • About Jan 2020 Webinar
      • Webinar 2020 Funding
      • Webinar 2020 Program
      • Webinar 2020 Registration
      • Webinar 2020 Organizations
      • Webinar 2020 Survey
  • News
    • News Feb 2020
  • Connect With ATIC
  • Resource Documents
  • Current Board Meeting

 ​COVID-19 Task Force Meetings and Minutes

Picture
About    Contacts    Meetings & Minutes    Resources    Updates     Planning and Strategy Plan    Connect-Arizona

Task Force ​Meetings and Minutes 

Next Meeting - 3:00 -4:15 p.m. - March 27 2023
New Task Force meeting time 3:00 -4:15 pm Monday Afternoon​

Archive Meeting and Minutes

Previous Meetings

Vertical Divider
​2023
  • March 27, 2023
  • March 20, 2023
  • March 13, 2023
  • March 6, 2023
  • February 27, 2023
  • February 13, 2023
  • February 6, 2023
  • January 30, 2023
  • January 23, 2023
2022
  • December 19, 2022
  • December 12, 2022
  • December 5, 2022
  • November 28, 2022
  • November 21, 2022
  • November 14, 2022
  • November 7, 2022
  • October 24, 2022
  • October 17, 2022
  • October 3, 2022
  • September 26, 2022
  • September 19, 2022
  • September 12, 2022
  • August 29, 2022
  • August 22, 2022
  • August 15, 2022
  • August 1, 2022
  • July 18, 2022
  • No Meeting July 25
  • August 1, 2022
  • August 8, 2022
  • July 11, 2022
  • June 27, 2022
  • June 20, 2022
  • June 13, 2022
  • June 6, 2022
  • May 23, 2022
  • May 16, 2022
  • May 9, 2022
  • May 2, 2022
  • April 25, 2022
  • April 18, 2022
  • April 11, 2022
  • April 4, 2022
  • March 28, 2022
  • March 21, 2022
  • March 14, 2022
  • March 7, 2022
  • February 28, 2022
  • February 14, 2022
  • February 7, 2022
  • January 31, 2022
  • January 24, 2022
  • January 10, 2022
  • January 3, 2022
2021 and Prior
  • December 20, 2021
  • December 13, 2021
  • December 6, 2021
  • November 29, 2021
  • November 15, 2021
  • November 8, 2021
  • November 1, 2021
  • October 25, 2021
  • October 18, 2021
  • October 4, 2021
  • September 27, 2021
  • September 20, 2021
  • September 13, 2021
  • August 30, 2021
  • August 23, 2021
  • August 16, 2021
  • August 9, 2021
  • August 2, 2021 
  • July 26, 2021
  • July 19, 2021
  • July 12, 2021
  • June 28, 2021
  • June 21, 2021
  • June 14, 2021
  • June 7, 2021
  • May 24, 2021
  • May 17, 2021
  • May 10, 2021
  • May 3, 2021
  • April 26, 2021
  • April 19, 2021
  • April 12, 2021
  • April 5, 2021
  • March 29, 2021
  • March 22, 2021
  • March 15, 2019
  • March 8, 2021
  • March 1, 2021
  • February 22, 2021
  • February 8, 2021
  • February 1, 2021
  • January 25, 2021
  • January 11, 2021
  • January 4, 2021
  • December 14, 2020
  • December 7, 2020​
  • November 30, 2020
  • November 16, 2020
  • November 9, 2020
  • November 2, 2020
  • October 26, 2020
  • October 19, 2020
  • October 12, 2020
  • ​October 5, 2020
  • September 28, 2020
  • September 21, 2020
  • September 14, 2020
  • August 24, 2020
  • August 10, 2020
  • August 3, 2020
  • July 27, 2020
  • July 20, 2020
  • July 13, 2020
  • June 29, 2020
  • June 22, 2020
  • June 15, 2020
  • June 8, 2020
  • June 1, 2020
  • May 18, 2020
  • May 11, 2020
  • ​​​May 4, 2020​​
  • April 27, 2020​








































































































































































Previous Meeting Reports

Download Files and View Meeting Recordings
March 20, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule: March 20, 27

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 

​Meeting Update
For details about updates and upcoming events, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • March 20, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • March 20, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • March 20, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • March 20, 2023 Zoom Transcript​ This link takes you to the Otter AI webpage where you can review the transcript, and, if you double click on the paragraph, you can also hear the speaker. Pretty awesome.​
Download presentations
  • Allen Gjersvig (Jers – vig), consultant with the Children’s Action Alliance 
  • Ilana Lowery, Arizona Director, Common Sense Media
  • DES ACP Sign-up Flyer
  • Unwinding Medicaid Continuous Coverage Help Arizonans Stay Covered
    CoverAZ Website http://coveraz.org/unwinding/ 
Presenter Contacts
  • Dawn Jones,  Community Engagement Liaison, Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility Arizona Department of Economic Security, dawnjones@azdes.gov, Cell: (602) 619-9434
  • April Jones, Community Engagement Liaison, Director’s Office of Community Engagement Department of Economic Security, AprilJones@azdes.gov, 480.490.6720
  • Allen Gjersvig (Jers – vig), consultant with the Children’s Action Alliance coordinating their outreach initiative Unwinding AHCCCS Continuous Coverage & Enrollment regarding the end of AHCCCS Continuous Enrollment April 1, 2023 Allen Gjersvig agjersvig@azchildren.org 480-223-3567
  • Ilana Lowery, Arizona Director, Common Sense Media  ilowery@commonsense.org 623-341-0177
  • Lupe Valenzuela, Strategy and Tech operations director, Chicanos Por La Causa  lupe.valenzuela@cplc.org 602- 702- 6661
  • Gretchen Wolfe, Special Projects Administrator, City of Phoenix, Community and Economic Development, 602-495-0747 Office Gretchen.Wolfe@Phoenix.gov
  • Nicole Umayam, NTIA Federal Program Officer, numayam@ntia.gov 202-308-7160
Important Announcements
  • Congrats Janet Major named Fellow of the American Telemedicine Association (FATA)
  • Congrats Cindy Hogan. Cindy has been appointed Arizona Commerce Authority Digital Equity Program Manager, cindyh@azcommerce.com,  602-845-1292
  • The Digital Equity Institute has been selected as the contractor for the ACA Digital Equity planning 
  • Update: Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program- Four Arizona Grants 
          --- Chicanos Por La Causa $750,000
         --- City of Phoenix, Community and Economic Development Dept $700,000
         --- Promise Arizona $251,000 
         --- Navajo County
  • CyberSecurity teaching position: The Pima County Joint Technological District is looking for leads  to fill their CyberSecurity teaching position. The person we hire will be joining a talented teacher we currently have on staff to expand the program.  Additional information here .  
  • U.S. Department of Commerce funding $106 million to five Arizona tribes to boost broadband installation and access
    --- The Navajo Tribal Utility Authority received $50.8 million in funding for a project that will install fiber optic cables, fixed wireless and 2.5 GHz wireless networks across the Navajo Nation. The development will directly connect nearly 21,000 homes.
    --- The White Mountain Apache Tribe received $23.4 million for a project to install fiber optic cables that would connect more than 3,600 households and 56 tribal businesses.
    --- Tripplet Mountain Communications Inc. from the San Carlos Apache Tribe received $9.9 million for a project to install fiber optic cables to more than 6,900 unserved households.
    --- Hopi Telecommunications Inc. from the Hopi Tribe received $13.8 million for a project to install fiber optic cables in more than 1,000 unserved households, plus 18 businesses and six community anchor institutions.
March 20 Meeting Review
​ The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • Update: ​AZBSN & Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Collaborative Campaigns: As you may know, AZBSN has begun a discussion with the FCC, the Arizona Access Program, the State Library, our other affiliated organizations, and other health care organizations regarding collaboration on a Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaign. At a previous meeting Marcus Johnson, state Health Policy Director with Vitalyst Health Foundation, and Lyle Ishida, Chief of the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division with the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau @ the Federal Communications Commission joined our initial discussion regarding  collaboration. Marcus reported that 650,000 AZ residents could lose their Medicaid coverage. They are required to re-enroll annually, however, due to the COVID health emergency they have not had to update their information for 2 years. Now that the "health emergency" is over, they are now required to update their information/re-enroll.​

    The Arizona Access program, DES, the Children’s Action Alliance in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing a re-enrollment campaign that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more. Applicants will be required to provide similar information required for ACP. The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations, will explore opportunities to collaborate with this campaign to promote ACP signup.  

    To continue our discussion about collaboration, on March 20 representatives from DES and Children’s Action Alliance presented at the meeting:
    --- April Jones, DES Community Engagement Liaison for the Central Region and Projects Manager with Office of The Director 

    --- Dawn Jones, with the Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility at DES provided an update on the DES ACP plan soon to be launched.  Internet and device discounts are available to SNAP and Tribal TANF clients! AZ DES, and its federal partners have recently improved the application approval process to make it even faster and easier for our clients to obtain ACP discounts. Clients who submit an application through ACP and are determined eligible for SNAP or Tribal TANF can now go directly to a
    service provider and sign up for discounts. How to Apply: Once verification is obtained, clients can go directly to their local provider and ask about potential discounts through the ACP! Clients can verify: By phone:1-877-384-2575, Online at Connect Arizona; Online through Federal Lifeline National Verification website. Within seconds of submission, it will check to see if the client has an open Arizona SNAP or
    Tribal TANF case.
    ---Allen Gjersvig (Jers – vig) is a consultant with the Children’s Action Alliance coordinating their outreach initiative Unwinding AHCCCS Continuous Coverage & Enrollment regarding the end of AHCCCS Continuous Enrollment April 1, 2023 Allen provided an overview of the Continuous Coverage program and additional resources including: HEA+ (Health E Arizona-Plus) Online portal for AHCCCS, KidsCare & SNAP; Health Application Assister (HAA): broad term for anyone trained to use HEA+ for AHCCCS, KidsCare and SNAP;Health Insurance Navigator: must be affiliated with a CMS Navigator grantee, and AZ Alliance For Community Health Centers (AACHC) is the only Navigator entity in AZ.
    Assisters and Navigators work with low-income families. See Allen's presentation for details 
    Allen Gjersvig (Jers – vig), consultant with the Children’s Action Alliance 

    Erin Lorandos, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the Arizona State Library reported on the work she has already begun on this initiative. ​ 

    Collaboration Opportunities: Based upon the discussion at the meeting it was clear that there was great opportunity for collaboration including: AZBSN and our affiliated organizations, FCC, NTIA, the Arizona Access Program, the State Library, DES and the Children's Action Alliance, Arizona Commerce Authority, Chicanos Por La Causa, along with the other Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program recipients (City of Phoenix, Community and Economic Development Dept, Promise Arizona, Navajo County), Common Sense Media, and more.  Gretchen Wolfe, Special Projects Administrator with the City Of Phoenix reported that she is reaching out to the other  Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program leaders to arrange a meeting. AZBSN will create a Coordinating Team to facilitate communication and collaboration. 

    ​Mauricio Orozco, Manager of Community Engagement with Care1st Health Plan Arizona and Erin Lorandos, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the State Library will lead the Task Force collaboration efforts.|
  • NTIA Request For Comment: Nicole Umayam reported that NTIA has issued a Request For Comment: How To Structure the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program and the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant program. Comments are due no later than May 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm EST 

    NTIA published a Request for Comment soliciting input on how NTIA should structure the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program and the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant program. The goal is to get input from everyone with an interest in these issues, especially people with lived experiences of not having sufficient access to affordable high-speed broadband service, or who have lacked the skills and/or devices to fully utilize whatever connectivity exists. They are also want to get the perspective of groups that represent such individuals and that NTIA is looking for  wide breadth of input on these topics and would appreciate efforts to help publicize this request for comment in Arizona. The Request for Comment has information on how to submit input. The Notice is available at: 2023-04242.pdf (govinfo.gov) Comments are due no later than May 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm EST. 

    ​For Additional Information the Benton Institution provides a great summary of the information NTIA is looking for https://www.benton.org/blog/ntia-needs-hear-you-about-two-new-digital-equity-programs. They will look at: 1) key definitions (Digital Equity; Digital Inclusion;  Access; 4) Covered Populations; 5) Digital Literacy; 6) Meaningful Use; 7) Community anchor institution). The ​NTIA is using in this proceeding, some background on NTIA's recent digital equity work, and the questions NTIA seeks input on. Of note, this is just a quick summary of the NTIA's request for comment; for anyone seeking to participate in the proceeding, please read the public notice for details about how you can provide input.
  • Ilana Lowery: Arizona Director, Common Sense Media presented their Lessons Common Sense Media learned with their ACP pilot awareness and enrollment campaign in Phoenix.   
  • Other updates:  
  • Events - see email announcements for links and details​​​​

March 13, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule: March 20, 27

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​march_13_2023_azbsn_chat_transcript.pdf
Meeting Update

For details about updates and upcoming events, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • March 13, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • March 13, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • March 13, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • March 13, 2023 Zoom Transcript​ ​
  • Download Presentation: Digital Inclusion Planning And The Local First Arizona Economic Recovery Center: Katie Mccown, Senior Manager of Economic Development, Local First Arizona Download File Here
  • Download Brief: Mark Goldstein:  “US Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities” brief with a visual timeline and program-by-program summary providing a high-level overview of the entire generational broadband infrastructure investment wave. Download the file here
March 13 Meeting Review
​ The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • AZBSN & Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Collaborative Campaigns: As you may know, AZBSN has begun a discussion with the FCC, the Arizona Access Program, the State Library, our other affiliated organizations, and other health care organizations regarding collaboration on a Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaign. At a previous meeting Marcus Johnson, state Health Policy Director with Vitalyst Health Foundation, and Lyle Ishida, Chief of the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division with the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau @ the Federal Communications Commission joined our initial discussion regarding  collaboration. Marcus reported that 650,000 AZ residents could lose their Medicaid coverage. They are required to re-enroll annually, however, due to the COVID health emergency they have not had to update their information for 2 years. Now that the "health emergency" is over, they are now required to update their information/re-enroll.

    The Arizona Access program, DES, the Children’s Action Alliance in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing a re-enrollment campaign that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more. Applicants will be required to provide similar information required for ACP. The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations, will explore opportunities to collaborate with this campaign to promote ACP signup.  

    To continue our discussion about collaboration, on March 20 representatives from DES and Children’s Action Alliance presented at the meeting:
    --- Dawn Jones, with the Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility at DES 
    --- April Jones, DES Community Engagement Liaison for the Central Region and Projects Manager with Office of The Director will provide an update on the DES ACP plan soon to be launched.  
    ---Allen Gjersvig (Jers – vig) is a consultant with the Children’s Action Alliance coordinating their outreach initiative Unwinding AHCCCS Continuous Coverage & Enrollment regarding the end of AHCCCS Continuous Enrollment April 1, 2023 

    Mauricio Orozco, Manager of Community Engagement with Care1st Health Plan Arizona and Erin Lorandos, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the State Library will lead the Task Force collaboration with Marcus, Lyle, and other organizations.|
  •  ​​NTIA Request For Comment: Nicole reported that NTIA has issued a Request For Comment: How To Structure the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program and the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant program. Comments are due no later than May 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm EST 

  • NTIA published a Request for Comment soliciting input on how NTIA should structure the $1.44 billion State Digital Equity Capacity Grant program and the $1.25 billion Digital Equity Competitive Grant program. The goal is to get input from everyone with an interest in these issues, especially people with lived experiences of not having sufficient access to affordable high-speed broadband service, or who have lacked the skills and/or devices to fully utilize whatever connectivity exists.

    Nicole Umayam reported they are also eager to get the perspective of groups that represent such individuals and that NTIA is looking for  wide breadth of input on these topics and would appreciate efforts to help publicize this request for comment in Arizona. The Request for Comment has information on how to submit input. The Notice is available at: 2023-04242.pdf (govinfo.gov) Comments are due no later than May 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm EST. 

    For Additional Information the Benton Institution 
    provides a great summary of the information they are looking for https://www.benton.org/blog/ntia-needs-hear-you-about-two-new-digital-equity-programs. They will look at: 1) key definitions (Digital Equity; Digital Inclusion;  Access; 2) Covered Populations; 3) Digital Literacy; 4) Meaningful Use; 5) Community anchor institutions. The ​NTIA is also using in this proceeding, some background on NTIA's recent digital equity work, and the questions NTIA seeks input on. Of note, this is just a quick summary of the NTIA's request for comment; for anyone seeking to participate in the proceeding, please read the public notice for details about how you can provide input. 
  • Announcement: Steve reported that Chicanos Por La Causa will receive a $750,000 grant for the FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program. Details coming.
  • Cyber Security. Steve reported that he and Mala have started working on the Development of a Broadband & Digital Inclusion Cyber Security Team (Name TBD). The Team tentatively will focus on several areas:  
    --- Support Erate Cyber security for schools and libraries
    --- Secure Networks
    --- Secure Devices 
    --- Secure people
    ​--- Provide input into the BEAD and Digital Inclusion planning
    See Draft Web Page here. Please note that this is a work in progress-Changes Required
  • Ilana Lowery Arizona Director, Common Sense Media reported that she will be presenting at the March 14, 2023 the FCC  Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division’s monthly call on their “ACP Pilot Awareness and Enrollment, Lessons Learned” View Presentation Here
  • Mark Goldstein shared his “US Federal Broadband Funding Opportunities” brief with a visual timeline and program-by-program summary providing a high-level overview of the entire generational broadband infrastructure investment wave. Download the file here
  • Shereka Jackson provided a reminder of the Future Stars April 22, 2023 8th Annual Hands on STEM Fair: Faye Gray Recreation Center 5745 S. 20th Street, Phoenix, AZ The Hands On Stem Fair is a day for learning, fun and teamwork. We invite you to enjoy our hands-on activities in science, technology, engineering and math.   Click to register via Eventbrite. Download Flyer Here. Contact
  • Other updates: We had additional updates from Mala with the State Library. She reported 374,858 households in AZ now signed up on ACP . We are 12th among the 50 states 
  • Funding opportunities  

    --- Sparklight Charitable Giving Funds - Education and Digital Literacy Funding Opportunity
    Applications for the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund are accepted in April and October of each year and funds are generally granted in May and November. The company concentrates its support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy; Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity; Community Development. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 30 and October 31. Applications are due no later than midnight Eastern Time on each of the deadline dates. Award recipients will be notified no later than the end of May/November (based on application time period).  Please email any questions you may have to charitablegiving@cableone.biz. Again, check Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund in late February and March for detailed application instructions.

    --- Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment will consider funding requests for health care, education, arts & culture, community, seniors and youth projects.  Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Community

    --- ​U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible Grant Program. includes Programming and services that advance positive community engagement efforts https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/community-possible-grant-program.html 

    --- AARP Community Challenge quick-action grant program Applications are due March 15, 2023. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Includes increasing digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents . AARP Community Challenge
  • Events - see email announcements for links and details 
     ​​​​​

March 6, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule: March 6, 13, 20, 27

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​
Meeting Update

For details about updates and upcoming events, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • March 6, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • March 6, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • March 6, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • March 6, 2023 Zoom Transcript​ ​

March 6 Meeting Review
The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • AZBSN & Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Collaborative Campaigns: As you may know, AZBSN has begun a discussion with the FCC, the Arizona Access Program, the State Library, our other affiliated organizations, and other health care organizations regarding collaboration on a Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaign.

    At a previous meeting Marcus Johnson, state Health Policy Director with Vitalyst Health Foundation, and Lyle Ishida, Chief of the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division with the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau @ the Federal Communications Commission joined our initial discussion regarding  collaboration. Marcus reported that 650,000 AZ residents could lose their Medicaid coverage. They are required to re-enroll annually, however, due to the COVID health emergency they have not had to update their information for 2 years. Now that the "health emergency" is over, they are now required to update their information/re-enroll. The Arizona Access program, DES, the Children’s Action Alliance in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing a re-enrollment campaign that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more. Applicants will be required to provide similar information required for ACP. The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations, will explore opportunities to collaborate with this campaign to promote ACP signup.  

    Mauricio Orozco, Manager of Community Engagement with Care1st Health Plan Arizona and Erin Lorandos, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the State Library will lead the Task Force collaboration with Marcus, Lyle, and other organizations.

    On February 13 Dawn Jones and April Jones with DES Community Engagement will provide an update on the DES ACP plan soon to be launched. At the suggestion of Mauricio Orozco Steve reached out to the  Children's Action Alliance for possible collaboration.
  ​​​Digital Access ​Resource Highlight
Dr. Bryan Carter, Project Principal Investigator and Director of the  Center for Digital Humanities at the University Of Arizona provided an overview of this awesome University of Arizona $3M NTIA Connecting Minorities Communities Pilot Program grant to expand ​Internet and Digital Inclusion in Southern Arizona. The details of that plan include: 1) Creating “equipment bundles” that can be checked out by students from UA Libraries. The equipment bundles will include hotspots, laptops, headphones and webcams; 2) Expanding UA network and classroom technologies; 3) Providing support personnel at education sites in rural Arizona. The grant will provide broadband internet access and equipment and help to facilitate educational opportunities and resources for project subrecipients Dunbar Pavilion and the Tucson Urban League, as well as the surrounding community. 

About the Connecting Minorities Communities Pilot Program: The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program is a $268 million grant program to Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), and Minority-Serving Institutions (MSIs) for the purchase of broadband internet access service and eligible equipment or to hire and train information technology personnel.

