Task Force Contact: Steve Peters, Coordinator, ​Phone and Text 520-321-1309, ​[email protected]
About    Contacts    Meetings & Minutes    Resources    Updates     Planning and Strategy Plan    Connect-Arizona

Table of Contents - See Details Below


Events and Webinars ​
  • December 7, 2021,NDIA National Digital Inclusion Alliance Digital Equity Act Webinar
     Arizona Broadband Workshops: Recorded Webinars
  • ​Rural Development Finance Webinars Series: Council of Development Finance Agencies
News, Funding Opportunities, Other Resources​​
  • Investing in America’s Communities - EDA Economic Development Administration American Rescue Plan Programs​
  • ​Benton Foundation Community Networks Report
  • Arizona Department of Education Technology Task Force Report
  • Arizona Department of Education allocates $1.5 Million to Fund Final Mile Project​
  • ​NTIA Updated Federal Broadband Funding Guide
  • NTIA Interactive Map to Help Public See the Digital Divide across the Country
  • NTIA National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) - (GIS) Platform
  • FCC Data and Funding Status on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
  • Coconino County partners with SpaceX to Expand Internet Access
  • Report: Learning at Home While Under-Connected​
  • Institute For Local Self Reliance (ILSR) Community Networks Website Highlights Arizona Broadband Initiatives
  • Digital Promise publishes School District Technology Sustainability Toolkit 
  • TeleHealth Access for Seniors
  • ​$268 Million Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program​
  • ​Arizona  Partnership Opportunity-NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program
Vertical Divider
  • NTIA $1 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband on Tribal Land
  • NTIA $288 Million Broadband Infrastructure Grants
  • $10 Billion Treasury Department Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
  • Broadband Infrastructure FAQs – Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
  • $7.171 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund  - What is it?
  • ​Arizona Passes Legislation To Expand Broadband In Arizona
  • Proposed BRIDGE Act provides $40 billion to expand broadband access
  • ​AZ Department Of Education $12 million to support Student Equity and Achievement Including Broadband
  • ​​Local First Arizona Arizona Economic Recovery Center - Grants Info
  • ​USDA Rural Development Innovation Center funding opportunities, events and resources 
  • ​ASU American Indian Policy Institute
  • ​Utility Commissioners Broadband Task Force Draft Broadband Recommendations
  • Consortium for School Networking study on students’ at-home Internet connectivity
  • ​Broadband Breakfast Club Weekly Newsletter and Online Events
  • ​Three AARP Articles: Tech Resources for Seniors including Training and and Help to Get or Upgrade Computers and Internet Access
  • Rural Development Finance: Council of Development Finance Agencies
  • Arizona And FCC EBB Emergency Broadband Benefits Program Campaign
​

News, Resources and Events

Events and Webinars
  • October 6, Southern Arizona Tech and Business Expo
  • October 13, 2021 Arizona Business And Education Coalition Annual Conference
  • Arizona Broadband Workshops: Recorded Webinars
  • Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program​ August, September, October Webinars
  • November 8 2021Telemedicine Training Programs​
  • ​​August 4-6: Arizona Rural Policy Forum: Local First Arizona & Arizona Rural Development Council
  • Rural Development Finance Webinars Series: Council of Development Finance Agencies
See Details Below
NDIA National Digital Inclusion Alliance Digital Equity Act Webinar
December 7, 2021, 12:00- 1:00 AZ 2-3 p.m. EST
Info and Registration Here
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is now law. Among its various provisions, the Act provides $65 billion to states, community organizations, and other entities for a range of broadband deployment and digital inclusion activities. Within the IIJA’s broadband section is the Digital Equity Act of 2021 (DEA). The DEA appropriates $2.75 billion to be distributed through two primary grant programs: the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Below is a rundown of the programs, as outlined in the law.  These funds can be used for a variety of digital inclusion efforts, including but not limited to device distribution programs, digital literacy training, and digital navigation assistance.

​The NDIA National Digital Inclusion Alliance has broken the Digital Equity Act portion of the IIJA down & also provides a few recommendations for what to do next. They will also host a webinar on the IIJA. See details here  Contact: Amy Huffman, Policy Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, [email protected]

Arizona Broadband Workshops
​ ​Arizona Broadband Workshops Website
The Arizona Commerce Authority, in cooperation with BroadbandUSA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and Economic Development Administration (EDA) has presented a new webinar series — the Arizona Broadband Workshops. Sessions were on the first Wednesday of every month from 10 am to 12 pm, March through July. Through interactive exercises and discussions, city officials, economic developers and business leaders who attend were connected with resources to build a roadmap for planning projects, including identifying funding opportunities and service providers. View the webinar recordings.

