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Updates and Resources

On this page you will find resources to help address your digital access needs
AZBSN Arizona Broadband Consultants List (V02M)

This list has been crowdsourced from AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force members’ experience and suggestions to aid Arizona institutions and communities in finding consultants to aid with their broadband projects, grant writing, and to otherwise help meet their broadband planning, information technology (IT), funding, and project management needs. The current version V02J includes a total of 61 entries, last updated on April 26, 2021. To inquire, suggest additions or otherwise give feedback, please contact Steve Peters, AZBSN Coordinator at aticarizona@gmail.com.

Arizona Commerce Authority 
Free WiFi Access
Cox Community Hot Spots 
  • Link to the document for parents to find Broadband that the Arizona Commerce Authority provides to ADE. The document includes help for AZ families to determine Broadband carrier options and COVID-19 specific offers, the statewide map of free WiFi hotspots and instructions for parents to turn on their cellular hotspots which is a much better option now that many carriers’ data caps have been lifted.
  • EveryoneOn.Org is a nonprofit connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers, and delivering digital skills training. Multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have made updates to their low-cost internet service programs to ensure individuals and families stay connected . EveryoneOn has updated its low-cost internet service options tool to reflect these changes. For more information, visit EveryoneOn.org​.
Other Funding and Resources
  • Stimulus Fund: See attached Broadband Funding Overview
        * Institute Of Museum and Library Services announced measures to award first $30 million of  $50 million       infusion to provide emergency relief through state libraries
  • Arizona Department  Of Education School Technology Survey (This survey is now closed): Contact Sophia Mayberry, Project Manager in the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction at ADE, is working with Milan Eaton (State E-rate Director at ADE) on conducting a research survey of state schools to understand the digital divide issues of Internet access and devices needed by students  during the COVID-19 school closures.  The survey has been sent to school principals and school district superintendents (rather than families)
  • Link to the document for parents to find Broadband that the Arizona Commerce Authority provides to ADE. The document includes help for AZ families to determine Broadband carrier options and COVID-19 specific offers, the statewide map of free WiFi hotspots and instructions for parents to turn on their cellular hotspots which is a much better option now that many carriers’ data caps have been lifted.
  • Link to the free WiFi access points statewide developed with State Land and the State Library:
  • Mobile Hotspot Donation Drive Form: Gov. Doug Ducey and Supt. of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman announced a Mobile Hotspot Donation Drive to help K-12 students without home internet access online curriculum. To kick the drive off, the Arizona Department of Administration identified more than 200 hotspot devices across state government that the state is offering to students.
  • Pima Community College parking lot WiFi access. It is limited to PCC students. Students can access WiFi in the parking lot of the West Campus from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday. Students must show ID or proof of enrollment and must remain in a vehicle.  Only one student per vehicle is permitted. Contact: Michael Amick, Vice President of Distance Education, Pima Community College,Tucson, AZ, 520.206.2308 mamick1@pima.edu
  • Arizona Technology Council Partners with AZ StRUT to Launch a Community Laptop Drive Initiative for Students in Greater Phoenix
  • PBS At Home Learning: An Arizona Public Education Partnership. Arizona Public Media and Arizona PBS are partnering to offer Arizonans broadcast programming and accompanying digital resources that adhere to our state curriculum to provide continued at-home learning.
  • ​Arizona Together Web Site: See Business Resources page with links for Help with Internet Services and Help with Wireless Services
  • Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation Community Laptop Drive for Education: The Greater Phoenix Chamber Foundation has partnered with Data Doctors, Cox Communications, Arizona Students Recycling Used Technology (AZ StRUT), and School Connect AZ to provide critical laptop access to our K-12 students. Contact Kimberly Vegliante, Education Partnership Manager, at kvegliante@phoenixchamber.com or 602.495.2199.
  • ​Arizona Public Libraries Digital Inclusion - Wi-Fi Maps: The link will take you to the Digital Inclusion web page with the map. 
  • Arizona Commerce Authority: Ensuring Connectivity in Arizona: Resources and Support in Response to COVID-19. Download PDF 
  • ​Education Leaders Letter: Letter signed by  over 50 education leaders around the state asking the legislature to approve emergency funding for districts to solve challenges with a digital-divide during long-term closures. Link or download file below
  • Article: Phoenix Chamber News Telecom companies keep Arizona connected during COVID-19
  • Arizona ​Telemedicine Executive Order: Governor Ducey issued an Executive Order requiring health care insurance companies to expand telemedicine coverage for all services that would normally be covered for an in-person visit. 
  • FCC Keep Americans Connected Pledge. See pledge and other FCC waivers, provider commitments and rule changes. FCC Empowers Schools, Libraries to Open Wi-Fi to Community Use - What does this Mean for Arizona - How do we expedite? Barriers and Issues.  
  • Proposed FCC Keeping Critical Connections Act would appropriate $2 billion for a Keeping Critical Connections fund at the FCC under which small broadband providers with fewer than 250,000 customers could be compensated for broadband services—if they provided free or discounted broadband services or upgrades—during the pandemic for low-income families who could not afford to pay their bills or provided distance learning capability for students.
  • EveryoneOn.Org is a nonprofit connecting low-income families to affordable internet service and computers, and delivering digital skills training. Multiple Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have made updates to their low-cost internet service programs to ensure individuals and families stay connected . EveryoneOn has updated its low-cost internet service options tool to reflect these changes. For more information, visit EveryoneOn.org​.
  • Arizona Department of Education Virtual Resource Hub: These resources are to assist Teachers as they plan for non-traditional instruction including synchronous and asynchronous teaching and learning. These resources could compliment your current district adopted online resources.
  • Unlicensed 2.5 GHz spectrum over tribal lands: On July 10, 2019 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued an Order that made available unassigned portions of key spectrum for broadband use. The order established a tribal priority window for Native American tribes beginning in 2020 and gives tribes an opportunity to file for a license to obtain the spectrum without having to buy it at auction. The Rural Tribal Priority Window opened on February 3, 2020 and will close on August 3, 2020.  Learn more about this opportunity for your lands and your internet sovereignty
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Download Files
Commerce Authority Broadband COVID Resources2020.pdf
File Size: 96 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Broadband USA Funding Overview.pdf
File Size: 1071 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Harper Student Leader Presentation May 21, 2020.pdf
File Size: 3618 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Updates and Resources

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