NTIA has awarded more than $175 million to 61 colleges and universities as part of the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC). These new awards cover colleges and universities in 29 states and four territories. With these grants, all funding from this Internet for All grant program has been awarded to 93 universities. Including 43 Historically Black Colleges and Universities, 24 Hispanic Serving Institutions, 21 Minority Serving Institutions, and five Tribal Colleges and Universities. These grants will help expand community technology hubs, upgrade classroom technology, and increase digital literacy skills at their minority serving colleges and universities. This program specifically directs $268 million from the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 for expanding high-speed Internet access and connectivity to eligible HBCUs, Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and other Minority-serving institutions (MSIs).
Arizona Grant recipients:

  • University of Arizona, Federal Funding Requested ($) 3,051,875.00
  • Lead Institution Dine College, Federal Funding Requested ($) 2,925,627.00
  • Lead Institution Tohono O'odham Community College ,Federal Funding Requested ($) 1,927,857.61
  • Lead Institution Phoenix College, Federal Funding Requested ($) 4,279,578.59 (see details of Phoenix College plans below)

    See the NTIA website for information about the Pilot Program - https://broadbandusa.ntia.gov/resources/grant-programs/connecting-minority-communities-pilot-program

    Phoenix College (PC) “Boundless Broadband Transforming Minority Communities” grant to improve and expand institutional broadband capacity, increase broadband access for underserved and underrepresented communities, and promote all-inclusive and online-based academic and career pathways to connect anchor communities to high-demand and high paying jobs in information technology, including, cybersecurity, networking, and cloud computing. The project activities will expand broadband connections and training of college IT Staff, student internships and expanded IT staffing; enable remote access to Close 2Home; expand broadband bandwidth at college satellite campuses; establish a 24x7 CoWorking Academic Space to provide students with access to tools and hardware needed for study; create a FLEX Facility to provide students with FLEX learning across multiple modalities; extend PC's laptop loaner program; establish a Help Desk providing support to students, and education, and awareness on broadband programs; and introduce Mobile Learning Modules to expand and create new capacity.  More details at future meetings
  • ​Steve again provided a reminder to check out the the Arizona Economic Recovery Center Grants Resources.  You may recall that we have been in touch with the Center in the past and that Resource  Center enables more Arizona cities and towns counties and non-profits to win competitive grants an initiative the Local First Arizona. The center provides pro bono services and that's important for you to know free pro bono resource  sources to qualifying entities that can increase Community capacity improve, collaboration and assist with managing Grant related projects and so  particularly for a lot of the smaller organizations many of whom who are involved with this Task Force  that being able to go after different funding. You know that  particularly infrastructure development is an expensive proposition and is really dependent upon on Government funding but there is still a lot of other funding that's available from foundations and corporate and so forth and so the economic Recovery Center can help with  that.   I'm going to bring them back into the process.

    One of the things that I have said in a couple of different places is that as we move ahead with planning for digital equity and digital  inclusion is that  local organizations need to start doing their planning, they need to talk about what they want to do what's it going to cost how much staff do they need and so forth so that that can feed into the state digital Equity planning process and so the Economic Recovery Center can be a great resource to help organizations to do that kind of planning so I'm going to be in touch with them and follow up again with them to look at how we can better collaborate  with them and helping local organizations to do some of their planning
  • Other updates: We had additional updates from Mala with the State Library and Phillip Seng, IT Project Manager: Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Arizona Department Of Education
  • ​​​Events - see email announcements for links and details  

    --- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration​

    National Skills Coalition Closing the Digital Skill Divide report and February 22 Webinar Closing The Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff For Workers, Business And The Economy 

    The National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, released Closing the Digital Skill Divide - a real-time snapshot of demand for digital skills in the U.S. labor market. Read the Report https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/closing-the-digital-skill-divide/?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925 

    On February 22 the Coalition will host the webinar CLOSING THE DIGITAL SKILL DIVIDE: THE PAYOFF FOR WORKERS, BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY. As state policymakers grapple with closing the digital divide and effectively deploying resources from the historic $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, has released new research that could help guide the way. Join us for a conversation with the report authors to learn more about the groundbreaking research and how it can inform digital equity conversations in your state. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W3OQEbbkSDi5McJ1xgr3Nw?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925
  • Funding Opportunities - Thanks Andy Sinclair 
  • --- Reminder: Check out the The Arizona Economic Recovery Center Grants Resources: The Center aims to enable more Arizona cities, towns, counties and nonprofits to win competitive grants. An initiative of Local First Arizona, The Center provides pro bono resources to qualifying entities that can increase community capacity, improve collaboration, and assist with managing grant-related projects.

    --- Sparklight Charitable Giving Funds - Education and Digital Literacy Funding Opportunity
    Applications for the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund are accepted in April and October of each year and funds are generally granted in May and November. The company concentrates its support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy; Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity; Community Development. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 30 and October 31. Applications are due no later than midnight Eastern Time on each of the deadline dates. Award recipients will be notified no later than the end of May/November (based on application time period).  Please email any questions you may have to charitablegiving@cableone.biz. Again, check Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund in late February and March for detailed application instructions.

    --- Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment will consider funding requests for health care, education, arts & culture, community, seniors and youth projects.  Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Community

    --- ​U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible Grant Program. includes Programming and services that advance positive community engagement efforts https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/community-possible-grant-program.html 

    --- AARP Community Challenge quick-action grant program Applications are due March 15, 2023. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Includes increasing digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents . AARP Community Challenge
  • Events - see email announcements for links and details 

    --- February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) virtual quarterly meeting at 1:00 p.m. The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.  Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, Division of Community Assistance and Development , Phone: 480-263-2271 asinclair@azdes.gov Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/apg-zevh-wuv
    Or dial: (US) +1 925-420-0789 PIN: 857158251# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/apg-zevh-wuv?pin=6057045461113&hs=7

    --- February 28 Arizona Technology Council Virtual Tech Speaker Series on Arizona Women in Cybersecurity from 3:30-5:00pm. Information and Registration

    --- February 22 National Skills Coalition  Webinar: Closing The Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff For Workers, Business and The Economy. Information and Registration  

    ​--- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration 
  • ​Announcements Other Info and Updates​      
  •  ​Federal and State Updates
  • ​Project Updates/Announcements​ 
 
  • Additional Updates​​​​
February 27 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule: March 6, 13, 20, 27

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​
Meeting Update

For details about updates and upcoming events, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • February 27, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • February 27, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • February 27, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • February 27, 2023 Zoom Transcript​ (Coming soon)​

February 27 Meeting Review
The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • Updates: ​Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) for Arizona. provided updates on the Broadband office' s status on BEAD and Digital Inclusion planning and hiring of Broadband staff and consultants. We're all eagerly waiting on the Broadband office in conjunction with their Review Committee to finalize the contractors that will be used to fulfill the activities for bead for the digital Equity act planning Grant as well as for the middle mile project. Those review committees have all met and they've shortlisted some candidates that they were going to have a decision last week it looks like that is going to happen sometime this week. 

    Also NTIA does have a number of other broadband and Digital Equity programs in addition to BEAD and DI. We've just announced 175 million for the connecting minority communities pilot project with
    three awardees in Arizona already.  

  • Steve provided a follow-up on the AZBSN Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Collaborative Campaigns: At our last meeting Marcus Johnson, state Health Policy Director with Vitalyst Health Foundation, and Lyle Ishida, Chief of the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division with the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau @ the Federal Communications Commission joined our discussion regarding collaboration with the Arizona Access program on a Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaign.  The Arizona Access program, in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing a re-enrollment campaign that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more. They will be required to provide similar information required for ACP. The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations, will explore opportunities to collaborate with this campaign to promote ACP signup. 

  • Mauricio Orozco, Manager of Community Engagement with Care1st Health Plan Arizona and Mala with the State Library will lead the Task Force collaboration with Marcus and Lyle.

    On February 13 
    April Jones, DES Community Engagement Liaison for the Central Region and Projects Manager with Office of The Director will provide an update on the DES ACP plan soon to be launched. I  also plan to have Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator with the DES Division of Community Assistance and Development provide and update
  • Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, DES Division of Community Assistance and Development provided a recap of the February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) quarterly meeting that he coordinates.  The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.   
  • ​​​Digital Access ​Resource Highlight: Drew Pappas, Business Development Manager
    with Bonfire Infrastructure Group provided a brief overview of Bonfire, a family of companies that exist to eradicate digital inequity through the power of superior broadband planning, engineering, construction, and fiber operations. We offer the full set of services for anyone's broadband journey. Drew will speak about their open access operations model and how they differ from the typical vertically integrated ISP. They have the ability to partner with munis, Tribes, co-ops, etc. where they can own the infrastructure and we can operate the network on top of that for them. Or we can more traditionally deploy private capital in a market to own and operate the open access FTTH network. The flexibility of this model allows us to partner in several ways with communities and ultimately helps bring choice, lower pricing, and higher satisfaction to end-users. Contact: M: 970.980.6574 | O: 720.507.9005, drew.pappas@bonfireig.com. 
  • Paul Ross, CIO and Associate VP for Phoenix College provided a brief intro about the Phoenix College (PC) “Boundless Broadband Transforming Minority Communities” grant to improve and expand institutional broadband capacity, increase broadband access for underserved and underrepresented communities, and promote all-inclusive and online-based academic and career pathways to connect anchor communities to high-demand and high paying jobs in information technology, including, cybersecurity, networking, and cloud computing. The project activities will expand broadband connections and training of college IT Staff, student internships and expanded IT staffing; enable remote access to Close 2Home; expand broadband bandwidth at college satellite campuses; establish a 24x7 CoWorking Academic Space to provide students with access to tools and hardware needed for study; create a FLEX Facility to provide students with FLEX learning across multiple modalities; extend PC's laptop loaner program; establish a Help Desk providing support to students, and education, and awareness on broadband programs; and introduce Mobile Learning Modules to expand and create new capacity.  More details at future meetings
  • Steve reported on the  he University of Arizona's  $3 million grant to expand broadband Internet access in Southern Arizona’s rural communities. The details of that plan include: 1) Creating “equipment bundles” that can be checked out by students from UA Libraries. The equipment bundles will include hotspots, laptops, headphones and webcams; 2) Expanding UA network and classroom technologies; 3) Providing support personnel at education sites in rural Arizona. The grant will provide broadband internet access and equipment and help to facilitate educational opportunities and resources for project subrecipients Dunbar Pavilion and the Tucson Urban League, as well as the surrounding community. Bryan Carter, Project Lead, will provided an overview at our next meeting.
  • ​Steve provided a reminder to check out the the Arizona Economic Recovery Center Grants Resources.  You may recall that we have been in touch with the Center in the past and that Resource  Center enables more Arizona cities and towns counties and non-profits to win competitive grants an initiative the Local First Arizona. The center provides pro bono services and that's important for you to know free pro bono resource  sources to qualifying entities that can increase Community capacity improve, collaboration and assist with managing Grant related projects and so  particularly for a lot of the smaller organizations many of whom who are involved with this Task Force  that being able to go after different funding. You know that  particularly infrastructure development is an expensive proposition and is really dependent upon on Government funding but there is still a lot of other funding that's available from foundations and corporate and so forth and so the economic Recovery Center can help with  that.   I'm going to bring them back into the process one of the things that I have said in a couple of different places is that as we move ahead with planning for digital equity and digital  inclusion is that  local organizations need to start doing their planning they need to talk about what they want to do what's it going to cost how much staff do they need and so forth so that that can feed into the state digital Equity planning process and so the economic Recovery Center can be a great resource to help organizations to do that kind of planning so I'm going to be in touch with them and follow up again with them to look at how we can better collaborate  with them and helping local organizations to do some of their planning
  • Jeremy Babendure, Executive Director of the SCITEC Institute provided an overview of the Institute and their Chief Science Officers Program, the SCITEC Festival and  their work building out a stem ecosystem
    throughout the State of Arizona. We briefly discussed how we can collaborate with their programs.
  • Other updates: We had additional updates from Mala with the State Library and Phillip Seng, IT Project Manager: Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Arizona Department Of Education
  • ​​​Events - see email announcements for links and details  

    --- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration​

    National Skills Coalition Closing the Digital Skill Divide report and February 22 Webinar Closing The Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff For Workers, Business And The Economy 

    The National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, released Closing the Digital Skill Divide - a real-time snapshot of demand for digital skills in the U.S. labor market. Read the Report https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/closing-the-digital-skill-divide/?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925 

    On February 22 the Coalition will host the webinar CLOSING THE DIGITAL SKILL DIVIDE: THE PAYOFF FOR WORKERS, BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY. As state policymakers grapple with closing the digital divide and effectively deploying resources from the historic $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, has released new research that could help guide the way. Join us for a conversation with the report authors to learn more about the groundbreaking research and how it can inform digital equity conversations in your state. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W3OQEbbkSDi5McJ1xgr3Nw?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925
  • Funding Opportunities - Thanks Andy Sinclair 
  • --- Reminder: Check out the The Arizona Economic Recovery Center Grants Resources: The Center aims to enable more Arizona cities, towns, counties and nonprofits to win competitive grants. An initiative of Local First Arizona, The Center provides pro bono resources to qualifying entities that can increase community capacity, improve collaboration, and assist with managing grant-related projects.

    --- Sparklight Charitable Giving Funds - Education and Digital Literacy Funding Opportunity
    Applications for the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund are accepted in April and October of each year and funds are generally granted in May and November. The company concentrates its support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy; Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity; Community Development. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 30 and October 31. Applications are due no later than midnight Eastern Time on each of the deadline dates. Award recipients will be notified no later than the end of May/November (based on application time period).  Please email any questions you may have to charitablegiving@cableone.biz. Again, check Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund in late February and March for detailed application instructions.

    --- Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment will consider funding requests for health care, education, arts & culture, community, seniors and youth projects.  Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Community

    --- ​U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible Grant Program. includes Programming and services that advance positive community engagement efforts https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/community-possible-grant-program.html 

    --- AARP Community Challenge quick-action grant program Applications are due March 15, 2023. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Includes increasing digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents . AARP Community Challenge
  • Events - see email announcements for links and details 

    --- February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) virtual quarterly meeting at 1:00 p.m. The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.  Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, Division of Community Assistance and Development , Phone: 480-263-2271 asinclair@azdes.gov Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/apg-zevh-wuv
    Or dial: (US) +1 925-420-0789 PIN: 857158251# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/apg-zevh-wuv?pin=6057045461113&hs=7

    --- February 28 Arizona Technology Council Virtual Tech Speaker Series on Arizona Women in Cybersecurity from 3:30-5:00pm. Information and Registration

    --- February 22 National Skills Coalition  Webinar: Closing The Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff For Workers, Business and The Economy. Information and Registration  

    ​--- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration 
  • ​Announcements Other Info and Updates​      
  •  ​Federal and State Updates
  • ​Project Updates/Announcements​ 
 
  • Additional Updates​​​​

February 13, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  February 27.  No Meeting February 20 (Presidents Day)

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​
Meeting Update

For details about updates and upcoming events, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • February 13, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • February 13, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • February 13, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • February 13, 2023 Zoom Transcript​ (Coming soon)​

February 13 Meeting Agenda
The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • Updates: ​Sandip Bhowmick State Broadband Director and ​ Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) for Arizona. provided updates on BEAD and Digital Inclusion planning and hiring of Broadband staff and consultants 
  • Duncan Wiston, Interim GM of Alluvion Communication, a subsidiary of Gila River Telecommunications, Inc  and a Board member of the National Tribal Telecommunications Association (NTTA), provided an overview of NTTA and  Tribal Broadband Summit March 20-22, 2023 @ Wild Horse Pass Resort and Casino in Arizona https://ntta-tribal-broadband-summit.regfox.com/2023-ntta-registrants.
    Gila River Telecommunications is hosting the Tribal Broadband Summit. The focus is on helping tribes identify funding sources, build/maintain/monetize a network and plan for the future of broadband. Duncan will provide an overview of this amazing conference. He also talked about Alluvion  and their Digital Inclusion initiatives and resources.  Contacts: Duncan Wiston dwiston@alluvion.net, 520-610-6777
    Shaun Story 385-415-4001 shaun.story@calix.com Jenny Rickel COO Native Network JRICKEL@NATIVENETWORK.COM 509-300-0102 M 509-661-5100
  • Two ACA Job Descriptions Posted: Broadband Grants & Compliance Manager: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/job/748f2650 and Digital Equity Program Manager: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/job/e88074dc
  • Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program Request: Diego Deleersnyder, Associate Director for Policy & Research with the Aspen Institute Latinos and Society Program provided ana overview of the project and requested suggestions of organizations for them to interview. They recently contacted the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council and AZBSN looking for information about ATIC and AZBSN, and how we understand digital access in the Phoenix region. Their mission is to identify, promote, and catalyze ideas and solutions to empower American Latinos economically and socially. As part of their Latino Digital Success initiative, their new research project aims to understand how digitalization is impacting Phoenix and some of the challenges and opportunities ahead for Latino workers and business owners in the city. They are currently interviewing organizations and employers in the Phoenix area that are playing a role in closing the city's digital divide to better understand current efforts to improve the digital opportunity ecosystem and additional supports that might be needed. ​Contact: Diego Deleersnyder, diego.deleersnyder@aspeninstitute.org 212-895-8026.
  • AZBSN Collaboration re Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaigns. Marcus Johnson, state Health Policy Director with Vitalyst Health Foundation, and Lyle Ishida, Chief of the Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division with the Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau @ the Federal Communications Commission joined our discussion regarding collaboration with the Arizona Access program on a Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaign. Marcus reported that 650,000 AZ residents could lose their Medicaid coverage. They are required to re-enroll, however, due to the COVID health emergency they have not had to update their information for 2 years. Now that the "health emergency" is over, they are now required to update their information/re-enroll. The Arizona Access program, in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing a re-enrollment campaign that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more. They will be required to provide similar information required for ACP. The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations will explore opportunities to collaborate with this campaign to promote ACP signup. Mauricio Orozco, Manager of Community Engagement with Care1st Health Plan Arizona and Mala with the State Library will lead the Task Force collaboration with Marcus and Lyle. Mala and Erin with the state library have already begun developing plans to collaborate. Access has developed a Toolkit to support the campaign. Download the Toolkit Here.  Contact: Marcus Johnson, mjohnson@vitalysthealth.org
    602 385-6503 Mauricio morozco@care1staz.com 480-282-3631.
  • Ryan Murray, the Deputy Director/Deputy State Chief Information Officer from AZ Department of Homeland Security Arizona’s new Cyber Command Center
    In previous meetings, Ryan reported that the Cyber Command Center is Arizona's headquarters for coordinating statewide cybersecurity operations. The center will be a central location for cybersecurity professionals and local, state and federal agencies to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. It will provide an ideal location to enhance public-private partnerships to protect Arizonans against cyberthreats. The Center has been providing free cyber security tools, resources and support to state agencies and and education institutions, including collaboration with the Arizona Department of Education and local school districts. He reported that funding is running out and has not been included in the Governor's budget. Contact: Cell: (602) 625-8279 | Email: rmurray@azdohs.gov
  • Other updates: We had additional updates from Mala; Erin Lorandos, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the State Library and; Phillip Seng, IT Project Manager: Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Arizona Department Of Education
  • ​​​Events - see email announcements for links and details  

    --- February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) virtual quarterly meeting at 1:00 p.m. The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.  Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, Division of Community Assistance and Development , Phone: 480-263-2271 asinclair@azdes.gov 

    --- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration​

    National Skills Coalition Closing the Digital Skill Divide report and February 22 Webinar Closing The Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff For Workers, Business And The Economy 

    The National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, released Closing the Digital Skill Divide - a real-time snapshot of demand for digital skills in the U.S. labor market. Read the Report https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/closing-the-digital-skill-divide/?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925 

    On February 22 the Coalition will host the webinar CLOSING THE DIGITAL SKILL DIVIDE: THE PAYOFF FOR WORKERS, BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY. As state policymakers grapple with closing the digital divide and effectively deploying resources from the historic $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, has released new research that could help guide the way. Join us for a conversation with the report authors to learn more about the groundbreaking research and how it can inform digital equity conversations in your state. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W3OQEbbkSDi5McJ1xgr3Nw?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925
  • The University of Arizona, a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, has received a  $3 million grant to expand broadband Internet access in Southern Arizona’s rural communities. The details of that plan include: 1) Creating “equipment bundles” that can be checked out by students from UA Libraries. The equipment bundles will include hotspots, laptops, headphones and webcams; 2) Expanding UA network and classroom technologies; 3) Providing support personnel at education sites in rural Arizona. The grant will provide broadband internet access and equipment and help to facilitate educational opportunities and resources for project subrecipients Dunbar Pavilion and the Tucson Urban League, as well as the surrounding community.
  • STEAM Request: Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa: STEM Showcase, 5 pm until 7 pm on Thursday, March 30th. We are hosting our first STEAM showcase this March where our goal is to show off student work and have students explore careers and interactive booths from community partners. I am reaching out to see if you would like to host a booth or experience for our students that evening. We have over 750 students currently and expect a good turnout. If you are interested: Brittany Robertson, STEAM Teacher- Zaharis Elementary, STEAM Lab/ Mrs. Robertson Teaming Time
  • Funding Opportunities - Thanks Andy Sinclair 

    --- Reminder: Check out the The Arizona Economic Recovery Center Grants Resources: The Center aims to enable more Arizona cities, towns, counties and nonprofits to win competitive grants. An initiative of Local First Arizona, The Center provides pro bono resources to qualifying entities that can increase community capacity, improve collaboration, and assist with managing grant-related projects.