View the Past Webinar Recordings
  • Broadband 101 -  Broadband As A Foundation To Economic Development: Join us for the first session in the Arizona Broadband Workshop series, featuring a variety of experts from the Governor's Office on Tribal Relations, BroadbandUSA and local experts. Learn about  broadband terms, networks, and speed, and hear from others in your community about how broadband is transforming education, healthcare, agriculture and our economy. Then roll up your sleeves  and complete exercises to help you identify the priorities that impact broadband in your community. WATCH
  • Creating Broadband Action Teams and Building Local Partnerships: Arizona has worked collaboratively with public and private partners to coordinate broadband planning across the state. In this session, learn how to create a roadmap for your community’s broadband projects as you build a framework for community priorities, stakeholder engagement, asset inventories and more. WATCH
  • Using Data As A Foundation  For Your Broadband Plan: May 5: Online Soon
    Open public data is readily available to jumpstart your broadband planning efforts. The key is understanding how to use the data effectively to tell your community story. Experts from BroadbandUSA will review the three main broadband data sets and demonstrate tools that you’ll be able to use to access the data for planning, business cases, partnership development, and grant applications. Watch
  • Federal Resources and Local Support For Broadband: June 2.  Broadband projects often require a mix of investment sources. Our panel of experts will highlight some of the Federal, State, local, and philanthropic programs that could be available to support broadband infrastructure and digital inclusion programs. Watch
  • Tribal Broadband Presented 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Wednesday, June 9 on Zoom. Arizona is prioritizing critical broadband projects in underserved tribal locations across the state. In this session, Kristine FireThunder, director of the Governor’s Office on Tribal Relations, will facilitated a discussion on strategies to build tribally-owned networks and further support tribal learning centers and digital training, including information on available financing and funding, community resources and more. Watch
  • Broadband Adoption and Use - The Secret To Sustainable Networks: 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Wednesday, July 14 on Zoom: ​This session will draw from national and local models to explore new ways to bridge the digital divide and dive deep on topics such as: digital skills training, WiFi hotspots, broadband subsidies and tech mentoring. Practitioners in education, nonprofits and more will facilitate exercises to identify your community’s underserved segments and partners to reach those populations.  View 
  • Arizona Commerce Authority Broadband Website
More info about these Workshops: Arizona Broadband Workshops Website
Rural Development Finance Webinars Series
Council of Development Finance Agencies
CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series: The Council of Development Finance Agencies offers a series on financing options to preserve rural communities, investments in health care, broadband, manufacturing, food systems and education.
 CDFA Rural Development Finance Webinar Series
News, Funding and Resources
  • Governor signs Arizona H.B. 2596 - Broadband Bill
  • Broadband In Rural Areas & FCC Broadband Mapping Reports
  • Investing in America’s Communities - EDA Economic Development Administration American Rescue Plan Programs​
  • ​Benton Foundation Community Networks Report
  • Arizona Department of Education Technology Task Force Report
  • Arizona Department of Education allocates $1.5 Million to Fund Final Mile Project​
  • ​NTIA Updated Federal Broadband Funding Guide
  • NTIA Interactive Map to Help Public See the Digital Divide across the Country
  • NTIA National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) - (GIS) Platform
  • FCC Data and Funding Status on Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
  • Coconino County partners with SpaceX to Expand Internet Access
  • Report: Learning at Home While Under-Connected​
  • Institute For Local Self Reliance (ILSR) Community Networks Website Highlights Arizona Broadband Initiatives
  • Digital Promise publishes School District Technology Sustainability Toolkit 
  • TeleHealth Access for Seniors
  • ​$268 Million Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program​
  • ​Arizona  Partnership Opportunity-NTIA Broadband Infrastructure Program
  • NTIA $1 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband on Tribal Land
  • NTIA $288 Million Broadband Infrastructure Grants
  • $10 Billion Treasury Department Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund
  • Broadband Infrastructure FAQs – Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds
  • $7.171 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund  - What is it?
  • ​Arizona Passes Legislation To Expand Broadband In Arizona
  • Proposed BRIDGE Act provides $40 billion to expand broadband access
  • ​AZ Department Of Education $12 million to support Student Equity and Achievement Including Broadband
  • ​​Local First Arizona Arizona Economic Recovery Center - Grants Info
  • ​USDA Rural Development Innovation Center funding opportunities, events and resources 
  • ​ASU American Indian Policy Institute
  • ​Utility Commissioners Broadband Task Force Draft Broadband Recommendations
  • Consortium for School Networking study on students’ at-home Internet connectivity
  • ​Broadband Breakfast Club Weekly Newsletter and Online Events
  • ​Three AARP Articles: Tech Resources for Seniors including Training and and Help to Get or Upgrade Computers and Internet Access
  • Rural Development Finance: Council of Development Finance Agencies
  • Arizona And FCC EBB Emergency Broadband Benefits Program Campaign
Arizona $100 million Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG)
Application Deadline January 31, 2022
The ACA Arizona Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG) launched on November 15th and information about it has been posted on the ACA website (www.azcommerce.com/broadband). The $100 million Broadband Development Grant Program (ABDG). Grants will serve underserved rural and areas of the state. The grants will reimburse costs associated with activities directly related to the construction, installation, or improvement of high-speed broadband infrastructure. Eligible applicants will include broadband service providers, local governments, Native American tribes, schools, libraries and more.  $75 million will be targeted to rural counties and $25 million will
be targeted to the urban counties (Maricopa and Pima counties). The deadline for applications (originally December 10, 2021), has been moved out to be January 31, 2022. Grant awards are expected to be announced by the end of February 2022.