    --- Sparklight Charitable Giving Funds - Education and Digital Literacy Funding Opportunity
    Applications for the Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund are accepted in April and October of each year and funds are generally granted in May and November. The company concentrates its support in the following priority areas: Education and Digital Literacy; Hunger Relief and Food Insecurity; Community Development. The deadline for receipt of applications is April 30 and October 31. Applications are due no later than midnight Eastern Time on each of the deadline dates. Award recipients will be notified no later than the end of May/November (based on application time period).  Please email any questions you may have to charitablegiving@cableone.biz. Again, check Sparklight Charitable Giving Fund in late February and March for detailed application instructions.

    --- Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment will consider funding requests for health care, education, arts & culture, community, seniors and youth projects.  Desert Diamond Casinos & Entertainment Community

    --- ​U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible Grant Program. includes Programming and services that advance positive community engagement efforts https://www.usbank.com/about-us-bank/community/community-possible-grant-program.html 

    --- AARP Community Challenge quick-action grant program Applications are due March 15, 2023. The AARP Community Challenge provides small grants to fund quick-action projects that can help communities become more livable for people of all ages. Includes increasing digital connections by expanding high-speed internet and enhancing digital literacy skills of residents . AARP Community Challenge
  • Events - see email announcements for links and details 

    --- February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) virtual quarterly meeting at 1:00 p.m. The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.  Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, Division of Community Assistance and Development , Phone: 480-263-2271 asinclair@azdes.gov Join with Google Meet: https://meet.google.com/apg-zevh-wuv
    Or dial: (US) +1 925-420-0789 PIN: 857158251# More phone numbers: https://tel.meet/apg-zevh-wuv?pin=6057045461113&hs=7

    --- February 28 Arizona Technology Council Virtual Tech Speaker Series on Arizona Women in Cybersecurity from 3:30-5:00pm. Information and Registration

    --- February 22 National Skills Coalition  Webinar: Closing The Digital Skill Divide: The Payoff For Workers, Business and The Economy. Information and Registration  

    ​--- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration 
  • ​Announcements Other Info and Updates​      
  •  ​Federal and State Updates
  • ​Project Updates/Announcements​ 
 
  • Additional Updates​​
  • STEAM Request: Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa looking for exhibitors & resource people for STEM Showcase March 30th 5 pm until 7 pm

     Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa is looking for people or organizations to host a booth or experience for our students at their first STEAM showcase this March. They have over 750 students currently, and expect a good turnout. Their goal is to show off student work and have students explore careers and interactive booths from community partners. I am reaching out to see if you would like to host a booth or experience for our students that evening. Interested? Brittany Robertson, STEAM Teacher- Zaharis Elementary bncrouch@mpsaz.org  STEAM Lab/ Mrs. Robertson Teaming Time​

February 6, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  February 6, 13, 27.  No Meeting February 20 (Presidents Day)

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​
Meeting Update

For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • February 6, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • February 6, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • February 6, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • February 6, 2023 Zoom Transcript​​

February 6 Meeting Agenda
The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • No updates Today: ​Sandip Bhowmick State Broadband Director and ​ Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) for Arizona. 
  • Rebranding the Task Force. Steve suggested it may be time to revisit the name of the Task Force. He suggested Broadband and Digital Access Task Force which was not well received. Mala suggested Broadband and Digital Engagement. We will discuss  again at future meeting   - ​What Do You Think?
  • ​Digital Access ​Resource Highlight: Might Be You! Get Your Elevator Speech Ready!
  • Steve introduced Shaun Story, Account Executive, Desert Region with Calix, a prime sponsor of the March 20-22 National Tribal Telecommunications Association Tribal Broadband Summit hosted by the Gila River Telecommunications, Inc. The focus is on helping tribes identify funding sources, build/maintain/monetize a network and plan for the future of broadband. Shaun and Jenny Rickel provide a brief intro to the Summit, with additional details to come at a future meeting. Info and Registration https://ntta-tribal-broadband-summit.regfox.com/2023-ntta-registrants. Contacts: Shaun Story 385-415-4001 shaun.story@calix.com Jenny Rickel COO Native Network JRICKEL@NATIVENETWORK.COM 509-300-0102 M509-661-5100
  • Two ACA Job Descriptions Posted:
  • Broadband Grants & Compliance Manager: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/job/748f2650 
  • Digital Equity Program Manager: 
     https://www.ziprecruiter.com/job/e88074dc
  • Steve provided a brief recap of AZBSN January 31meeting with Lyle Ishida, Chief, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission regarding the FCC’s tentative plans for the  for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to visit Arizona. The plan was for her to be in Phoenix in February the dates will be changed to a later date. Her visit will include press conferences with the Mayors in their respective cities in the morning, followed by ACP Navigator Trainings, and public ACP sign-up events in the late afternoon & evening. The Task Force will collaborate with Lyle and Tucson and Phoenix to help plan the activities and logistics for her visits.  Future AZBSN planning meetings with Lyle will be arranged
  • Medicaid Sign-up Campaigns & ACP. Mauricio Orozco, Manager of Community Engagement with Care1st Health Plan Arizona reported that 600,000 AZ residents could lose their Medicaid coverage. They are required to re-enroll, however, due to the COVID health emergency they have not had to update their information for 2 years. Now that the "health emergency" is over, they are now required to update their information/re-enroll. The Arizona Access program, in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing a re-enrollment campaign that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more. They will be required to provide similar information required for ACP. The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations will explore opportunities to collaborate with this campaign to promote ACP signup. We will have additional discussion at future Task Force meetings.  Mauricio provided a Toolkit to support the campaign. Download the Toolkit Here. Contact Mauricio morozco@care1staz.com 480-282-3631.
  • Other updates: We had additional updates from Janet Major, Mala, 
  • Reminder: FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comments on Requests to permit the use of E-Rate program funds to support advanced or next-generation firewalls and services, as well as other network security services. Reply comments are due February 13, 2023. 
  • ​Digital Access ​Resource Highlight: Might Be You! Get Your Elevator Speech Ready!
  • ​​​Events - see email announcements for links and details 
    --- February 16 The Phoenix Cybersecurity Conference Details & registration ($100 discounted by $75 with 75VIP code) at 
    --- February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) virtual quarterly meeting at 1:00 p.m. The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.  Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, Division of Community Assistance and Development , Phone: 480-263-2271 asinclair@azdes.gov

    --- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration​
 
  • National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, released Closing the Digital Skill Divide - a real-time snapshot of demand for digital skills in the U.S. labor market. Read the Report https://nationalskillscoalition.org/resource/publications/closing-the-digital-skill-divide/?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925 
    ​--- February 22 National Skills Coalition Webinar CLOSING THE DIGITAL SKILL DIVIDE: THE PAYOFF FOR WORKERS, BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY As state policymakers grapple with closing the digital divide and effectively deploying resources from the historic $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act, National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, has released new research that could help guide the way. Join us for a conversation with the report authors to learn more about the groundbreaking research and how it can inform digital equity conversations in your state. https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_W3OQEbbkSDi5McJ1xgr3Nw?emci=7bac466a-b7a5-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&emdi=e2ef42db-2ba6-ed11-994d-00224832eb73&ceid=11404925
  • The University of Arizona, a federally recognized Hispanic Serving Institution, has received a  $3 million grant to expand broadband internet access in Southern Arizona’s rural communities. The details of that plan include: 1) Creating “equipment bundles” that can be checked out by students from UA Libraries. The equipment bundles will include hotspots, laptops, headphones and webcams; 2) Expanding UA network and classroom technologies; 3) Providing support personnel at education sites in rural Arizona. The grant will provide broadband internet access and equipment and help to facilitate educational opportunities and resources for project subrecipients Dunbar Pavilion and the Tucson Urban League, as well as the surrounding community.
  • STEAM Request: Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa: STEM Showcase, 5 pm until 7 pm on Thursday, March 30th. We are hosting our first STEAM showcase this March where our goal is to show off student work and have students explore careers and interactive booths from community partners. I am reaching out to see if you would like to host a booth or experience for our students that evening. We have over 750 students currently and expect a good turnout. If you are interested: Brittany Robertson, STEAM Teacher- Zaharis Elementary, STEAM Lab/ Mrs. Robertson Teaming Time
  • ​Announcements Other Info and Updates​      
  •  ​Federal and State Updates
  • ​Project Updates/Announcements​ 
  •  Additional Updates​​
  • STEAM Request: Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa looking for exhibitors & resource people for STEM Showcase March 30th 5 pm until 7 pm

     Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa is looking for people or organizations to host a booth or experience for our students at their first STEAM showcase this March. They have over 750 students currently, and expect a good turnout. Their goal is to show off student work and have students explore careers and interactive booths from community partners. I am reaching out to see if you would like to host a booth or experience for our students that evening. Interested? Brittany Robertson, STEAM Teacher- Zaharis Elementary bncrouch@mpsaz.org  STEAM Lab/ Mrs. Robertson Teaming Time​

January 30, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  January 30. February 6, 13, 27.  No Meeting February 20 (Presidents Day)

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​
Meeting Update

For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • January 30, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • January 30, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • January 30, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • January 30 , 2023 Zoom Transcript​​

January 30 Meeting Agenda
The meeting included:​
  • Thanks To Our Sponsors: Care1st Health Plan, Valley of The Sun United Way, Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association, Kajeet, Triad Wireless and Karen Ziegler Consulting Services​
  • Welcome And Introductions Of New Collaborators
  • ​​Task Force Participant Database & Contacts - See Contact Link. Please take a couple of minutes to fill out the Google Form
  • Kibitzing With Colleagues
  • Two ACA Job Descriptions Posted:
    --- Broadband Grants & Compliance Manager: https://www.ziprecruiter.com/job/748f2650 
    --- Digital Equity Program Manager:  https://www.ziprecruiter.com/job/e88074dc
  • FCC Update: Lyle Ishida, Chief, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission. He provided an update on mapping and the FCC’s tentative plans for the  for FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel to visit Arizona in February. The plan was for her to be in Phoenix on February 14 and Tucson on February 15, however, we have been informed that the dates will be changed to a later date. Her visit will include press conferences with the Mayors, ACP Navigator Trainings, and public ACP sign-up events. The Task Force has offered to collaborate with Tucson and Phoenix to help plan the activities and logistics for her visits. Since the tentative dates were February 14 and 15 we felt it was imperative that we meet again with Lyle ASAP so we scheduled a special Task Force Meeting for Tuesday, January 31 @ 1:30.

    About mapping- He said that the FCC had asked for corrections earlier on a month to help people articulate changes in front of BEAD deadlines, but that being said, we are still taking challenges, and I think we will never stop taking challenges, because some app broadband map will be an ever changing thing right right now.

    See more details in the meeting recording and transcript.

  • Feb 2, 2023 01:30 PM: Pima County hosting FCC  Representative: Zoom  Meeting. From Michelle Simon: Please join us to discuss the Affordable Connectivity Program with a representative of the Federal Communications Commission. We will have a train-the-trainer overview and Q&A session during this meeting. Registration is required.  
  • Robert Alvarado presented an update on Chicanos Por La Causa FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program Proposal
  • ​​Digital Access ​Resource Highlight Part 2 Jon Boutilier Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) TelCyte  full-service Telecom and ​Infrastructure Solutions Provider. Last week Jon Boutilier TelCyte Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer; Will Anslow, Senior Project Manager OSP and; Kelly Kayser, GIS Specialist provided an overview of TelCyte services and talked about, and demonstrated, how their GIS staff  are revising the FCC Broadband Map and data in a different format. Because of the work they are doing with eRate, and on Tribal Land, and more, I invited them back for a second presentation. This week Jon Boutilier provided an intro to TelCyte’s experience in E-Rate Projects and the path forward for 2023. Will Anslow; presented their history and familiarity with E-Rate and similar work, and their Tribal Land work experience: Kelly Kayser  was available conduct Q&A on the previous mapping presentation and specifics regarding GIS & Mapping as it may pertain to this week’s presentation. They will also provide some background and insight to the Phoenix Union School District and Yuma Regional Medical E-Rate project we completed 
  • Mark Goldstein and Kirk Busch provided a recap of the January 26th, 2023 National ​DataCenter ​& SmartCity IoT Edge Summit and Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council Broadband Provider Working Group Roundtable
  • Reminder: FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comments on Requests to permit the use of E-Rate program funds to support advanced or next-generation firewalls and services, as well as other network security services. Reply comments are due February 13, 2023. 
    ​​​​Events - see email announcements for links and details 
  • --- February 1, 2023, ASU Smart Region Summit 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., Heard Museum, Phoenix, AZ 2023 Smart Region Summit 
    --- February 16 The Phoenix Cybersecurity Conference Details & registration ($100 discounted by $75 with 75VIP code) at 
    --- February 21st Community Economic Development Advisory Consortium (CEDAC) virtual quarterly meeting at 1:00 p.m. The mission of CEDAC is to explore methods to reduce poverty levels throughout Arizona by eliminating barriers to prosperity, strengthening the self-sufficiency of individuals and families, and developing the capacity of communities.  Andy Sinclair, CAPS Capacity Development Coordinator, Division of Community Assistance and Development , Phone: 480-263-2271 asinclair@azdes.gov
    --- March 9, 2023 8am-3pm Pacific. 2023 3rd Annual TribalHub Virtual Tribal Cybersecurity Summit  This event is FREE to attend for those working for a tribe, tribal health center or tribal enterprise. Vendors interested in attending must be sponsors of the event.  Information and Registration
 Additional Updates​​
  • STEAM Request: Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa looking for exhibitors & resource people for STEM Showcase March 30th 5 pm until 7 pm

     Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa is looking for people or organizations to host a booth or experience for our students at their first STEAM showcase this March. They have over 750 students currently, and expect a good turnout. Their goal is to show off student work and have students explore careers and interactive booths from community partners. I am reaching out to see if you would like to host a booth or experience for our students that evening. Interested? Brittany Robertson, STEAM Teacher- Zaharis Elementary bncrouch@mpsaz.org  STEAM Lab/ Mrs. Robertson Teaming Time​
January 23, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  January 30. February 6, 13, 27.  No Meeting February 20 (Presidents Day)

New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​
Meeting Update

For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • January 23, 2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • January 23, 2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • January 23, 2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • January 23, 2023 Zoom Transcript​​

January 23 Meeting Agenda
The meeting included:​
  • Reminder of the January 26th, 2023 3rd Annual National ​DataCenter ​& SmartCity IoT Edge Summit and Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council Broadband Provider Working Group and Roundtable at Summit.  Also sign-up for Working Group Slack Channel. 
  • Arizona Department Of Education Update: Phillip Seng, IT Project Manager: Office of Digital Teaching and Learning regarding funding need to continue Arizona Department of Homeland Security Cyber Security support
  • ​Steve reported on the plans to update the AZBSN Comprehensive Statewide 2020 ​Digital Access Strategy Report & how we will provide input into AZ Bead and Digital Equity Planning.  He also shared the preliminary Planning Portal with details on the planning process.
  • ​Steve shared several broadband related items in the Governor's proposed budget
    --- $50 million one-time deposit into the newly established Rural Broadband Accelerated Match Fund (RBAM) that provides matching funding for BEAD. BEAD requires 25 percent match. If there are entities who are not able to match the 25 percent from their own funding they will get help from the Governor's $50M funding. The Executive Budget deposits $50 million into the RBAM Fund to assist eligible non-state recipients of BEAD to secure the match needed to draw down the BEAD funding. 

    Monies within the RBAM Fund are available only to political subdivisions outside of Maricopa and Pima counties, as follows: • 50% to counties, with half going to counties with populations of more than 100,000 and half to smaller counties; and • 50% to municipalities, with half going to municipalities with populations of more than 10,000 persons and half to smaller municipalities.

    The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) may utilize 1% of its portion for administrative costs to manage the grant program. To ensure equity, ACA is authorized to further prescribe the process to receive funding and how it will be distributed, including setting the maximum grant awards for each category. A locality’s ability to provide matching funds will be a positive factor in evaluating their application. 

    ​--- A one-time increase of $5 million to be utilized for the "E-Rate: Universal Service Program for Schools and Libraries. the Executive’s $5 million investment could return $60 million to transform AZ schools

    --- State Facility Broadband Deployment. $16 million in one-time funding to enhance broadband infrastructure at State facilities in rural Arizona. State facilities (e.g., State parks, Motor Vehicle Division offices, DCS/DES offices, and ADOT maintenance yards) in rural areas lack proper broadband connections to provide fast, reliable, and consistent services that impede the ability of an affected State agency to fulfill its mandate. The Executive Budget includes $16 million in one-time funding to enhance broadband infrastructure at State facilities in rural Arizona. The Executive intends for the DOA to address the most severe locations and attempt to bundle multiple State facilities to yield the largest benefit. In coordination with the ACA, this initiative may be leveraged to utilize State facilities as an anchor institution to connect the remaining community.
 
  • Digital Access ​Resource Highlight Jon Boutilier Co-founder and Chief Business Development Officer (CBDO) TelCyte  full-service Telecom and ​Infrastructure Solutions Provider. Jon, along with Will Anslow, Senior Project Manager OSP and; Kelly Kayser, GIS Specialist provided an overview of TeCyte services and talked about and demonstrated the work their GIS folks are doing revising the FCC Broadband Map and data in a different format. Contact. JBoutilier@TelCyte.com  833-835-2983 Mobile: 602-769-9068

Additional Updates​​
  • STEAM Request: Zaharis Elementary School in Mesa: STEM Showcase, 5 pm until 7 pm on Thursday, March 30th is looking for exhibitors for their first STEAM showcase this March where our goal is to show off student work and have students explore careers and interactive booths from community partners. I am reaching out to see if you would like to host a booth or experience for our students that evening. We have over 750 students currently and expect a good turnout. If you are interested: 

    Brittany Robertson, STEAM Teacher- Zaharis Elementary, bncrouch@mpsaz.org
     STEAM Lab/ Mrs. Robertson Teaming Time​
January 9, 2023 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  January 9, 23, 30. No meeting January 16 (Martin Luther King Day)
New Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon 
​Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • January 9,2023 Zoom meeting recording
  • January 9,2023 Zoom meeting Registration List
  • January 9,2023 Zoom meeting Chat
  • January 9,2023 Zoom Transcript​​
January 9 Meeting Agenda
The meeting included:
  • Jenna Leveille, Deputy State Cartographer at the Arizona State Land Department and Sandip Bhowmick, State Broadband Director,  provided an overview of how Arizona is preparing to address the National Broadband Map and Mapping challenge process. Among her many responsibilities, Jenna coordinates Arizona Broadband Mapping Collaboration Discussion Meetings.  jleveille@azland.gov 602-364-3747 | C: 480-528-3418 ​
  • ​Sandip Bhowmick and Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) for Arizona provided an update on the BEAD, Digital Equity, Mapping, and state planning, and future opportunities for input.
  • John Kelly, provided an update on process to update the AZBSN Comprehensive Statewide 2020 ​Digital Access Strategy Report & how we will provide input into AZ Bead and Digital Equity Planning 
  • We introduced Erin Lorandos, the new Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the Arizona State Library and; Phillip Seng, IT Project Manager, Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Arizona Department Of Education
  • We provided a reminder to provide input on FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks requesting Comment On Requests To Allow The Use Of E-Rate Funds For Advanced Or Next-Generation Firewalls And Other Network Security Services (Comments due February 13, 2023).
  • Announcement:  January 26th, 2023, 3rd Annual National ​DataCenter ​& SmartCity IoT Edge Summit
Additional Updates
  • Mala Muralidharan, E-rate Administrator for Public Libraries, Arizona State Library, Archives and ​Public Records 
  •   Digital Inclusion Updates: Cindy Hogan: Literacy Connects Digital Inclusion Ambassador, Ilana Lowery - ACP ​Awareness Campaign​ ​​​

December 19, 2022 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  December 19 January 9, 23, 30. No meeting December 26 & January 2, January 16 (Martin Luther King Day)

Beginning in January, new Task Force meeting time
3:00 pm Monday Afternoon
 


​Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • December 19, 2022 meeting recording
  • December 19, 2022 Registration List
  • December 19, 2022 Chat
  • December 19, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (coming later)  (Note: We are using Otter AI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out. ​
December 19 Meeting Agenda: At the meeting the agenda included:
  • New Task Force Meeting Time
  • Updating the AZBSN Comprehensive Statewide 2020 ​Digital Access Strategy Report & input into AZ Bead and Digital Equity Planning 
  • FCC Wireline competition bureau seeks comment on requests to allow the use of e-rate funds for network security services.
  • NTIA/Arizona Industry Listening Sessions to get input from industry representatives regarding
    BEAD funding
  • Discussion and special meeting to discuss Arizona’s response to the National Broadband Map and Mapping challenge process
  • Announcement:  January 26th, 2023 3rd Annual National ​DataCenter ​& SmartCity IoT Edge Summit
See details about these agenda items below:​
Beginning January 9 the Task Force will meet at 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon
instead of our 7:30 meeting time
.

Why you ask? Due to conflicting meetings on Monday mornings, Sandip Bhowmick the Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director at the Arizona Commerce Authority and: Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth OICG for Arizona, may not be able to attend many of our Task Force meetings. Because of the all the BEAD, Digital Equity, Mapping, state planning, and other funding and initiatives, it is important that they can attend and provide regular briefings. We felt that we should schedule around Sandip and Nicole's availability. Steve talked with them, and they felt the best time was Monday afternoon @ 3:00. So, beginning in January we will meet @ 3:00 Monday afternoon. Look for updated meeting announcement for new meeting times beginning in January.
Updating the AZBSN Comprehensive Statewide 2020 ​Digital Access Strategy Report & input into AZ Bead and Digital Equity Planning 
In November 2020, the Task Force published a Comprehensive Statewide Digital Access Strategy Report that includes short and long term tactical and strategic recommendations and initiatives to address the Internet and other digital access needs of all Arizona citizens. Lots has changed.  With transitions for Governor, State School Superintendent, and the Arizona Legislature, as well as the BEAD and Digital Equity planning and funding, we felt It is time for a refresh. We will initiate a process to update the plan and explore how AZBSN will provide input into AZ Bead and Digital Equity Planning. John Kelly a Principal with Triadvocates, Karen Ziegler Owner Karen Ziegler Consulting Services, and Jan Schiller a Partner with Berkshire Consulting will lead the process. They reported on the tentative process that we felt needs to be concluded no later than mid to end of January. 

The tentative plan is to create the following Teams:
  • Connectivity
  • Mapping
  • Cybersecurity
  • Community Planning
  • Schools and Libraries
  • Legislation
  • Digital Equity/Digital Inclusion
  • Other Suggestions? If you have other suggestions please send to Steve  aticarizona@gmail.com 
    520-321-1309
We will be looking for 1-2 champions to lead each of the Teams. Interested? Contact Steve aticarizona@gmail.com 520-321-1309
​Review and download the plan here.
FCC Wireline Competition Bureau Seeks Comment On Requests To Allow The Use Of E-Rate Funds For Advanced Or Next-Generation Firewalls And Other Network Security Services. (DA No. 22-1315).
Reply comments dues February 13, 2023

(Dkt No 13-184). WCB seeks comment on petitions requesting that the Commission permit the use of E-Rate funds to support advanced or next-generation firewalls and services, and network security services . Comments Due: 2023-02-13. Reply Comments Due: 2023-03-30. WCB. Contact: Joseph Schlingbaum at (202) 418-0829, email: Joseph.Schlingbaum@fcc.gov. DA-22-1315A1.docx DA-22-1315A1.pdf DA-22-1315A1.txt

The FCC has opened a rulemaking proceeding to provide E-rate support for these necessary expenses.​

Eligible Services list for  2023-24 for E-Rate: E-rate reimburses Schools and Libraries for their internet and internal connections to use the internet. Only prescribed services are eligible for reimbursement.
https://docs.fcc.gov/public/attachments/DA-22-1315A1.pdf.      SEE APPENDIX  in the 2023 list
 
Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition Joins Other Organizations to Urge E-rate Modernization in Light of Recent Cyberattacks on Schools

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN); State E-rate Coordinators' Alliance (SECA); State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA); and Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition on the recent cyber-attack on the LA Unified School District: 

"The recent cyber-attack on the LA Unified School District, along with hundreds of similar attacks on schools, libraries, and other educational institutions over the past few years, highlights the urgent need for federal officials to take immediate action to protect our nation's educational entities from cyber-attacks. The FBI, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center (MS-ISAC) have previously warned that educational networks are soft targets and vulnerable to cyber-criminal behavior, but the US government has not done enough to protect these networks from harm.

The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN); State E-rate Coordinators Alliance (SECA); State Educational Technology Directors Association (SETDA); and Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition jointly call upon the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to immediately modernize its definition of "firewalls" to allow E-rate funding to be used to safeguard school and library networks. We also urge the FCC to open a rule-making proceeding and take comment on the Petition filed by our organizations in February 2021 to adopt long-term solutions to this growing cyber security crisis."
Attached are SHLB’s  (Schools Health Libraries Broadband)  and SECA ( State E-rate Coordinators) Ex Parte filing. We need the FCC to consider long-term solutions and not do it piece-meal. 
  • Eligible Services list for  2023-24 for E-Rate
  • SHLB’s  (Schools Health Libraries Broadband) Ex Parte filing 
  • SECA ( State E-rate Coordinators) Ex Parte filing
Discussion and special AZBSN meeting to discuss Arizona’s response to the National Broadband Map and Mapping challenge process.
NTIA & FCC are looking for input to the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process. We will convene a meeting (s) to discuss Arizona input into the process. Paul Ross, AVP and CIO at Phoenix College and Rory Conaway Triad Wireless Managing Partner / CEO, with input by Sandip, Nicole, Mala and Milan, will lead the meeting. Date TBA.

Deadline for input: November 18, 2022-January 13, 2023 - Best opportunity for eligible entities to submit challenges in time for the FCC to include corrections in the final version of the map that will be used to allocate Internet for All funding in the summer of 2023. Note, several states, including Arizona, have requested deadline extension

The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) announcement of a timeline for the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process. By law NTIA will allocate BEAD funds according to a formula derived from the map data. NTIA coordinates closely with the FCC to ensure that this data is accurate and reliable and will continue to do so. NTIA will engage in a comprehensive outreach effort to support the FCC in its efforts to ensure that every state that wishes to file a challenge can do so. This effort will include: 1) Technical assistance to state broadband officials and governors’ offices as they prepare challenges; 2) Webinars for members of the public wishing to learn more about how to participate in the challenge process; 3) Regular engagement with state officials to identify and resolve issues. The latest FCC National Broadband Map is available: https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home. See additional Mapping Challenge Process info below. The latest FCC National Broadband Map is available: https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home

Timeline:
  • November 18, 2022-FCC releases draft National Broadband Map, a comprehensive, location-by-location view of high-speed Internet availability in America.
  • November 18, 2022-January 13, 2023 - Best opportunity for eligible entities to submit challenges in time for the FCC to include corrections in the final version of the map that will be used to allocate Internet for All funding in the summer of 2023.
  • By June 30, 2023-NTIA plans to announce BEAD allocations, using the most up-to-date version of the FCC maps as a guide.

Additional Information From FCC Press Release: The Federal Communications Commission announced that it will unveil a pre-production draft of new broadband maps on November 18, 2022. This version is the first release of the map required by the Broadband DATA Act and will begin an ongoing, iterative process that will improve the data submitted by providers by
incorporating challenges from individuals and other stakeholders. 

Broadband availability will be based on data submitted by providers during the initial Broadband Data Collection filing window and will reflect services available as of June 30, 2022. When published, the draft maps will display location level information on broadband availability throughout the country and will allow people to search for their address, and review and dispute the services reported by providers at their location. 

The FCC will also accept bulk challenges to the reported availability data from state and Tribal
governments and other entities.
As a result, this map will continually improve and refine the broadband availability data relied upon by the FCC, other government agencies, and the public. The pre-production draft map release is an important first step forward in building more accurate, more granular broadband maps, which are long overdue and mandated by Congress.

Historically, the FCC’s maps have been based on broadband availability data collected at just the census block level rather than the location level, which kept unserved locations hidden if they were in partially served census blocks.

To generate this version of the map, providers’ availability data has been matched to the location information contained in the Broadband Serviceable Location Fabric (Fabric). The Fabric is a common dataset of all locations in the United States where fixed broadband internet access service is or can be installed. To improve the accuracy of the FCC maps, the Commission began accepting challenges to Fabric information from providers, states, local and Tribal governments starting in September. Once the draft maps launch, individuals will also be able to submit challenges, or request corrections, to Fabric locations directly through the map interface. They will also be able to request missing locations be added. Information from those challenges will be incorporated in future versions of the Fabric. 

For more information about the BDC, please visit the Broadband Data Collection website at
https://www.fcc.gov/BroadbandData.​
NTIA/Arizona Industry Listening Sessions
Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth OICG for Arizona, in cooperation with the Arizona Broadband Office, will convene Industry Listening Sessions to get input from industry representatives regarding BEAD funding. Listening Sessions tentatively scheduled for January 11 and again January 18 have been postponed. Look for email announcements later.
January 26th, 2023 3rd Annual National DataCenter & SmartCity IoT Edge Summit
Join Business & Government Leaders from some of the MOST Innovative Companies & Organizations in the World! Learn, Engage & Network in a Collaborative Environment to Maximize the Creation of STEM Jobs & Promote Global Sustainability. Information and Registration

December 12, 2022 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  December 19 January 9, 23, 30. No meeting December 26 & January 2, January 16 (Martin Luther King Day)
Beginning in January, new Task Force meeting time
3:00 pm Monday Afternoon
 

Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • December 12, 2022 meeting recording
  • December 12, 2022 Registration List
  • December 12, 2022 Chat
  • December 12, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (coming later)  (Note: We are using Otter AI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out. ​
December 12 Meeting Agenda: At the meeting the agenda included:
  • Digital Access Presentation: Casey Ratlief, Director of State Government Relations and Grassroots Advocacy at the Grand Canyon State Electric Cooperative Association (GCSECA) provided an overview of GCSECA and electric coop broadband initiatives in Arizona, and challenges and opportunities for future coop broadband. GCSECA serves as the association that represents Arizona’s six electric distribution cooperatives and one generation and transmission cooperative. In 2019, Mohave Electric Cooperative embarked on a path to become the first cooperative in the state of Arizona to build fiber to the premise of every member within their service territory. Doing so required some legislative changes and work with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Fast forward three years and they have now brought access to a 100% fiber system to over 7,000 member-consumers. cratlief@gcseca.coop. Download Casey's Presentation Here
  • If Abbott and Costello were around today...
    For some brief levity, Steve shared this update of Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's famous sketch "Who's on first?" Today It may have turned out something like this. At the request of attendees, I have included the Transcript transcript below. 
If Abbott and Costello were around today...
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello's famous sketch "Who's on first?" might have
turned out something like this:
 COSTELLO CALLS TO BUY A COMPUTER FROM ABBOTT . . . .
ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
COSTELLO: Thanks. I'm setting up an office in my den and I'm thinking about
buying a computer.
 ABBOTT: Mac?
 COSTELLO: No, the name's Lou.
 ABBOTT: Your computer?
 COSTELLO: I don't own a computer. I want to buy one.
 ABBOTT: Mac?
 COSTELLO: I told you, my name's Lou.
 ABBOTT: What about Windows?
 COSTELLO: Why? Will it get stuffy in here?
 ABBOTT: Do you want a computer with Windows?
 COSTELLO: I don't know. What will I see when I look in the windows?
 ABBOTT: Wallpaper.
 COSTELLO: Never mind the windows. I need a computer and software.
 ABBOTT: Software for Windows?
 COSTELLO: No. On the computer! I need something I can use to write proposals, track expenses and run my business. What have you got?
 ABBOTT: Office.
 COSTELLO: Yeah, for my office. Can you recommend anything?
 ABBOTT: I just did.
 COSTELLO: You just did what?
 ABBOTT: Recommend something.
 COSTELLO: You recommended something?
 ABBOTT: Yes.
 COSTELLO: For my office?
 ABBOTT: Yes.
 COSTELLO: OK, what did you recommend for my office?
 ABBOTT: Office.
 COSTELLO: Yes, for my office!
 ABBOTT: I recommend Office with Windows.
 COSTELLO: I already have an office with windows! OK, lets just say I'm sitting at
my computer and I want to type a proposal. What do I need?
 ABBOTT: Word.
 COSTELLO: What word?
 ABBOTT: Word in Office.
 COSTELLO: The only word in office is office.
 ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
 COSTELLO: Which word in office for windows?
 ABBOTT: The Word you get when you click the blue "W".
 COSTELLO: I'm going to click your blue "w" if you don't start with some straight answers.
  OK, forget that. Can I watch movies on the Internet?
 ABBOTT: Yes, you want Real One.
 COSTELLO: Maybe a real one, maybe a cartoon. What I watch is none of your business.
Just tell me what I need!
 ABBOTT: Real One.
 COSTELLO: If it's a long movie I also want to see reel 2, 3 & 4. Can I watch them?
 ABBOTT: Of course.
 COSTELLO: Great! With what?
 ABBOTT: Real One.
 COSTELLO: OK, I'm at my computer and I want to watch a movie. What do I do?
 ABBOTT: You click the blue "1".
 COSTELLO: I click the blue one what?
 ABBOTT: The blue "1".
 COSTELLO: Is that different from the blue w?
 ABBOTT: The blue "1" is Real One and the blue "W" is Word.
 COSTELLO: What word?
 ABBOTT: The Word in Office for Windows.
 COSTELLO: But there's three words in "office for windows"!
 ABBOTT: No, just one. But it's the most popular Word in the world.
 COSTELLO: It is?
 ABBOTT: Yes, but to be fair, there aren't many other Words left. It pretty
much wiped out all the other Words out there.
 COSTELLO: And that word is real one?
 ABBOTT: Real One has nothing to do with Word. Real One isn't even part of Office.
 COSTELLO: STOP! Don't start that again. What about financial bookkeeping?
You have anything I can track my money with?
 ABBOTT: Money.
 COSTELLO: That's right. What do you have?
 ABBOTT: Money.
 COSTELLO: I need money to track my money?
 ABBOTT: It comes bundled with your computer.
 COSTELLO: What's bundled with my computer?
 ABBOTT: Money.
 COSTELLO: Money comes with my computer?
 ABBOTT: Yes. No extra charge.
 COSTELLO: I get a bundle of money with my computer? How much?
 ABBOTT: One copy.
 COSTELLO: Isn't it illegal to copy money?
 ABBOTT: Microsoft gave us a license to copy money.
 COSTELLO: They can give you a license to copy money?
 ABBOTT: Why not? THEY OWN IT!
 A FEW DAYS LATER . .
 ABBOTT: Super Duper computer store. Can I help you?
 COSTELLO: How do I turn my computer off?
 ABBOTT: Click on "START

December 5, 2022 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  December 5, 12, 19. No meeting December 26 & January 2 
Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • December 5, 2022 meeting recording
  • December 5, 2022 Registration List
  • December 5, 2022 Chat
  • December 5, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (coming later)  (Note: We are using Otter AI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out. ​
December 5 Meeting Agenda
At the meeting the agenda included:
  • Beginning in January, new Task Force meeting time 3:00 pm Monday Afternoon
    At the meeting we discussed changing the time and date for Task Force Meetings
    : Why you ask? Due conflicting federal meetings on Monday mornings, Sandip Bhowmick the Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director at the Arizona Commerce Authority and: Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth OICG for Arizona, may not be able to attend many of our Task Force meeting. Because of the all the federal and state funding and initiatives it is important that they are able to attend and provide regular briefings. While we discussed several options talked about a Doodle Poll, or schedule around Sandip and Nicole's availability. Steve talked with them and they felt the best time was Monday afternoon @ 3:00. So, beginning in January we will meet @ 3:00 Monday
  • Steve reported on the plan to update the Task Force Comprehensive Statewide 2020 ​Digital Access Strategy Report.
    In November 2020, the Task Force published a Comprehensive Statewide Digital Access Strategy Report that includes short and long term tactical and strategic recommendations and initiatives to address the Internet and other digital access needs of all Arizona citizens. Lots has changed. It is time for a refresh. We will initiate a process to update the plan led by John Kelly a Principal with Triadvocates, Karen Ziegler Owner Karen Ziegler Consulting Services, and Jan Schiller a Partner with Berkshire Consulting Review and download the plan here.
  • Discussion and special meeting to discuss Arizona’s response to the National Broadband Map and Mapping challenge process.
    Steve reported that NTIA & FCC are looking for input to the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process. We will convene a meeting (s) to discuss Arizona input into the process. Paul Ross, AVP and CIO at Phoenix College and Rory Conaway Triad Wireless Managing Partner / CEO, supported by Sandip, Nicole, Mala and Milan, will lead the meeting. Date TBA.

    The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) announcement of a firm timeline for the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process. By law NTIA will allocate BEAD funds according to a formula derived from the map data, NTIA coordinates closely with the FCC to ensure that this data is accurate and reliable, and will continue to do so. NTIA will engage in a comprehensive outreach effort to support the FCC in its efforts to ensure that every state that wishes to file a challenge can do so. This effort will include: 1) Technical assistance to state broadband officials and governors’ offices as they prepare challenges; 2) Webinars for members of the public wishing to learn more about how to participate in the challenge process; 3) Regular engagement with state officials to identify and resolve issues. See additional Mapping Challenge Process info below. The latest FCC National Broadband Map is available: https://broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home
  • Discussion and AZBSN Meeting regarding FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program
    Meeting December 8, 3:00. Zoom Link. Passcode AZBSN

     - The FCC has released their Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program Notice Of Funding Opportunity NOFO. The Outreach Grant Program provides eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among those eligible households most in need of affordable connectivity. We thought it might be beneficial to convene a meeting for all interested parties to identify the  organizations that plan to submit an application, and to explore opportunities for coordination. See additional Outreach Grant Information below. See additional Information Below
  • NTIA Arizona Industry Listening Sessions: Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth OICG for Arizona, in cooperation with the Arizona Broadband Office, will convene Industry Listening Sessions tentatively scheduled for January 11 and again January 18 to get input from industry representatives regarding BEAD funding. Look for announcement from Nicole coming soon.
  • We provided a brief Review of the recently released Arizona Commerce Authority RFQ For Broadband Consulting Services for BEAD, Mapping, Digital Equity, Infrastructure; and RFP to identify Operations, Maintenance, and Commercialization entities to provide OMC Services for Arizona’s Middle-Mile Fiber Infrastructure. See additional RFP and RFQ Information below.​ 
RFQ for Broadband Consulting Services
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) announced Request for Qualifications (RFQ) # 2023-12 to identify vendor(s) to provide Broadband Consulting Services. Scope Of Work - Program Requirements: ACA is seeking assistance to build its capacity to execute a number of broadband initiatives and major deliverables:
  1. Create a Five-Year Broadband Action Plan with the goal of providing broadband access to every Arizonan that meets or exceeds all requirements specified by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (“NTIA”) Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (“BEAD”) program guidelines;
  2. Develop a statewide Digital Equity Plan and grant program as specified by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) Digital Equity Program;
  3. Develop geospatial assets that include a statewide broadband coverage map to validate or challenge the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) location fabric maps as specified in the 2020 Broadband Deployment Accuracy and Technological Availability Act (“Broadband DATA Act”) that show served and unserved locations throughout Arizona;
  4. Design a purchasing cooperative strategy for Arizona stakeholders to competitively acquire goods and services associated with the deployment of physical broadband infrastructure to mitigate supply chain issues, cost inflation, and delays in deployment.
  5. Develop a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for a statewide digital infrastructure deployment plan, which includes advanced applications and use case development.

To request a copy of the RFQ and be added to the notification list for this solicitation, click here. Solicitation Point of Contact: Teri Orman, Procurement/Grants Manager (602) 845-1245 | procurement@azcommerce.com
​

RFP for Arizona Middle-Mile Fiber Infrastructure Operations, Maintenance, and Commercialization (“OMC”) Services

The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) is pleased to announce the opening of Request for Proposals (RFP) # 2023-06. The purpose of this RFP is to identify Operations, Maintenance, and Commercialization (“OMC”) Entities to provide OMC Services for Arizona’s Middle-Mile Fiber Infrastructure.

​This RFP is being issued by the ACA in collaboration with the Arizona Department of Transportation (“ADOT”). ACA is seeking a well-qualified OMC Entity capable of operating and maintaining the Fiber Infrastructure which includes, but not limited to I-17, I-19, and I-40 West. Additionally, the ACA is seeking an OMC Entity with the ability and experience to commercialize the excess capacity (i.e., MicroDucts, dark fiber, etc. - Commercialization Assets) to offset the O&M costs associated with the ADOT network and generate revenue for the ACA. Given the criticality of the Fiber Infrastructure and ongoing expansion efforts, the ACA requires a firm that is flexible and adaptable to changes and can provide OMC Services at a high level of service and reliability. To request a copy of the RFQ and be added to the notification list for this solicitation, click here. Solicitation Point of Contact: Teri Orman, Procurement/Grants Manager (602) 845-1245 | procurement@azcommerce.com

FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program
A great overview video of the ACP Outreach Grant Program is available from NDIA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chBLHqxx6_k

The FCC has released their Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program Notice Of Funding Opportunity NOFO. Application Submission Deadline: January 9, 2023. Eligible applicants must submit a complete application to CGB for funding consideration before the application submission deadline which consists of standard forms and program-specific forms. See Details Here 

​The Outreach Grant Program provides eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among those eligible households most in need of affordable connectivity.

November 28, 2022 Meeting Recap
Meeting Schedule:  November 28, December 5, 12, 19. No meeting December 26. 
Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom
​Transcript files listed below
  • November 28, 2022 meeting recording
  • November 28, 2022 Registration List
  • November 28, 2022 Chat
  • November 28, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (coming later)  (Note: We are using Otter AI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out. ​
November 28 Arizona Broadband Director Update 
As you may already know, after a national search, Sandip Bhowmick, the current Assistant Broadband Director, has been promoted to Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director at the Arizona Commerce Authority. Sandip provided an overview of: the status of the BEAD and Digital Equity applications; his vision and plans for Arizona and the Broadband Office; the plan to release an RFQ for organizations to apply to lead planning for: 1) BEAD 2) Digital Equity, 3) Mapping; and more. Following his presentation there was considerable discussion about the the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process. See below 
FCC announces timeline for the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process
The Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) announcement of a firm timeline for the National Broadband Map and mapping challenge process. NTIA expects to communicate Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) allocation levels to eligible entities (states and territories) by June 30th. Also today, NTIA has announced more details on how the FCC’s mapping process will impact the BEAD program.  Here is the BEAD timeline

Key Dates  Description
  • November 18, 2022-FCC releases draft National Broadband Map, a comprehensive, location-by-location view of high-speed Internet availability in America.
  • November 18, 2022-January 13, 2023 - Best opportunity for eligible entities to submit challenges in time for the FCC to include corrections in the final version of the map that will be used to allocate Internet for All funding in the summer of 2023.
  • By June 30, 2023-NTIA plans to announce BEAD allocations, using the most up-to-date version of the FCC maps as a guide.

As the Biden-Harris Administration is required by law to allocate BEAD funds according to a formula derived from the map data, NTIA coordinates closely with the FCC to ensure that this data is accurate and reliable, and will continue to do so. NTIA’s efforts to date include: 1) Calling every single Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the United States to remind them of their obligations relating to the Broadband Data Collection (BDC) process, register any concerns or technical assistance requests, and relay those to the FCC; 2) Engaging in sustained outreach with Governors’ offices, state broadband offices, and stakeholder communities to share technical assistance resources, solicit feedback, and relay major areas of concern; and 3) Producing and sharing materials to break down the process with key dates and deadlines for affected stakeholders.

NTIA will engage in a comprehensive outreach effort to support the FCC in its efforts to ensure that every state that wishes to file a challenge can do so. This effort will include: 1) Technical assistance to state broadband officials and governors’ offices as they prepare challenges; 2) Webinars for members of the public wishing to learn more about how to participate in the challenge process; 3) Regular engagement with state officials to identify and resolve issues.
FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program - AZBSN Meeting
The FCC has released their  Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program Notice Of Funding Opportunity NOFO. Application Submission Deadline: January 9, 2023. Eligible applicants must submit a complete application to CGB for funding consideration before the application submission deadline which consists of standard forms and program-specific forms. See Details Here. Since there is no state agency review or state plan required, and any eligible organization can apply, we thought it might be beneficial to identify which organizations plan to submit an application, and to explore the feasibility of a voluntary and collaborative application. Steve will convene a meeting the week after Thanksgiving (date TBA) for all interested parties.  

Recognizing the importance of effective outreach to eligible households from trusted messengers to historically underserved communities, Congress authorized the FCC to establish the Outreach Grant Program. The Outreach Grant Program provides eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among those eligible households most in need of affordable connectivity.
See Details Here ​

November 21, 2022
Meeting Schedule:  November 28, December 5, 12, 19. No meeting December 26. 
Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed below
  • November 21, 2022 meeting recording
  • November 21, 2022 Registration List
  • November 21, 2022 Chat
  • November 21, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (coming later)  (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out. ​
November 21 Broadband Director Update Postponed Until November 28
As you may already know, after a national search, Sandip Bhowmick, the current Assistant Broadband Director, has been promoted to Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director at the Arizona Commerce Authority. Sandip provided an overview of: the status of the BEAD and Digital Equity applications; his vision and plans for Arizona and the Broadband Office; the plan to release an RFQ for organizations to apply to lead planning for: 1) BEAD 2) Digital Equity, 3) Mapping; and more. 
FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program - AZBSN Meeting
The FCC has released their  Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program Notice Of Funding Opportunity NOFO. Application Submission Deadline: January 9, 2023. Eligible applicants must submit a complete application to CGB for funding consideration before the application submission deadline which consists of standard forms and program-specific forms. See Details Here. Since there is no state agency review or state plan required, and any eligible organization can apply, we thought it might be beneficial to identify which organizations plan to submit an application, and to explore the feasibility of a voluntary and collaborative application. Steve will convene a meeting the week after Thanksgiving (date TBA) for all interested parties.  

Recognizing the importance of effective outreach to eligible households from trusted messengers to historically underserved communities, Congress authorized the FCC to establish the Outreach Grant Program. The Outreach Grant Program provides eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among those eligible households most in need of affordable connectivity.
See Details Here ​

November 14, 2022
Meeting Schedule:  November 14, 21, 28
Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed below
  • November 14, 2022 meeting recording
  • November 14, 2022 Registration List
  • November 14, 2022 Chat
  • November 14, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.​
Day and Time for Task Force Meetings. Steve reported that a couple of people asked that we consider a change of day or time for the Task Force meetings due to other meeting conflicts. Following a brief discussion, it was mostly the consensus of the attendees to keep the current day and time.

November 14 Digital Access Presentation
​
Digital Equity and Digital Divide Research, Data Sources, Future Research Planning presented by Paul Ross, Phoenix College AVP CIO on Special Assignment, Executive Director Phoenix DECC & Chief Architect/Implementation Agent, and Ph.D. student at Grand Canyon University.
Experienced and witnessed over the last two years, there has been tremendous funding and growth in solutions and discussions connected to the 'Digital Divide.' Paul discussed some of the research discovered, data sources available, and future research planning, and outline why there needs to be a broader conversation and recognition that the space is multifaceted and interdisciplinary, extending beyond internet access to include digital equity reflecting the environment, the individual and society as a whole.  The digital divide is present from the cloud to the closet to the classroom, from the formation of cells to supercentenarians. 
Contact: O: 602.764.1859, Paul.Ross@PhoenixCollege.edu
FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program
Mala, Muralidharan, E-rate Administrator for Public Libraries with the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records provided an overview of the FCC Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program NOFO that was recently released. Application Submission Deadline: January 9, 2023. Eligible applicants must submit a complete application to CGB for funding consideration before the application submission deadline which consists of standard forms and program-specific forms. See Details Here

Recognizing the importance of effective outreach to eligible households from trusted messengers to historically underserved communities, Congress authorized the FCC to establish the Outreach Grant Program. The Outreach Grant Program provides eligible governmental and non-governmental entities with the funding and resources needed to increase awareness of and participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among those eligible households most in need of affordable connectivity.
See Details Here 

​
Contact mala@azlibrary.gov, Cell: 480-221-5120

November 7, 2022
Meeting Schedule:  November 14, 21, 28
Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed below
  • November 7, 2022 meeting recording
  • November 7, 2022 Registration List
  • November 7, 2022 Chat
  • November 7, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.​
November 7 Digital Access Presentation
University of Arizona Information Assurance and Security Education Center: Paul Kealey, Lecturer in Management Information Systems at the University of Arizona, and Associate Director, Information Assurance and Security Education Center

Paul is a professor in the MIS Department which is part of the Eller College of Management at the University of Arizona. He specializes in data communications and information risk assessment. He is also the Associate Director of the Information Assurance and Security Education Center​.

Designated as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense by the National Security Agency and the Department of Homeland Security, IASEC offers faculty, students, and the community, resources to study and address the cyber vulnerabilities of our nation’s information infrastructure. The IASEC team works collaboratively to promote responsible information and cybersecurity practice through curriculum development, industry partnerships, cutting-edge research and community outreach.

Paul will provided an overview of the Information Assurance and Security Education Center and then shared opportunities for AZBSN to collaborate with Paul and Center. Contact: kealey@arizona.edu

October 31, 2022
Meeting Schedule:  November 7, 14, 21, 28
Meeting Update
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed below
  • October 31, 2022 meeting recording
  • October 31, 2022 Registration List
  • October 31, 2022 Chat
  • October 31, 2022, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.​
Arizona Commerce Authority Broadband And Digital Equity Planning and Funding Update: Sandip Bhowmick Assistant Broadband Director provided a an update on the status of BEAD and Digital Equity Planning and Funding. See the meeting recording for details

Meeting with Paul Kealey, Lecturer in Management Information Systems at the University Of Arizona, and Associate Director, Information Assurance and Security Education Center. Steve reported on a meeting with Paul to learning more about the Center and to explore opportunities for collaboration

Two Digital Access Presentations:
  1. AARP Foundation Grant to Help Older Adults Build Digital Skills
  2. Possible FCC ACP Pilot Project
See details below
AARP Foundation Grant to Help Older Adults Build Digital Skills
Bring Digital Skills Training to Older Adults in Your Community

The AARP Foundation has received a grant to Help Older Adults Build Digital Skills and to bring Digital Skills Training to Older Adults in Your Community. The AARP Foundation is seeking non-profit community organizations to implement the Digital Skills Ready@50+ trainings in Arizona to provide essential workplace skills training to older adults living with low-income, with a focus on women and people of color.

AARP Foundation, through a generous grant from Google.org, is partnering with OATS (Older Adults Technology Services) by AARP to train older adults in basic technology and digital skills through the Digital Skills Ready@50+ initiative. We are seeking community partners to help us provide essential workplace skills training to older adults living with low-income, with a focus on women and people of color. In partnership with Senior Planet/OATS by AARP, the Digital Skills Ready@50+ curriculum offers foundational digital courses like Remote Work Basics, Tools for Aspiring Entrepreneurs, and Workplace Productivity Tools, that are designed to help participants find jobs, change careers, or explore entrepreneurship. 

AARP Foundation is seeking non-profit community organizations to implement the Digital Skills Ready@50+ trainings in Arizona.  

We are looking for organizations that: 1) Can each serve 75-200 people over the course of the initiative; 2) Have the capacity to deliver the trainings and track and support outcomes; 3) Share our commitment to supporting older adults; 4) Demonstrate that equity and inclusion are core to their work.
Funding is available from $4,000 to $10,000 to support training implementation. Please click here to complete an application. Questions? Email digitalskillsready@aarp.org
Possible FCC ACP Pilot Project
At this meeting we discussed a possible ACP Pilot project with the FCC and Lisa Gustinelli. Lisa contacted AZBSN about collaboration on an ACP demonstration project. She has been collaborating with Lyle Ishida (Chief, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division, Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission).

Lyle contacted her about a huge ACP push in Florida and Arizona in January of 2023. Lisa is the Innovator in Residence, ASU ShapingEDU, Arizona State University Broadband Access and Equity project, but lives in Florida. She suggested that we form a working committee for Arizona.FYI Lisa has been doing amazing ACP work in Florida and has lots of “lessons learned”. For example, she did a huge signup event October 15th in West Palm Beach, Florida. She thought it  may be of interest to the  task force because it was done at the Caridad Center  in West Palm Beach. The center is the largest free medical clinic in Florida serving mostly the Hispanic community. They are holding a health fair on October 15th for Hispanic Heritage month and I she had an ACP signup table at their fair. They provided two tables and five bilingual volunteers for the signup. They expect 600-1000 people at the fair!!! It is a good model for getting health clinics involved in signups. She also coordinated a signup for Mexican migrant workers in Belle Glade Florida. Lisa has presented in the past to AZBSN about the work she is doing in Belle Glade Florida, and her collaboration with Lyle and the FCC.

​Contact Lisa Gustinelli, lisanigaragustinelli@gmail.com 561-901-5089

October 24, 2022
Meeting Schedule:  October 24, 31 November 7, 14, 21, 28
Monday October 24 Task Force Zoom Meeting Fiasco
For those of you that attempted to join our meeting on Monday and couldn’t get connected, sorry about that. We used the same link and login info we have used for the past 2 years. To make a long story short, Zoom did an update that caused the problem. I think it is now fixed! I have done several tests and it seems to be working, although there may still be a problem if you try to login using the Zoom app on your phone. I will be working on that. FYI, a few of our collaborators were able to login using the Zoom website and others called in by phone. We did have a short meeting anyway, and the recording is available below. BTW, if you haven’t done so, please update your
desktop app to the latest version.

Meeting Update
  • October 24, 2022 meeting recording
  • October 24, 2022 Registration List - Due to Zoom issue no list available
  • October 24, 2022 Chat - - Due to Zoom issue no Chat is available
  • October 24, 2022, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.​
Our Newest Sponsor: Karen Ziegler, Karen Ziegler Consulting
A special thanks to Karen Ziegler, Owner, Karen Ziegler Consulting Services for stepping up to be our newest sponsor. Karen has been with us long before AZBSN and long before the Task force. She has been a valuable partner and leader with the Task Force and a great resource for the state of Arizona. . Karen provides community and broadband planning and grant writing.  

Karen worked for the State of Arizona for 30 plus years, and retired then contracted back with the Department of Administration (DOA), and ran the Arizona FirstNet and state 911 programs. She also worked on the rural broadband initiative and  formed a group to develop the state rural broadband strategic plan at that time to help us position ourselves for additional federal funding and kind of give a roadmap for the work that we knew that needed to be done in Arizona to expand broadband. She left  DOA in 2020, and then started her own consulting firm. She provides a lot of financial and grant management consulting for public safety agencies across the country. She is affiliated with Community Broadband Advocates, and John Lucas, who she partnered with back in 2020, to work specifically on rural broadband projects. And so they have a lot of great projects that they are working with across the state. 
For details about updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above

October 17, 2022
  • October 17, 2022 meeting recording
  • October 17, 2022 Registration List
  • October 17, 2022 Chat
  • October 17, 2022, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  October 24, 31 November 7, 14, 21, 28

  • ​
​For details about Ken's Cyber Security Resources, the Cyber Funding for State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program , and other updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above

October 3, 2022
  • October 3, 2022 meeting recording
  • October 3, 2022 Registration List
  • October 3, 2022 Chat
  • October 3, 2022, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  October 17, 24,31
  • October 3 Digital Access Resource Highlight Recap: - Do to Zoom issue there was no presentation at this meeting
    See ASU Announcement
    Erin and Derek provided an overview of the recently announced ASU & Maricopa County $34.6 million Digital Equity Initiative. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will provide ASU, and its collaborators, $34.6 million through 2026 to advance broadband, community support, equipment and training across Maricopa County, which includes the metro Phoenix area. The funding makes ASU home to the largest university-led digital equity initiative in the country. ASU Enterprise Technology, Sun Corridor Network and the 501(c)(3) Digital Equity Institute will lead the effort along with hundreds of faculty, students and staff to bolster digital proficiency and distribute internet-connected devices to those in need. A broadband task force convened under the umbrella of The Connective, Greater Phoenix’s smart region consortium and an initiative of the Partnership for Economic Innovation.

    The group consisted of government officials, Maricopa County and a technical advisory team led by ASU and the Digital Equity Institute. The nearly $35 million in funding to ASU comes through the American Rescue Plan package, awarded by Maricopa County. Moving forward, collaboration will remain at the center. ASU Enterprise Technology, Sun Corridor Network and the Digital Equity Institute will partner to connect community anchor institutions, such as schools, health clinics and other neighborhood assets, and provide educational programs that support communities’ journeys from digital inequity to full participation. 

    Contacts: Erin Carr-Jordan Erin, ecj@digitalequityinstitute.org,  Derek Masseth dmasseth@suncorridor.org
​
​For details about the ASU & Maricopa County Digital Equity Initiative, and other updates, see the Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above

September 26, 2022
  • September 26, 2022 meeting recording
  • September 26 Registration List
  • September 26, 2022 Chat
  • September 26, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Download Nicole Umayam's Digital Access Presentation here
  • Meeting Schedule:  October 3,10,17, 24,31
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. ​
  • ​September 26 Digital Access Presentation: Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer – Arizona, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce  
    Download Nicole's presentation here
    ​Most of you will remember Nicole, who was the Digital Inclusion Consultant with the Arizona State Library. Nicole did a great job setting up the Connect Arizona Web site and the State Library Digital Navigator project, among many other accomplishments. Nicole is now a Federal Program Officer (FPO) with NTIA, supporting the grant administration, development, and implementation of the IIJA broadband programs in Arizona. This discussion will include an overview of the broadband programs in Arizona, the role of coordination, and key priorities for AZBSN members. She will focus on the structures NTIA has established to support States, the nature of the Federal Program Officer (FPO)  roles, and how the AZBSN can be involved in Arizona’s planning and implementation.

    You probably know that NTIA, located within the Department of Commerce, is the Executive Branch agency that is principally responsible by law for advising the President on telecommunications and information policy issues. NTIA administers four high-speed Internet programs enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which includes an investment of $65 billion to close the digital divide and ensure all Americans have access to reliable,  high speed, and affordable broadband.

    ​Contact: Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer – Arizona, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG), National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce  202-308-7160 | numayam@ntia.gov 
​
​For details about Nicole's presentation, and other updates, see the 
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above

October 7 Chicanos Por La Causa and Common Sense “Help Our Community Connect” ACP sign-up event
Chicanos Por La Causa and Common Sense are teaming up for an event called “Help Our Community Connect” during Digital Inclusion Week in Phoenix to help even more families get connected. The event is free and open to the public. There will be light refreshments and activities for kids as well. Please bring anyone you’d like along. 
WHO: Chicanos Por La Causa and Common Sense Media
WHAT: Help Our Community Connect
WHERE: Central Park Recreation Center in Phoenix, 140 E. Tonto, Phoenix
WHEN: October 7th, 3-7 p.m.
Families that receive free and reduced school lunch, WIC, or SNAP benefits, or are enrolled in other programs like Medicaid, Head Start, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are eligible for the program.
 
We are looking for volunteers who might be interested in helping on the day of the ACP event​. Volunteer Here
​

Download the following ACP Event Documents
  • ​Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Event flyer Oct 2022.pdf
  • Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Event Flyer Spanish Oct 2022.pdf
  • Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Eligibility Oct 2022.pdf
  • Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Eligibility - Spanish Oct 2022.pdf

September 19, 2022
  • September 19, 2022 meeting recording
  • September 19 Registration List
  • September 19, 2022 Chat
  • September 19, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  September 26 October 3,10,17, 24,31
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. ​

​Thank You Jeff Sobotka
This morning Jeff announced that he will be leaving his position as State Broadband Manager. He is heading out for a much needed rest and long delayed honeymoon. Jeff, as you heard this morning, we will miss you and greatly appreciate your leadership, friendship and amazing accomplishments. Arizona is a better place because of  your hard work. We will miss you but wish you the best.

September 19 Digital Access Presentation: Coconino County SpaceX StarLink project
PJ Way  |  Coconino County Information Technology Rural Broadband and Special Initiatives
Coconino County has been working with SpaceX in the StarLink project to deliver high speed connectivity to rural areas of the county within the Navajo Nation. I would like to share a little background to how this relationship came to exist, the model used, and the results/current status. Please join in the conversation. I look forward to presenting more. Thank you
Contact pway@coconino.az.gov  Direct:  928-607-4373|  IT Service Desk:  928-679-7900 
​
​For details about the Coconino County SpaceX StarLink project, and other updates, see the 
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above

October 7 Chicanos Por La Causa and Common Sense “Help Our Community Connect” ACP sign-up event
Chicanos Por La Causa and Common Sense are teaming up for an event called “Help Our Community Connect” during Digital Inclusion Week in Phoenix to help even more families get connected. The event is free and open to the public. There will be light refreshments and activities for kids as well. Please bring anyone you’d like along. 
WHO: Chicanos Por La Causa and Common Sense Media
WHAT: Help Our Community Connect
WHERE: Central Park Recreation Center in Phoenix, 140 E. Tonto, Phoenix
WHEN: October 7th, 3-7 p.m.
Families that receive free and reduced school lunch, WIC, or SNAP benefits, or are enrolled in other programs like Medicaid, Head Start, or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) are eligible for the program.
 
We are looking for volunteers who might be interested in helping on the day of the ACP event​. Volunteer Here
​

Download the following ACP Event Documents
  • ​Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Event flyer Oct 2022.pdf
  • Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Event Flyer Spanish Oct 2022.pdf
  • Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Eligibility Oct 2022.pdf
  • Chicanos-Common Sense ACP Eligibility - Spanish Oct 2022.pdf

September 12, 2022
  • September 12, 2022 meeting recording
  • September 12 Registration List
  • September 12, 2022 Chat
  • September 12, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  September 19, 26 October 3,10,17, 24,31
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. ​
September 19 Digital Access Presentation: Connect Pima,
Pima County’s Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion Action Plan 
  •  Michelle Simon, Deputy Director of Support Services, Pima County Public Library and Steering Committee Co-Chair of Connect Pima
  • Cindy Hogan, Connect Pima Co-Chair, Digital Inclusion Committee

Michelle provide an overview of Pima County’s Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion Action Plan and planning process. PCPL, the largest provider of free technology and internet access in the county, has been integral to the creation of Connect Pima. Connect Pima’s mission is that all Pima County community members will have equitable access to affordable and reliable high-speed broadband internet to successfully participate in our democratic society. 

This work has resulted in a highly collaborative group of partners from local, state, and national organizations, internet service providers, and governmental entities focused on developing broadband infrastructure, implementing digital literacy initiatives, and increasing access to devices and tools for connectivity throughout Pima County.

Michele was joined by Cindy Hogan, Connect Pima Co-Chair, Digital Inclusion Committee who provided an overview of the work of that Committee. Pima County is the first Arizona county to tackle digital equity with a strategic planning effort.

Contact: Michelle Simon  (520) 594-5654 michelle.simon@pima.gov, Cindy Hogan 520-891-1285 cindyhogan333@gmail.com
​
​For details about Pima Connects, and other updates, see the 
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above
Download  Pima County’s Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion Action Plan
Pima County’s Digital Infrastructure and Inclusion Action Plan 2022
File Size: 159 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

October 4 Pima Connect Virtual Digital Literacy Forum  “Why Digital Literacy Matters” 
Featuring Francella Ochillo, Executive Director of Next Century Cities

​Registration And Information​
​​Cindy announced the virtual Digital Literacy Forum on Tuesday October 4, 2022 as we explore “Why Digital Literacy Matters”.  Without digital skills training (digital literacy) many are not comfortable using devices or confident about going online.  Connect Pima plans to develop five digital literacy initiatives with community partners to reach new learners who need access to skills training. We hope you will join us to learn more about the importance of digital literacy and to find out how you and your organization can join Connect Pima in our efforts to close the “digital divide”.  Contact Cindy Hogan for additional information 520-891-1285 cindyhogan333@gmail.com
Launch of Pima County Library Telehealth Demonstration Initiative and
Arivaca Community Health Day

Saturday, October 1st from 9am –12pm Arivaca Historic Schoolhouse ~ 17180 W Fourth St

 Network with YOUR community resources in Arivaca, FREE Health Screening, Eye Screening & Covid Testing;  Get connected to the internet with resources and discounts thru the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP); Exciting Telehealth Technology Demonstrations; Check out the new telehealth resources available for you at the Caviglia-Arivaca Branch Library
​
This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
​
For more info contact the Arizona Telemedicine Program @(520)626-0131 or jmajor@telemedicine.arizona.edu
Arivaca Telehealth And Community Health Day Oct 2022
File Size: 255 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Download Telehealth Resources, Grants and Connectivity September 2022
The attached file provides the September 2022 Distance Learning/Telehealth Calendar of Events for the Arizona Telemedicine Program/Southwest Regional Telemedicine Resource Center and other national events and resources
Telehealth Resource, Events and Connectivity
File Size: 5752 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File


August 29, 2022
  • August 29, 2022 meeting recording
  • August 29, 2022 Registration List
  • August 29, 2022 Chat
  • August 29, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  August 29, September 12, 19, 26. No meeting Labor Day September 5
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. ​
  • August 29 Digital Access Presentation: Instead of our usual presentation, the following 6 people provided a brief introduction about themselves and their organization:
    --- Aaron Ball, Center for the Future of Arizona, Director of College and Career Pathways aaron.ball@arizonafuture.org 520 271 4497
    --- Will McCullen, Pima Community College, program manager for the IT Center of Excellence , jwmccullen@pima.edu, 520-300-1985
    --- Shelby Brown, Arizona Department of Education, Erate Coordinator and collaborator with the ADOE Office of Digital Teaching and Learning shelby.brown@azed.gov, 801-388-4418
    --- Jan Schiller. Berkshire Consulting, LLC, Partner jschiller@berkshire-consulting.com, 414-31-59797
    --- Vaughn Croft, Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center, Business Community Liaison croft.vaughn@jobcorps.org 520-879-9265​
    --- Fernando Roman Communications Workers of America, Campaign Lead,
    Froman@cwa-union.org 520-709- 7199
​ For details about these team members, and other updates, see the 
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above
August 22, 2022
  • August 22, 2022 meeting recording
  • August 22, 2022 Registration List
  • August 22, 2022 Chat
  • August 22, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  August 29, September 12, 19, 26. No meeting Labor Day September 5
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. ​
  • August 22 Digital Access Presentation – TEALS Microsoft Technology, Education, and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program presented by Regional (Reggie) Carrillo, Arizona Regional Manager for the Microsoft Philanthropies Technology, Education, and Literacy in Schools (TEALS) program

    Reggie provided an awesome overview of the TEALS program, his engagements with schools in Arizona, and the many other digital inclusion initiatives he is engaged in. Reggie works to continue to expand computer science (CS) opportunities and pathways to build educator capacity to teach CS at the high school level for historically excluded students. TEALS (Technology Education and Literacy in Schools) is a FREE Microsoft Philanthropies program that builds sustainable computer science programs in high schools.

    Reggie has transitioned to this role with Microsoft from being a former educator to continue to focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in STEM. Reggie’s goals as Regional Manager role is to strengthen Arizona’s STEM culture in educational spaces and the surrounding communities as well as empowering students to be able to see a professional future for themselves in Arizona’s up and coming digital and tech landscape. He knows that diversity is our strength and collaboration is a key component when it comes to utilizing STEM to address issues at the forefront of Arizona’s community. Reggie is currently engaged with a number of high schools in Arizona. He is interested in supporting and partnering with other digital inclusion organizations in Arizona.

    Contact: regional@tealsk12.org | Cell: 623-999-7784 | Work: 602-805-8999 microsoft.com/TEALS.​
For details about Reggie and TEALS, and other updates, see the
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed above
August 15, 2022
  • August 15, 2022 meeting recording
  • August 15, 2022 Registration List
  • August 15, 2022 Chat
  • August 15, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Meeting Schedule:  :  August 22, 29, September 12, 19, 26. No meeting Labor Day September 5
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. 
  • August 15 Digital Access Presentation – WanRack Blake Mayfield, Director of Business Development
    Download Presentation
    Blake provided an overview of Wanrack and the services they are providing in Arizona. WANRack,  headquartered in the Kansas City, is a turn-key middle mile and last mile infrastructure provider. Our team has been engineering, constructing, and maintaining fiber networks across the nation for a decade! WANRack’s executive management team has deep experience in the telecommunications industry with a history of successful completion of large and complex fiber-optic construction projects for school districts, counties, municipalities, wireless carriers, and private enterprises.

    WANRack’s model is designed for Open Access Networks (OANs). Under our open access model, WANRack seeks to build a twenty-first-century fiber network in which multiple services can be offered over the network. WANRack is also a certified E-Rate service provider.  WANRack offers Commercial & Wholesale services as well as a full fiber to the home solution tailored to meet the needs of your community.

    WANRack has built more than a dozen private fiber networks in Arizona. In fact, out of the 23 states WANRack operates in, our largest fiber footprint resides in Arizona. WANRack looks forward to the opportunity to provide your community with a free quote! Contact: Blake Mayfield, Director of Business Development, 913-660-6085 blake.mayfield@wanrack.com
  • Holly Henley announced that, until they find a permanent replacement for Nicole Umayam, the State Library will be contracting with Cindy Hogan to support Connect Arizona, the digital navigators and our digital inclusion projects. 
  • Common Sense ACP awareness campaign: Ilana Lowery announced that Common Sense will launch their ACP awareness campaign Aug. 15. They are partnering with the Digital Equity Institute and ASU's Experience Center on a Phoenix pilot for their  ACP campaign.  For information Ilana Lowery Common Sense Media, Arizona Director, ilowery@commonsense.org 623-341-0177
    Download Common Sense ACP Fliers
  • From  Sherika Jackson: Join us for the Inaugural Future Stars, Inc Fundraiser:  Adult STEM Party with a Purpose on September 9,2022 from 6pm-8pm at Arizona Science Center, Phoenix, AZ. Your ticket price includes first-floor access to Arizona Science Center, Hands on STEM activities, light hors 'oeuvres, and a fabulous Silent Auction. Your chance to be a kid again!   Best of all we will award five laptop scholarships during the event.   All proceeds benefit the operational expansion of Future Stars, Inc.
     Information and Registration
  • Mark Goldstein: The Arizona Technology Council is drafting their 2023 Public Policy Guide and will refine and lock down the content by late August. We want your input for this year’s update. See and download 2002 Policy Guide or download Word Version for editing here. Please review and send me any suggestions or markups to markg@researchedge.com​
For details about WanRack Presentation, and other updates, see the
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files

August 1, 2022
  • August 1, 2022 meeting recording
  • August 1, 2022 Registration List
  • August 1, 2022 Chat
  • August 1, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Steve's Vacation And Meeting Schedule. Steve  will be on vacation from July 14 - August 11. During that time he will coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we will skip a couple of meetings. Meeting Schedule:  August 15, 22, 29
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. 
  • Valley TeleCom Group Update
    Download Presentation
    ​June and July came with big announcements which will lead to massive fiber expansion for SE Arizona. Tune in to hear about Valley’s $45M Rural Utility Service (RUS) loan to fund its commitment to the FCC’s Alternative Connect America Cost Model (ACAM II) for Universal Service (USF) Fund reimbursement and Valley’s three ACA AZ State Broadband Development Grant Projects. Cochise, Graham, Greenlee and Santa Cruz counties will all be benefiting by getting more fiber internet through these two programs.  Contact: Heather Floyd (520) 384-8912 Office (520) 349-6658 Cell heather.floyd@teamvtg.net. Website www.vtc.net
  • August 5, 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time  FCC ACP Open Meeting: The FCC will be considering two important ACP-related items at our next Open Meeting, to be conducted on August 5, 2022 beginning at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.  These items include: 1) Consideration of a Second Report and Order which would establish the Affordable Connectivity Outreach Grant Program to provide eligible governmental and non-governmental entities funding to conduct outreach to increase awareness of and encourage participation in the Affordable Connectivity Program among eligible low-income households.  And; 2) Consideration of a Third Report and Order which would establish the one-year Your Home, Your Internet Pilot Program with the goal of increasing awareness of the Affordable Connectivity Program among recipients of federal housing assistance and facilitating enrollment in the ACP by providing targeted assistance with the ACP application. 

    Both items have the potential to positively influence our work together toward building greater awareness and enrollment into the ACP from eligible households.  If passed more information about these new opportunities will be shared in the near future.  We encourage your virtual (or in-person) attendance at the meeting. 
  • Holly Henley announced that, until they find a permanent replacement for Nicole Umayam, the State Library will be contracting with Cindy Hogan to support Connect Arizona, the digital navigators and our digital inclusion projects. 
  • Ilana Lowery announced that Common Sense will launch their ACP awareness campaign Aug. 15. They are partnering with the Digital Equity Institute and ASU's Experience Center on a Phoenix pilot for their  ACP campaign. Please let her know if you can help spread the word. For information Ilana Lowery Common Sense Media, Arizona Director, ilowery@commonsense.org 623-341-0177
    Download Common Sense ACP Fliers
  • From  Shereka Jackson: Join us for the Inaugural Future Stars, Inc Fundraiser:  Adult STEM Party with a Purpose on September 9,2022 from 6pm-8pm at Arizona Science Center, Phoenix, AZ. Your ticket price includes first-floor access to Arizona Science Center, Hands on STEM activities, light hors 'oeuvres, and a fabulous Silent Auction. Your chance to be a kid again!   Best of all we will award five laptop scholarships during the event.   All proceeds benefit the operational expansion of Future Stars, Inc.
     Information and Registration
  • From Kelly Greene:  Arizona SciTech Festival September 27 - STEM & Innovation Summit at Arizona Science Center. Sponsor, Exhibitor and panel opportunities available. Contact: kgreene@scitechinstitute.org
  • From  Kelly Krusee:   Erate questions (and other questions!) in Digital Office Hours, from Office of Digital Teaching & Learning, Arizona Department of Education:https://azed-gov.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlf-qhqT0qGtYWppOsTkOUKRsEOv-HWAKS. Digital Office Hours are drop in, Thursdays, 11am-1pm MST. https://www.azed.gov/odtl/odtl-digital-office-hours
  • From: Mark Goldstein: Commnet Broadband plans to acquire Sacred Wind Enterprises uniting two broadband providers focused on serving tribal areas in the Four Corner area. See Telecompetitor article​
For details about Valley Telecom Presentation, and other updates, see the
Meeting recording, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files

July 18 2022
  • July 18, 2022 meeting recording
  • July 18, 2022 Registration List
  • July 18, 2022 Chat
  • June 18, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Steve's Vacation And Meeting Schedule. Steve  will be on vacation from July 14 - August 10. During that time he will coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we will skip a couple of meetings. Meeting Schedule: July 18, August 1, 15. No meetings July 25 and August 8
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. 
  • July 18 Task Force Briefing: Arizona Broadband and Digital Inclusion Planning
    Jeff Sobotka, Vice President & State Broadband Director, Arizona Commerce Authority.
    Jeff provided an excellent update on Arizona Broadband and Digital Inclusion initiatives including funded broadband projects, Bead planning, the mapping initiative, onboarding consultants & the initial paperwork to receive our planning funds for the IIJA programs and more. This was an extended presentation rather than just his usual 10-15 minute briefing.
    Jeff Sobotka, Vice President & State Broadband Director. Contact: 602-845-1287 jeffs@AZcommerce.com
  • See other updates
  • For details about Jeff's, and other updates, see the meeting recording and Zoom Transcript

July 11 2022
  • July 11, 2022 meeting recording
  • July 11, 2022 Registration List
  • July 11, 2022 Chat
  • June 11, 2022 ZOOM Transcript (Note: We are experimenting with the use of OttorAI for a meeting transcript. Much better than the Zoom Transcript but still needs work. Does not identify the speakers. Anyway check it out.
  • Steve's Vacation And Meeting Schedule. Steve announced that he will be on vacation from July 14 - August 10. During that time he will coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we will skip a couple of meetings. Meeting Schedule: July 18, August 1, 15. No meetings July 25 and August 8
  • Nicole Umayam, State Library Digital Inclusion Library Consultant moved on to bigger and better things.  Nicole: Congratulations and Thank you! Nicole left the State Library for  a position as Arizona BEAD representative with NTIA.
    Thank you Nicole for all the great work you did with Connect-Arizona. 
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. 
  • ​​ Arizona Digital Inclusion Planning. The Arizona Commerce Authority is contracting with Erin Carr-Jordan, Executive Director and the Digital Equity Institute to lead the development of the state Digital Inclusion plan. Erin provided an update about the planning and Institute initiatives
  • Digital Access Resource Presentation –  Microsoft Digital Equity Dashboard
    Ryan Palmer, Global Digital Equity Strategist on the Microsoft Airband team
     
    We are in discussion with Microsoft about opportunities to collaborate with them on their digital inclusion dashboard, broadband and other digital inclusion opportunities and resources. As a starting point Ryan provided a brief overview of of at their soon-to-be-released Digital Equity Dashboard They will emphasize insights it can provide and what you and other practitioners can do with the information.

    As part of Microsoft’s cross-company focus on digital equity, Microsoft has developed the Digital Equity Dashboard to help policymakers and digital inclusion practitioners identify areas within a state with high digital inequities, using a data-driven approach to maximize resources and investments in the communities most impacted by the digital divide. The Dashboard will be free and publicly available; it generates visualizations based on data from the Census, the FCC, Microsoft, and BroadbandNow.

    Link To Dashboard: Here is the link to the Dashboard. Please note that it is a work in progress and has been not been officially released so they have asked that you do not share this link with others

    Contacts: Ryan Palmer 425.421.5333, M 206.962.1171, Allen Kim (Director of Data Analytics with Microsoft’s AI for Good Research Lab, ​Maile Martinez (Program Manager, Airband US)

June 27 2022
  • June 27, 2022 meeting recording (Sorry no recording available)
  • June 27, 2022 Registration List
  • June 27, 2022 Chat
  • June 27, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Sorry no transcript available)
  • Steve's Vacation. Steve announced that he will be on vacation from July 11 - August 10. During that time I tentatively plan to coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we may go to every other week. Dates TBA. 
  • Tentative Meeting Schedule: July 11, 25, August 8, 15. No meeting July 4
  • Nicole Umayam, State Library Digital Inclusion Library Consultant is leaving.  Nicole: Congratulations and Thank you! Nicole is leaving the State Library for a position as Arizona representative with NTIA.
    Thank you Nicole for all the great work you did with Connect-Arizona. We 
  • Digital Inclusion Library Consultant: The Arizona State Library is hiring! Please share this link with your networks. 
  • June 27, 2022 Digital Access Resource Presentation: ​

June 20 2022
  • June 20, 2022 meeting recording
  • June 20, 2022 Registration List
  • June 20, 2022 Chat
  • June 20, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • Steve's Vacation. Steve announced that he will be on vacation from July 11 - August 10. During that time I tentatively plan to coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we may go to every other week. Dates TBA. 
  • Tentative Meeting Schedule: June 20, 27. July 11, 25, August 8, 15. No meeting July 4
  • June 20, 2022 Digital Access Resource Presentation: Connect-Arizona  (Download Presentation Here) –  Nicole Umayam, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant with the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records provided an update on the Connect-Arizona website and resources. Connect Arizona is a digital inclusion initiative led by the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records. Our activities are informed by a network of community partners, government agencies, broadband stakeholders, leaders in education, and the people we serve. This initiative has two primary aims: (1) To connect Arizonans with information resources needed for affordable home internet access, personal devices, and local technology training and support programs and (2) To inspire digital empowerment in Arizona via Digital Navigators, a free library service for individuals to develop digital and web literacy skills, find internet service, get technical assistance, and become confident users of technology. See the Connect-Arizona website here. 
  • AZBSN NTIA Internet For All Workshop. We were tentatively planning an ASBSN Workshop to provide an overview of the complex NTIA Internet For All  initiative for their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program ($42.5 billion); Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion); State Digital Equity Act programs ($1.5 billion). See the https://www.internetforall.gov/ web site where you can access the three new NTIA Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Drew Garner, State Broadband Policy Fellow with Common Sense, Mala and Cindy are working on summary presentation of these complex programs. We decide that since NDIA and many other organizations are providing webinars, including Q&A, instead of providing our own webinar, we would prepare an email and web page, with links to the many existing webinars and downloads to the presentations being developed by Drew/Mala/Cindy and Cindy. In the meantime see:
       --- National Digital Alliance webinar recording and slides here 
      --- NTIA past events archived here where you can find a reverse chronologic list of webinars linking to their slide decks and video playback.​
       --- NTIA Chief Answers 5 Burning Broadband Funding Questions: NTIA recently unveiled the rules that will apply to $45 billion in broadband funding, opening the door to an influx of investment. However, the rules, which were presented in a series of Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) releases, seem to have raised as many questions as they answered. Speaking at the Mountain Connect conference NTIA chief Alan Davidson tackled a range of queries in both a keynote session and a media roundtable. Davidson said there was a lot of information that was not included in the NTIA’s NoFOs and it plans to issue additional guidance around topics such as supply chain and workforce issues. (Mountain Connect) Here’s what he had to say about five key issues. See Fierce Telecom Article: NTIA Chief Answers 5 Burning Broadband Funding Questions 
  • National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC) Telehealth Technology Report 
    Submitted be Janet Major - Download Here Survey Description and Trends Overview. The National Telehealth Technology Assessment Center (TTAC) conducts a biennial technology survey. This survey consists of 17 questions with a goal of identifying: 1. Telemedicine Technologies that are currently being used in telemedicine programs, 2. Telemedicine Technologies that may be of interest for future assessment, 3. How TTAC can best provide relevant information and technology resources to telemedicine users. TTAC uses the results of this survey to direct assessments, outreach, and future work.

June 13, 2022
  • June 13, 2022 meeting recording
  • June 13, 2022 Registration List
  • June 13, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • June 13, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • Steve's Vacation. Steve announced that he will be on vacation from July 11 - August 10. During that time I tentatively plan to coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we may go to every other week. Dates TBA. 
  • Cyber Security: Ryan Murray, Deputy Director/Deputy State Chief Information Security Officer, State of Arizona Department of Homeland Security | Cyber Command provided an overview and discussion regarding the CISA, Federal Cyber Security And Infrastructure Security Agency will be providing $1 billion for State and Local Cybersecurity Grants Ryan will provide an overview, and discuss the $200 million worth of federal cybersecurity grant money slated to come to state and local governments this year, with another $800 million arriving over the next three years. Localities are to be the biggest recipients — with 80 percent of the funds promised to them. See the Government Technology Article for more info.​
  • AZBSN NTIA Internet For All Workshop. We were tentatively planning an ASBSN Workshop to provide an overview of the complex NTIA Internet For All  initiative for their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program ($42.5 billion); Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion); State Digital Equity Act programs ($1.5 billion). See the https://www.internetforall.gov/ web site where you can access the three new NTIA Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Drew Garner, State Broadband Policy Fellow with Common Sense, Mala and Cindy are working on summary presentation of these complex programs. We decide that since NDIA and many other organizations are providing webinars, including Q&A, instead of providing our own webinar, we would prepare an email and web page, with links to the many existing webinars and downloads to the presentations being developed by Drew/Mala/Cindy and Cindy. In the meantime see the National Digital Alliance webinar recording and slides here. 


June 6, 2022
  • June 6, 2022 meeting recording
  • June 6, 2022 Attendance List
  • June 6, 2022 Zoom Chat
Meeting Agenda: In lieu of a resource presentation, our agenda included:
  •  Regular Task Force Updates
  • We are planning to schedule a Task Force Networking event similar to the networking event we hosted just about a year ago April 22, 2022. Proposed dates were June 15, 16, 22, 23 or 24. Based on the poll conducted at the meeting, the preferred date was June 15. Also, morning rather than AfterHours was preferred. Unfortunately June 15 is just a week away, which doesn't provide much lead time.  
  •  Recap of AZBSN meeting with Lyle Ishida, Chief, Consumer Affairs and Outreach Division Consumer & Governmental Affairs Bureau, Federal Communications Commission. Thanks to an introduction from Lisa Gustinelli, Innovator in Residence, ASU ShapingEDU, Arizona State University Broadband Access and Equity project, Cindy, Lisa and Steve met with Lyle to explore opportunities to partner with Lyle and the FCC to explore Arizona becoming a statewide Affordable Connectivity Program implementation demonstration project. Lisa provided a great overview of the lessons learned from her ACP "supermarket demonstration event" in Belle Glade Florida. The supermarket program is a grassroots effort to get local consumers in underserved communities connected to broadband through the Affordable Connectivity Program. Lyle was very  interested in partnering with the Task Force, and suggested that we meet regularly to develop a plan. Lyle offered to come to Arizona, attend ACP sign -up sessions, train local people, and more. We agreed that we would convene a small group of people from the Task Force to draft a plan before meeting again with Lyle.   
  • We are tentatively planning an ASBSN Workshop to provide an overview of the complex NTIA Internet For All  initiative for their Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program ($42.5 billion); Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program ($1 billion); State Digital Equity Act programs ($1.5 billion). See the https://www.internetforall.gov/ web site where you can access the three new NTIA Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Drew Garner, State Broadband Policy Fellow with Common Sense, Mala and Cindy are working on summary presentation of these complex programs. In the meantime see the National Digital Alliance webinar recording and slides here. 
  • Request for presenters: Stephanie Pierotti Director, ShapingEDU is looking for presenters for the June 21-23 ASU’s ShapingEDU Global Virtual Summer Space Camp.  Education 2030 session is where we have the most availability for speakers. She also extended an invitation for everyone to join  ShapingEDU. They meet virtually every Tue @ 1:00 Arizona time. Sign-up Here or contact Stephanie Pierotti Director, ShapingEDU, ASU Technology Office, Creative + Communications. 702-858-7200,  stephanie.pierotti@asu.edu (See see details about Space Camp and Shaping EDU below)
  • Discussion: What’s next for AZBSN & the Task Force? Name change, Subject/Action Teams, etc.  There seemed to be consensus that we should maintain the AZBSN identity and work on creating Task Teams similar to the teams we had when we first started the Task Force. Task Teams may include Digital Inclusion, Cyber Security, etc. We also need to launch a major funding campaign.
  • June 6, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • Steve's Vacation. Steve announced that he will be on vacation from July 11 - August 10. During that time I tentatively plan to coordinate the Task Force meetings, however, we may go to every other week. Will let you know.
  • ATIC Award: Mark Goldstein provided a recap of the June 1 Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC, https://www.hlc.org/) annual Redefining American Healthcare Award presentation to 
  •  ATIC, the Arizona Telecommunications & Information Council, is one of AZBSN’s lead organizations. View the ceremony here. You can see a photo of the award presentation in Janet Major’s LinkedIn post and stream the event recap (33 minutes) at https://swtrc.wistia.com/medias/jhcwtjs6m6  
-----------------------------------------
ASU ShapingEDU's Global Virtual Summer Space Camp. Stephanie Pierotti Director, ShapingEDU is looking for presenters for the June 21-23 ASU’s ShapingEDU Global Virtual Summer Space Camp. Education 2030 session is where we have the most availability for speakers. 

About ASU ShapingEDU: Formed in 2018 by ASU CIO Lev Gonick, we are now a global community of over 4,000 passionate and insightful educators, students, researchers, storytellers, edtech creators and education futurists, all of whom are dedicated to creating change so that lifelong learners may thrive in the digital age. Learn More: https://shapingedu.asu.edu/. Stephanie invited everyone to join ShapingEDU. They meet virtually every Tue @ 1:00 Arizona time. Sign-up Here or contact Stephanie Pierotti Director, ShapingEDU, ASU Technology Office, Creative + Communications. 702-858-7200,  stephanie.pierotti@asu.edu

About the Space Camp: At the first two half-day sessions of this year’s “Summer Camp”, we’ll explore the latest in edtech tools, advances in teaching and learning, our path to Education 2030 (Sustainable Development Goal 4) and we’ll hear about what’s working in education systems from around the globe. We’ll then take what we learned the first two days and – starting with a blank slate - work in teams to develop an education system for Mars. After developing this utopian system, we’ll consider ways to get a bit closer to that right here on Earth.

Here’s how we’re positioning the tracks for the first two days: Teaching & Learning: Check out some of the latest and greatest discoveries from   changemakers who are paving the way for the future of education.
EdTech Tools: Discover tips and tricks from both the ShapingEDU Community and the developers of new EdTech tools. Education 2030: What will learning look like less than 10 years from now? Stargaze into the EdTech universe to explore the possibilities and best prepare for 2030 and beyond. Learn More: https://shapingedu.asu.edu/event/shapingedu-global-virtual-summer-camp Contact: Stephanie Pierotti Director, ShapingEDU, ASU Technology Office, Creative + Communications. 702-858-7200,  stephanie.pierotti@asu.edu

May 23, 2022
  • May 23, 2022 meeting recording
  • May 23, 2022 Attendance List
  • May 23, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • May 23 Digital Access Resource Highlight: ED2 Corp: Network Infrastructure Hardware for 5G telecommunications: Ricardo Platt, Vice President, Sales and Business Development;
    ​Joe Schmelzer, Chief Marketing Officer, ED2 Corporation
    Download Presentation
    ED2 is an emerging technology company based in Tucson, serving both the commercial and defense sectors.  In the commercial space, we focus primarily on developing network infrastructure hardware for 5G telecommunications.  We are currently ramping up high-volume manufacturing of our mmW and C-Band repeaters with our go-to-market partner Wilson Electronics.  Repeaters enable the extension of the network edge at significant savings in CAPEX and OPEX vis-à-vis the installation of additional small cells, reducing the overall costs of 5G deployments.  They talked about how their technology can enable you to extend your Internet into the communities you serve.
  • Contact: Ricardo Platt, ricardo@ed2corp.com, 520-231-7276 ;
    Joe Schmelzer, joe@ed2corp.com, 858-829-6751
  • May 23, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)

May 16, 2022
  • May 16, 2022 meeting recording
  • May 16, 2022 Attendance List
  • May 16, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • May 16 Digital Access Resource Highlight: Arizona Cyber Security Alliance For Digital Inclusion
    Steve Peters, Coordinator, AZBSN Digital Access Task Force, and leader of
    Arizona Cyber Security Alliance created in 2003
     --- Download Presentation Here
     --- azsecurity.org website
     --- AZ Security Alliance Proposal May 2004
    In the past few months the Task Force has recognized that as we provide connectivity, distribute devices, and provide training, Cyber Security needs to be an important part of our Digital Inclusion Strategy. On May 16 the Task Force continued our discussion about cyber security for digital inclusion. In 2003 Steve led the development of an Arizona Cyber Security Alliance that may provide a starting point to create an Arizona Cyber Security Alliance For Digital Inclusion. We knew that many individuals, businesses and community organizations do not have basic protection such as virus protection and firewalls, much less security, business continuity and disaster recovery plans and policies. The statewide Cyber Security Alliance was created to help the Arizona community understand the rising security threats and develop strategies to reduce personal, customer and business risks. The Alliance was particularly targeting IT professionals and executives of small business and nonprofit organizations. This broad-based public and private Alliance included large and small businesses, non-profits, law enforcement, government, and information technology and security professionals. We also coordinated with other Arizona business and security organizations. The Task Force developed a statewide Cyber Security plan and the azsecurity.org website. While the site is not live now, it is available on the “wayback machine” a website where you can find archived sites that are no longer live. See the azsecurity.org web site on the wayback machine here. I think we did a great job on that site if I do say so myself.
  • May 16, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
May 9, 2022
  • May 9, 2022 meeting recording
  • May 9, 2022 Attendance List
  • May 9, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • May 9 Digital Access Resource Highlight:  Ryan Murray, the Deputy Director/Deputy State Chief Information Officer from AZ Department of Homeland Security
    As we provide connectivity and distribute devices, the Task Force has recognized that Cyber Security needs to be an important part of our Digital Inclusion Strategy. Ryan will provided an overview of Arizona’s new
    Cyber Command Center and we began a discussion on a strategy to address the cyber security needs associated with Digital Inclusion. The Cyber Command Center is Arizona's headquarters for coordinating statewide cybersecurity operations. The center will be a central location for cybersecurity professionals and local, state and federal agencies to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. It will provide an ideal location to enhance public-private partnerships to protect Arizonans against cyberthreats. 
    Contact: 
    Cell: (602) 625-8279 | Email: rmurray@azdohs.gov
  • May 9, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • May 12, 2022  Ninth Annual Cybersecurity Summit presented by The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA)  
May 2, 2022
  • May 2, 2022 meeting recording
  • May 2, 2022 Attendance List
  • May 2, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • May 2 Digital Access Resource Highlight:  Several members of the Task Force provide a 3-5 minute introduction about themselves and their organization.  What they do? What they need? Partnering opportunities, more. See the meeting video to view these presentations.
  • May 2, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • May 12, 2022  Ninth Annual Cybersecurity Summit presented by The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA)  

April 25, 2022
  • April 25, 2022 meeting recording
  • April 25, 2022 Attendance List
  • April 25, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • April 25 Digital Access Resource Highlight Presentation: Digital Equity Institute Erin Carr-Jordan, Ph.D. Executive Director. The Digital Equity Institute (DEI) is a non-profit, civic organization dedicated to improving quality of life for people around the globe through digital equity and inclusion. DEI, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization is structured to be your trusted government partner to help your city, region, state, or school district advance sustainable digital equity programs at scale. We are an alliance of dedicated public, private, and academic partners working collectively to ensure everyone is connected and participating and that greatest value and impact is reached. Contact erobins@asu.edu, ​Phone: 480-884-1966 | Cell: 602-321-3304
  • ​April 25, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • May 12, 2022  Ninth Annual Cybersecurity Summit presented by The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA)  
April 18, 2022
  • The April 18, 2022 meeting recording
  • The April 18, 2022 Attendance List
  • April 18, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • April 18 Digital Access Resource Highlight Presentation: T-Mobile Home Internet and more in AZ
    T-Mobile USA: William Davin, Government Account Manager, David Perdichizzi, Sales Engineer and; Justin Ugalino: So, by now you have probably been hearing about T-Mobile’s Home Internet. Fast, reliable internet for only $50/month. No price hikes or hidden fees. $0 at sign-up with qualifying credit. Regulatory fees included in monthly price for qualified accounts. No annual service contracts. Simple setup in 15 minutes or less plus 24/7 support. Long-term commitment not required. You will hear more from Will about Home and Business Internet,  how it works, speeds, where is it available, and more. You will also hear about other T-Mobile initiatives to address the Digital Divide. Contact: m 602-570-0810 William.davin@t-mobile.com
  • ​April 18, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
  • May 12, 2022  Ninth Annual Cybersecurity Summit presented by The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority and Arizona Cyber Threat Response Alliance (ACTRA)  
April 11, 2022
  • The April 11, 2022 meeting recording
  • The April 11, 2022 Attendance List
  • April 11, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • April 11 Digital Access Resource Highlight Presentation: Mikhail Sundust, Executive Director
    The Digital Connect Initiative, a nonprofit organization created by Gila River Telecommunications, is a Collaborative Work to help disenfranchised individuals and communities use digital communications technologies to CONNECT with each other, with creative expressions of language, history, and culture, and with greater vocational, economic, and social opportunities. DCI addresses many urgent needs within the Gila River Indian Community, and other indigenous, underserved, and disenfranchised communities to support: Bridging the  Digital Divide; Digital Literacy; Digital Heritage Preservation; Diversity In High Tech Industries; Telehealth & Telemedicine; STEA⁴M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Architecture, Agriculture, Astronomy and Mathematics). Contact: Mikhail Sundust, Executive Director, Digital Connect Initiative, msundust@gilarivertel.com, Mobile (520) 610-1879 www.digitalconnect.org
  • ​April 11, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors
  • ​Announcement: From  Mark Goldstein: 9:00 AM April 13 Drew Clark at Broadband Breakfast will interview NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson on “Preparing for the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” as a live lunch event in DC with remote hybrid access Details and free registration here  The fireside chat will be posted for streaming within a couple of days if you want to access it asynchronously later.
April 4, 2022
  • The April 4, 2022 meeting recording
  • The April 4, 2022 Attendance List
  • April 4, 2022 Zoom Chat
  • Download April 4 Digital Access Resource Highlight Presentation: Kelly Krusee, Program Manager, Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Arizona Department of Education; The Arizona Department of Education Office of Digital Teaching and Learning has officially released the Digital Teaching & Learning Strategy and the 2021 Opportunity Assessment Analysis! The findings from this assessment inform their 2023-2024 strategic plan.  The strategy includes three areas: community, data and solutions.  Kelly will provided an overview and requested input from the Task Force on the Strategy and Assessment Analysis.  The Office of Digital Teaching and Learning serves Local Education Agencies in a consultative role by building a community of educators and solution experts dedicated to supporting the vision of achieving digital equity for all students to achieve their full potential. ADE. Contact: kelly.krusee@azed.gov, Office Phone: 602.364.2212, www.azed.gov/odtl
  • Introduction: Sandip Bhowmick, Assistant Broadband Director, Arizona Commerce Authority, 602-806-1776, M 310-923-5524
    sandipb@AZcommerce.com
  • ​April 4, 2022 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors
March 28, 2022
  • The March 28 meeting recording
  • The March 28 Attendance List
  • ​Big Data Southwest’s April 6, 2022 DataCenter & SmartCity IoT Infrastructure Summit. Kirk Busch, CEO of BigData Southwest. Kirk is coordinating the April 6 Summit. Join Business & Government Leaders from some of the MOST Innovative Companies & Organizations in the World! Learn, Engage & Network in a Collaborative Environment to Maximize the Creation of STEM Jobs & Promote Global Sustainability! ​Kirk is collaborating with Mark Goldstein to create an ATIC Broadband a Provider Working Group with the launch in a special breakout session at the April 6 Summit.Contact: kirk.busch@bigdatasw.org 480-334-4997
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • March 28 Zoom Chat
  • ADE Office of Digital Teaching and Learning Digital Teaching & Learning Strategy and the 2021 Opportunity Assessment Analysis! Kelly Krusee, Program Manager, Office of Digital Teaching and Learning, Arizona Department of Education kelly.krusee@azed.gov, Office Phone: 602.364.2212, www.azed.gov/odtl
  • March 28 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
March 21, 2022
  • The March 21 meeting recording
  • The March 21 Attendance List
  • Update: Drew Garner Common Sense Media State Broadband Policy Fellow: As Arizona stakeholders navigate the use of federal broadband funds, Common Sense is here to help. We have a long and established track record of working to close the digital divide and the Homework Gap and; we are excited by this opportunity to finally ensure that every home and business in Arizona have access to affordable high-speed internet. We’ve created tools to support state policy strategies, boost statewide enrollment in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and equip teachers and parents with proven digital inclusion materials. We’re also in close contact with federal policymakers at the FCC and NTIA and are able to raise your concerns about program rules, guidance, and implementation. We’d also like your input as we prepare to conduct additional polling and research on states and the digital divide. If you’d like to explore ways to tailor these resources to your state, please connect with us at dgarner@commonsense.org. 
     
    Here are a few examples of our recent initiatives and recommendations: (1)  Promote the ACP at scale with a text-based program: We promoted the EBB and the transition to the ACP on our website, GetMyACP.org, and through our texting service, Tech Balance. Tech Balance is a free service designed for English- and Spanish-speaking parents. It’s easy to sign up — simply text “kids” to 21555 — and subscribers receive weekly tips about healthy tech habits and government benefits, like the ACP.  We’ve found that texting is a good way to reach people in the digital divide because it doesn’t require the internet, it is a familiar and accessible form of communication, and it provides information that can be accessed at the receiver’s leisure (good for busy parents). If you would like to discuss how Tech Balance can be used in your communities, please let me know; We also recommend promoting the ACP through existing government texting programs. If your state’s WIC, SNAP, SSI, and Medicaid programs have the ability to text their participants, consider using these channels to promote the ACP. Not only are these participants already eligible for the ACP, but better connectivity will improve their access to the programs’ online resources. Consider using federal funds to pay for texting expenses, and direct participants to enrollment support so that the enrollment burden does not fall on the program that issued the texts. If you are interested in this approach, we would be happy to share the successful language and techniques developed by Tech Balance; (2)  Use U.S. Department of Treasury’s flexibility to your state’s advantage: State plans for Treasury’s Capital Projects Fund are due by Sept. 24 2022, and Recovery Funds are available now. We recommend that states use Treasury funds in underserved areas and reserve their BEAD funds for unserved areas. We make this recommendation for two reasons: Treasury's funds are more flexible than BEAD funds. Treasury encourages (but does not require) infrastructure projects to target areas with less than 100/20Mbps, whereas BEAD requires projects to first target areas that lack 25/3Mbps. If you want to address redlining and reach the majority of the households in the digital divide (which are in underserved areas), Treasury programs are your best option; States that use Treasury funding in unserved areas may get less BEAD funding. BEAD’s formula is based on the number of unserved households in a state. If you use Treasury funds to connect these unserved households, then BEAD’s formula may result in a smaller allocation for your state. 
     
    Additional Resources: We offer a suite of digital literacy  resources for kids and parents.  Tell us how we can use these to support your goals or tailor them to your community; We have recently published a blog for state broadband administrators, and we also have a guide for federal funding programs and a primer on policies to close the homework gap. 
     
    Our Requests: We’d like your input on two upcoming research projects Common Sense is conducting: (1) An examination of the technical requirements for essential services like education and telehealth, and; (2) Interviews with ECF administrators about the program’s importance and the ongoing need to support student connectivity; If you can participate in these projects, please contact us. Ilana Lowery, Director | Common Sense – Arizona M: 623-341-0177 e: ilowery@commonsense.org. Drew Garner dgarner@commonsense.org 314-803-7187 
  • ​Big Data Southwest’s April 6, 2022 DataCenter & SmartCity IoT Infrastructure Summit. Kirk Busch, CEO of BigData Southwest. Kirk is coordinating the April 6 Summit. Join Business & Government Leaders from some of the MOST Innovative Companies & Organizations in the World! Learn, Engage & Network in a Collaborative Environment to Maximize the Creation of STEM Jobs & Promote Global Sustainability! ​Kirk is collaborating with Mark Goldstein to create an ATIC Broadband a Provider Working Group with the launch in a special breakout session at the April 6 Summit.Contact: kirk.busch@bigdatasw.org 480-334-4997
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • March 21 Zoom Chat
  • March 21 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
March 14, 2022
  • The March 14 meeting recording
  • The March 14 Attendance List
  • View  Kirk Bush LinkedIn for March 14 Digital Access Resource presentation: 
    ​
    Kirk Busch, CEO of BigData Southwest.
    Kirk Busch is the CEO of BigData Southwest and Chairman of Az4Solar. Org. BigData Southwest is a Consulting/Media Group Advocating for the adoption of IoT & Cloud Technologies. Kirk has over 30 years of experience in the Global Semiconductor & Aerospace Industries. For the last decade, Kirk has focused on Economic Development in the Energy and Data Center Industries. In addition to being an active participant in the Task Force, Kirk currently serves on the Board of AzSTEM, Co Chairs the IoT Committee of the Arizona Technology Council & Chairs the Data Center Advisory Board of the Arizona Energy Consortium.

    Kirk is coordinating the April 6, 2022: Big Data Southwest’s DataCenter & SmartCity IoT Infrastructure Summit Join Business & Government Leaders from some of the MOST Innovative Companies & Organizations in the World! Learn, Engage & Network in a Collaborative Environment to Maximize the Creation of STEM Jobs & Promote Global Sustainability!

    ​Kirk is collaborating with Mark Goldstein to create an ATIC Broadband a Provider Working Group with the launch in a special breakout session at the April 6 Summit. Kirk also facilitated discussion about this Working Group at the March 14 Task Force meeting. Contact: kirk.busch@bigdatasw.org 480-334-4997
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • March 7 Zoom Chat
  • March 7 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
  • Download Flyer: April 23, 2022 ​Future Stars 7th Annual Hands On STEM Fair; Shereka Jackson, Task Force member is looking for volunteers, sponsors, and stem activity vendors for the April 23, 2022 7th Annual Hands On STEM Fair.  Sponsorships available ranging from $150 - $5,000.  Shereka is an IT professional for the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation and founder and CEO of Future Stars that provides stem workshops in college readiness and the hands on stem program. Contact: Shereka  futurestarsaz@hotmail.com 
Resource Announcements
  • From Mala Muralidharan: ArcGis Maps EBB Enrollment by Eligibility, US Map
  • ACP Household Enrollments by county: Apache County 11,032; Cochise 3,449; Coconino 3,999; Gila 859; Graham 475; Greenlee 36; La Paz 167; Maricopa 90,063; Mohave 4,550; Navajo 11,563; Pima 14,216; Pinal 8, 094; Santa Cruz 2,028; Yavapai 2,516; Yuma 8,912
  • From  Andy Sinclair: The updated ACP Enrollment and Claims Tracker
  • From  Nicole Umayam: Current offers and ACP-qualifying plans in Arizona: https://connect-arizona.com/internet-offers
  • From: Cindy Hogan:  Notes from National Digital Inclusion Alliance Net Inclusion Conference Cindy attended in Portland Feb 15-17
  • From Cindy: NDIA's Net Inclusion Conference Notes from Workshop:  Partners Bridging the Digital Divide
  • Mark Goldstein: FCC Broadband Map is available. Their legacy mapping tool based on biannual Form 477 data. Still useful for baseline analysis of regional broadband availability at different speed thresholds.
  • Mark Goldstein: NTIA Indicators of Broadband Need (IBN) Map Integrating demographics, crowd sources results, and various data sets with the FCC collected coverage information making it the go to public tool for first stage evaluation of broadband gaps and needs.
  • From John Kelly: OMAHA, Neb., Feb. 15, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- eX² Technology, a single source solution for those seeking to build, scale or future proof their communications infrastructure, announces its partnership with Arizona Public Service Co. (APS) to provide commercialization services for communications infrastructure along APS's right of way. During the three-year term, eX² Technology will exclusively market and offer dark fiber, conduit, regeneration and colocation space, laterals and access points and other wireline and wireless assets to those seeking to expand their services within the APS service territory.   APS's communications infrastructure follows a secure 2,700-mile fiber optic network backbone that links to Flagstaff, Phoenix, Scottsdale and Yuma, Ariz., while passing numerous rural unserved and underserved communities along the route. "We are excited about this partnership and the potential benefits for the broadband industry," said Jay Jorgensen, COO, eX² Tec.  Additional information about APS's dark fiber assets is available online at www.ex2technology.com/network-expansion-opportunities
March 7, 2022
  • The March 7 meeting recording
  • The March 7 Attendance List (Maybe soon - Zoom lost it)
  • Download March 7 Digital Access Resource presentation: Alan Smith, Manager of Community Leadership at Consumer Reports. Alan provided an overview about the work that Consumer Reports is doing to make Broadband more accessible, affordable, and equitable around the country.  CR's work at the national level in support of Broadband-friendly bills like the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has served to connect us with organizers, activists, and other broadband-interested people.  In trying to figure out how to best support these folks in their local work, we're piloting a new "hub" model, where we attempt to bring activists together to first educate and then engage with local policy.  To this end, we're working with ShapingEDU to use a four-part class to educate a cohort of interested folks, and then working over the next few weeks to see how they can plug in to the complex tableau of action around Broadband already taking place in Arizona.  Contact: alan.smith@consumer.org  (914) 378-2000 (ext 2662) || Mobile: 347 786-0371
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • March 7 Zoom Chat
  • March 7 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
  • Janet Major: Download Arizona Telemedicine Program/ Southwest Telehealth Resource Center 
    ​Events Calendar January-November 2022
  • Download Flyer: April 23, 2022 ​Future Stars 7th Annual Hands On STEM Fair; Shereka Jackson, Task Force member is looking for volunteers, sponsors, and stem activity vendors for the April 23, 2022 7th Annual Hands On STEM Fair.  Sponsorships available ranging from $150 - $5,000.  Shereka is an IT professional for the City of Phoenix Parks and Recreation and founder and CEO of Future Stars that provides stem workshops in college readiness and the hands on stem program. Contact:  futurestarsaz@hotmail.com 
  • Summary U.S. Federal Broadband Infrastructure Funding Opportunities: Mark Goldstein: Updated summary of all the current & pending U.S. Federal Broadband Infrastructure Funding Opportunities, with a graphic timeline and a bullet for each that hopefully helps folks more readily understand the broadband infrastructure $ flowing these next few years. Several of those will flow through to the states for regionally-designed and managed project and grant opportunities.
​​February 28, 2022
  • The February 28 meeting recording
  • The February 28 Attendance List
  • Download February 28  Digital Access Resource presentation: EJ John, Research & Policy Analyst,
    American Indian Policy Institute, Arizona State University. AIPI is a non-teaching research institute at ASU with a primary focus on public policy analysis and research. We are working at the intersection of Tribal policy, advocacy, and research. Our expertise is in Tribal telecommunications, communications, broadband, digital inclusion, technology for language retention, and technology as the backbone for community and economic development, and communications technology.  Contact: Ej.John@asu.edu
  • February 28 Zoom Chat
  • February 28 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
  • Summary U.S. Federal Broadband Infrastructure Funding Opportunities: Mark Goldstein: Updated summary of all the current & pending U.S. Federal Broadband Infrastructure Funding Opportunities, with a graphic timeline and a bullet for each that hopefully helps folks more readily understand the broadband infrastructure $ flowing these next few years. Several of those will flow through to the states for regionally-designed and managed project and grant opportunities.
February 14, 2022
  • The February 14 meeting recording
  • The February 14 Attendance List
  • Download February 14 Digital Access Resource presentation: Rory Conaway CEO and Katrina Parker Business Account Manager, Triad Wireless  Triad Wireless, LLC, is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona is a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP) and a RF/Network engineering firm. Contacts: Rory Conaway CEO, 602-426-0542, rory@triadwireless.net, and Katrina Parker Business Account Manager katrina@triadwireless.net  602-426-0542, m 773-470-9368 
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • February 14 Zoom Chat
  • February 14 ZOOM Transcript: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
February 7, 2022
  • The February 7 meeting recording
  • The February 7 Attendance List
  • View February 7 Digital Access Resource presentations:
  1.  Arizona Statewide Broadband Middle-Mile Strategic Plan - Jeff Sobotka State Broadband Manager, Arizona Commerce Authority presented/discussed the 
    Arizona Statewide Broadband Middle-Mile Strategic Plan Contact: 
    jeffs@azcommerce.com
  2. ​Arizona Education Funding  - Aggregate Expenditure Spending Limit : John Kelly, Principal, Triadvocates Lobbying, Policy and Advocacy; Government Marketing; and Economic Development Consultants; Sophia Braham (Mayberry), Arizona Department Of Education; Joy Whiting, Apache County Superintendent presented and lead a discussion regarding the Arizona Legislature allowing schools to exceed the Aggregate Expenditure Limit. Contacts: john@triadvocates.com  602-761-2767 mobile 602-639-0852; Sophia.mayberry@azed.gov 602-542-5423; 
    joy.joywhiting@gmail.com 928-337-7539
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • February 7 Zoom Chat
  • February 7 ZOOM Transcript: Note: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
January 31, 2022
  • The January 31 meeting recording
  • The January 31 Attendance List
  • Download January 31 Digital Access Resource presentation: Common Sense Media representatives Amina Fazlullah, Senior Director, Equity Policy Common Sense; Ilana Lowery, Arizona Director, Common Sense Media; Drew Garner Common Sense State Broadband Policy Fellow provided an overview of their work in Arizona and discussed their research into the K-12 digital divide and how current federal funding can be used to address this issue. They also will discuss their recently released state policy primer and federal funding guide, which are designed to help state administrators maximize this once-in-a-generation opportunity.
    Contact: afazlullah@commonsense.org, 650.814.8003; ilowery@commonsense.org 623-341-0177 and Drew Garner, dgarner@commonsense.org 314-803-7187 
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • January 31 Zoom Chat
  • January 31 ZOOM Transcript: Note: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
January 24, 2022
  • The January 24 meeting recording
  • The January 24 Attendance List
  • January 24 Digital Access Resource presentation: Affordable Connectivity Program
    FCC
    Supermarket Program Lisa Gustinelli, Innovator in Residence, ASU ShapingEDU, Arizona State University Broadband Access and Equity Initiative
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • January 24 Zoom Chat
  • January 24 ZOOM Transcript: Note: (Note: Not edited-has many errors) 
January 10, 2022
  • The January 10, 2022 meeting recording
  • The January 10 Registration list
  • Brian Daly’s 5G, 6G Digital Access Resource presentation
  • Mala Muralidharan’s State Library Erate Update Report
  • January 10 Zoom Chat
  • Zoom Meeting Transcript (Note: Not edited-has many errors)
January 3, 2022
  • Download January 3, 2022 Meeting Report
  • View January 3, 2022 Meeting Recording
  • Link to Draft Task Force Plan Discussed at January 3 meeting

2021 and Prior
  • Download December 13, 2021 Task Force Meeting Report
  • View December 13, Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download December 6, 2021 Task Force Meeting Report
  • View December 6, 2021 Meeting Recording
  • Download December 6, 2021 Digital Inclusion Resource Presentation: Andy Sinclair, Community Action Programs Capacity Development Coordinator, Arizona Department of Economic Security, Division of Aging and Adult Services Contact: Andy Sinclair, asinclair@azdes.gov, 480-263-2271
  • Download November 29, 2021 Task Force Report
  • View November 29, Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download November 22, 2021 Task Force Meeting Report
  • View November 22, 2021 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download November 22, 2021 Digital Access Resource Highlight: Digital Equity Act of 2021 (DEA), Cindy Hogan, Literacy Connects, Digital Inclusion Ambassador, ​cindyhogan333@gmail.com, 520-891-1285
  • Download November 15, 2021 Task Force Report
  • View November 15, 2021 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download November 15 Digital Access Resource Highlight presentation: Valley TeleCom Group
    Heather Floyd, Public Relations Specialist:  heather.floyd@teamvtg.net
    Office: 520-384-8912, Cell: 520-349-6658
  • Download November 8, Task Force Report
  • Download November 8 Digital Access Resource Highlight presentation: Center for the Future of Arizona Career Pathways, Aaron Ball, Director of College and Career Pathways & Southern Arizona Liaison. aaron.ball@arizonafuture.org 520-271-4497
  • View November 8  Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download November 1, 2021 Task Force Report
  • View November 1 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download October 25, 2021 Task Force Report
  • View October 25, 2021 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download October 25 Air Comm Wireless Communications and Solutions Provider Presentation
    Presented by Camille Butler, Solutions Specialist
  • Download October 18, 2021 Task Force Report
  • View October 18, 2021 Meeting Recording
  • Download October 4, 2021 Task Force Meeting Report
  • View October 4, 2021 Meeting Recording
  • Download October 4 Presentation: Chris Richardson CIO, Arizona Department Of Education
    Office OF Teaching And Learning
  • Download September 27, 2021 Task Force Meeting Report
  • View September 27, 2021 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download ALLO Communications September 27, 2021 Task Force Presentation
  • Download September 20 Task Force Report​
  • View September 20 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download September 13 Task Force Report
  • View September 13 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download September 13 Digital Access Presentation: Featuring Katie Boddy, Manager, Local First Economic Recovery Center: Funding, technical assistance and planning resources for your broadband and digital access initiatives
  • Download August 30 Task Force Report​​
  • View August 30 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download August 30 Digital Access Resource Presentation: Featuring: Gila Local Exchange Carrier, Inc. (GLEC), DBA Alluvion Communications, and ​Alluvion’s nonprofit Digital Connect subsidiary: David Ackerman | General Manager , Alluvion Communications and  Amanda MacDonald, M.Ed. | Program Manager, Digital Connect Initiative 
  • Download August 23 Task Force Report​​
  • View August 23 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • The Arizona Technology Council (https://www.aztechcouncil.org/) is actively working to draft their 2022 Public Policy Guide and will refine and lock down the content in late August. At the August 23 meeting Mark Goldstein provided an overview, and solicited input regarding the draft State & Federal Broadband Policy Issues & Recommendations. See the following 2 documents: The original document, and a revised document, with suggested additions and changes. If you have additional input, please contact Mark ASAP: 602-470-0389, Mobile: 602-670-6407, markg@researchedge.com  ​​
  • Download August 16 Task Force Report
  • ​View August 16 Task Force Meeting Recording​​
  • ​Download Cindi Ptak, Arizona EDA Economic Development Representative presentation Investing in America’s Communities U.S. Department of Commerce EDA Economic Development Administration 3 Billion Grants Program
  • Download August 9 Task Force Report​​
  • View August 9 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • ​Download Janet Major's August 9 Arizona Telemedicine Program (ATP) Presentation
  • Download July 26 Task Force Report​​
  • View July 26 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download July 26 Municipal Networks Presentation: Karen Ziegler, Principal,  Karen Ziegler Consulting Services; John Lucas, President, Community Broadband Advocates; Paul Ross, Associate Vice President and Chief Information Officer, Phoenix College​​​
  • Download July 19 Task Force Report​​
  • View July 19 Task Force Meeting Recording​​
  • Download July 12 Task Force Report​​
  • View July 12 Task Force Meeting Recording​
  • Download June 28 Task Force Report​​
  • View June 28 Task Meeting Recording​
  • Download June 21 Task Force Report​​
  • View June 21 Task Meeting Recording​​​
  • Download June 14 Task Force Report​​
  • View June 14 Task Meeting Recording​​
  • Download June 7 Task Force Report​​
  • Download Mala, Muralidharan June 7 Digital Access Resource Emergency Connectivity Fund Presentation
  • View June 7 Task Meeting Recording​
  • Download May 24 Task Force Report
  • View May 24 Task Meeting Recording
  • Download May 17, Task Force Meeting Report
  • View May 17 Meeting Recording
  • Download May 10, Task Force Meeting Report​
  • Download May 3 Task Force Meeting Report
  • View May 3 Meeting Recording
  • Download April 26 Task Force Report
  • View April 26, Meeting Recording
  • Download April 19 Task Force Report
  • April 19, 2021 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • Download April 12 Task Force Report
  • April 12 Task Force Meeting Recording
  • April 5, 2021 COVID Task Force Report
  • April 5 Milan Eaton Presentation - eRate, Arizona Department Of Education
  • April 5, 2021 COVID Task Force Report
  • April 5 Milan Eaton Presentation - eRate, Arizona Department Of Education
  • March 29, 2021 COVID Task Force Report
  • March 22 AZ Student Opportunity Collaborative Glen Linebery AZBSN Presentation 
  • Recording: March 22, 2021Glen Lineberry  AZ Student Opportunity Collaborative Presentation March 22, 2021 Recording
  • March 29, 2021 Senior2Senior Presentation-Bill Gerski
  • Recording of February 1 Task Force conversation with Congressman Tom O'Halleran re: federal legislation and funding​
Mar 15 2021 COVID-19 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 269 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Mar 22 2021 COVID 19 Task Force Report.pdf
File Size: 429 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

March 1, 2021 COVID Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 396 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Mar 8 2021 COVID-19 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 343 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Feb 22, 2021 COVID Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 294 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Gene Carl Cox Pres Feb 22 2021.pptx
File Size: 24939 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

ZOOM Recording of Gene Carl's Presentation
Feb 8 2021 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 507 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Rick Gibson Sustainabilty Partners Task Force Feb 8 2021.pptx
File Size: 5116 kb
File Type: pptx
Download File

ZOOM Recording of Rick Gibson's Presentation
Feb 1 2021 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 371 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Jan 25 2021 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 299 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Jan 4 Covid-19 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 344 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Jan 11 Covid-19 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 192 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

December 14 COVID-19 Task Force Meeting report.pdf
File Size: 256 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Dec 7 Task Force Meeting report.pdf
File Size: 260 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Paul Ross Phoenix Network Presentation Dec 7, 2020.pdf
File Size: 6964 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Stand For Education Monsalvo Digital Divide Dec 2020_.pdf
File Size: 1845 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Dominic Papa Task Force Presentation_11.30.2020.pdf
File Size: 12767 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Nov 16 COVID-19 Task Force Meeting report.pdf
File Size: 246 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Nov 30 COVID-19 Task Force Meeting report.pdf
File Size: 316 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Nov 9 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 258 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Nov 2 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 249 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Oct 12 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 249 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Oct 5 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 186 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Oct 26 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 194 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Oct 19 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 261 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Sept. 28 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 176 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Sept 21 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 197 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Sept 14 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 267 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June 29 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 334 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Aug 17 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 185 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June 22, 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 323 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Aug 24 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 260 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

July 13 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 266 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

July 27 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 267 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

July 20 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 188 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June 15, 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 258 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

AZBSN COVID 19 Sun Corridor To AZBSN June 2020.pdf
File Size: 1089 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June 8, 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 266 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

insight Detection Prevention With Connected Platform.pdf
File Size: 950 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Mala State Library Report June 8, 2020.pdf
File Size: 188 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

June 1, 2020 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 313 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

May 18 2020 COVID-19 Task Force Meeting Report.pdf
File Size: 188 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

ED2 Platt 5G May 18, 2020 COVID-19 Task Force .pdf
File Size: 5976 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

May 11 2020 COVID-19 Task Force Report.pdf
File Size: 267 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Apr 27 2020 COVID-19 Task Force Report.pdf
File Size: 248 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

May 4 2020 COVID-19 Task Force Report.pdf
File Size: 294 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Connect With ATIC

Click To Connect

520-321-1309

Email

  • Home
  • COVID-19 AZBSN Task Force
  • ATIC
    • About
    • ATIC Board >
      • ATIC Board
      • Board Meetings >
        • Current Board Meeting
        • Board Minutes
    • Partnerships/Business Model WG >
      • Partnerships/Business Model Working Group
      • Current Working Group Meeting
    • ATIC Projects >
      • Broadband Stakeholder Network
      • Labster Virtual Laboratories
    • ATIC Resource Documents >
      • ATIC Background & Resources
    • ATIC Accomplishments
    • Conferencing Links
  • Stakeholder Network
    • About Stakeholder Network
    • AZBSN COVID-19 Task Force >
      • COVID-19 About
      • Task Force Report 2020
      • Media Release 2020
      • Funding Request 2020
      • COVID-19 Contacts
      • Cyber Security AZBSN Team
      • CPLC & AZBSN EDA Grant
      • COVID-Design Team >
        • COVID Design Team Dec 16 2021 >
          • COVID Design Team Summary Dec 16 2021
        • COVID Design Team Nov 18, 2021
        • COVID Design Team Apr 8
        • COVID Design Team Mar 8
      • COVID Updates >
        • COVID Update January 2022
        • COVID Update December 2021
        • COVID Update November 2021
        • COVID Update September 14 2021
        • COVID Update Aug 26 2021
        • COVID Update July 23 2021
        • COVID Update July 1 2021
        • COVID Update June 23 2021
        • COVID Update June 16 2021
        • COVID Update June 10 2021
        • COVID Update June 7, 2021
        • COVID Update May 20, 2021
        • COVID Update May 13, 2021
        • COVID Update May 4, 2021
        • COVID Update April 22, 2021
        • COVID Update April 15, 2021
        • COVID Update April 8, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 29, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 25, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 16, 2021
        • COVID Update Mar 11, 2021
      • Task Force Networking Apr 22, 2021
      • COVID MEETINGS & MINUTES >
        • March 27, 2023 AZBSN Meeting
        • March 20, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • March 13, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • March 6, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • February 27, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • February 13, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • February 6, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • January 30, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • January 23, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • January 9, 2023 COVID Meeting
        • December 19, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • December 12, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • December 5, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 28, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 21, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 14, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • November 7, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 31, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 24, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 17, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • October 3, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • September 26, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • September 19, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • September 12, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 29, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 22, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 15, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • August 1, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • July 18, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • July 11, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 27, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 20, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 13, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • June 6, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 23, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 16, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 9, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • May 2, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • April 25 2022 COVID Meeting
        • Apri 18, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • Apri 11, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • April 4, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 28, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 21, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 14, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • March 7, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • February 28, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • February 14, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • February 7, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 31, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 24, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 10, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • January 3, 2022 COVID Meeting
        • December 20 2021 COVID Meeting
        • December 13, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • December 6, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 29, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 22, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 15, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 8, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • November 1, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • October 25 2021 COVID Meeting
        • October 18 2021 COVID Meeting
        • October 4 2021 COVID Meeting
        • September 27 2021 COVID Meeting
        • September 20 2021 COVID Meeting
        • September 13 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 30 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 23 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 16 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 9 2021 COVID Meeting
        • July 12, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • July 19, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • July 26 2021 COVID Meeting
        • August 2 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 28, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 21, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 14, 2021 COVID Meeting
        • June 7 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 24 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 17 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 10 2021 COVID Meeting
        • May 3 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 26 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 19 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 12 2021 COVID Meeting
        • April 5 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 29 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 22 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 15 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 8 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 1 2021 COVID Meeting
        • March 3 2021 Coordinating Meeting
        • Feb 22 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Feb 8 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Feb 1 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Jan 25 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Jan 11 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Jan 4 2021 COVID Meeting
        • Dec 14 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Dec 7 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 30 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 16 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 9 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Nov 2 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct 26 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct -19 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct -12 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Oct -5 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Sept-28 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Sept-21 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Sept 14 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 31 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 24 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 17 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 10 2020 COVID Meeting
        • August 3 2020 COVID Meeting
        • July 27 2020 COVID Meeting
        • July 20 2020 COVID Meeting
        • July 13 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 29 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 22 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 15 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 8 2020 COVID Meeting
        • June 1, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • May 18, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • May 11, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • May 4, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 27, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 20, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 13, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • April 6, 2020 COVID Meeting
        • Mar 30, 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Mar 27 2020 Covid Meeting
      • COVID MINUTES >
        • Minutes Apr 27 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Apr 20 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Apr 13 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Apr 6 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 30 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 27 2020 Covid Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 23 2020 Covid Meeting
      • COVID-Resources >
        • FCC EBB & Lifeline
      • TASK FORCE STRATEGIC PLANNING >
        • COVID-19 Planning
        • Strategic Plan Update 2023
    • AZBSN 2020 Initiatives
    • Leadership Team >
      • Meetings >
        • Mar 27 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Mar 23 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Mar 6 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Feb 7 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Jan 7, 2020 Committee Meeting
        • Oct. 31 2019 Committee Meeting
        • Oct. 7, 2019 Committee Meeting
        • July 12, 2019 Committee Meeting
        • Mar.21, 2019 Committee Meeting
        • Mar. 14, 2019 Committee Meeting
      • Team Members & Contacts
      • Meeting Minutes >
        • Minutes Mar 23 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 6, 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Feb 7, 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Jan 7, 2020 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Oct 31, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Oct 7, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes July 12, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 21, 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar. 14 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes Mar 7 2019 Team Meeting
        • Minutes May 7 Team Meeting
      • To Do List
    • Join Stakeholder Network
    • Roundtables >
      • About Roundtables
      • May 29, 2019 Roundtable
    • Sponsorships
    • Plans and Resources
    • Contact Us
  • AZ Broadband
    • Why Broadband
    • AZ Initiatives >
      • AZ Broadband Strategic Plan
      • AZ Broadband For Education
      • AZ Broadband Assement Project
      • AZ FirstNet
  • Resources
    • Funding >
      • Community Reinvestment Funding
    • Organizations >
      • Resource Organizations
    • Documents >
      • Arizona's Strategic Plan for Digital Capacity
    • Contacts >
      • Resource Contacts
  • Events
    • MAY 28, 2019 ROUNDTABLE >
      • About May 2019 Roundtable
      • AFTER THE ROUNDTABLE >
        • Roundtable Survey
        • Additional Roundtable Info
      • Roundtable Sponsors
      • Roundtable Partners
      • Roundtable Registration
      • Roundtable Program
      • Organizations
      • Ignite Invite
      • Webinar
      • Roundtable Exhibitor Requirements
    • FCC Forums 2020
    • DEC 2019 WEBINAR >
      • About Dec. 2019 Webinar
      • Webinar Program
      • Webinar Registration
      • Webinar Organizations
      • AFTER THE WEBINAR >
        • Webinar Survey
    • JAN 2020 WEBINAR >
      • About Jan 2020 Webinar
      • Webinar 2020 Funding
      • Webinar 2020 Program
      • Webinar 2020 Registration
      • Webinar 2020 Organizations
      • Webinar 2020 Survey
  • News
    • News Feb 2020
  • Connect With ATIC
  • Resource Documents
  • Current Board Meeting