For grant information see Arizona Commerce Authority Broadband Development Grant Program web page for details or contact Teri Orman ACA Grants Manager/Administrator. Teri will collect all questions about ABDG and post the answers on the website. [email protected]
Assistant Broadband Director, Arizona Commerce Authority
The Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) has posted a job description announcement for an Assistant Broadband Director to join Jeff Sobotka, Arizona Broadband Manger, and ACA’s Broadband Team that  will be responsible for managing a large portfolio of broadband initiatives and grants across the state of Arizona. 
See Details Here
Digital Equity Act of 2021 (DEA) Overview and Dec 7 Digital Equity Act NDIA Webinar
NDIA National Digital Inclusion Alliance Digital Equity Act Webinar
December 7, 2021, 12:00- 1:00 AZ 2-3 p.m. EST
Info and Registration Here
The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) is now law. Among its various provisions, the Act provides $65 billion to states, community organizations, and other entities for a range of broadband deployment and digital inclusion activities. It’s the largest single investment in broadband and digital equity in the nation’s history and a truly historic, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to thoughtfully and systemically address the digital divide.

Within the IIJA’s broadband section is the Digital Equity Act of 2021 (DEA). The DEA appropriates $2.75 billion to be distributed through two primary grant programs: the State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program and the Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. Below is a rundown of the programs, as outlined in the law.  These funds can be used for a variety of digital inclusion efforts, including but not limited to device distribution programs, digital literacy training, and digital navigation assistance.

The NDIA National Digital Inclusion Alliance has broken the Digital Equity Act portion of the IIJA down & also provides a few recommendations for what to do next. They will also host a webinar on the IIJA. See details here  Contact: Amy Huffman, Policy Director, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, [email protected]
Affordable Connectivity Program extends/replaces EBB Emergency Broadband Benefit Program 
Affordable Connectivity Program.
Congress recently created the Affordable Connectivity Program, a new long-term, $14 billion program, which will replace the Emergency 
Broadband Benefit Program. 

What's Changing? 
  • The maximum monthly benefit will change from $50 per month to $30 per month for households not located on qualifying Tribal lands. The monthly benefit will remain at $75 per month for households on qualifying Tribal lands.
  • Households have new ways to qualify for the Affordable Connectivity Program such as: receiving WIC benefits or having an income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.
  • Households that qualified for the Emergency Broadband Benefit due to a substantial loss of income due to job loss or furlough since February 29, 2020 or by meeting the eligibility criteria for a participating provider's COVID-19 program will need to requalify for the Affordable Connectivity Program.
You can still apply for the EBB! Households enrolled in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program as of 12/31/21 will continue to receive their current monthly benefit during a 60-day transition period. More information about actions current Emergency Broadband Benefit recipients will need to take to continue receiving the Affordable Connectivity Program benefit after the transition period will be available in the coming weeks. The FCC is seeking comment on the changes enacted in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and will be adopting rules for the Affordable Connectivity Program. 

You can view the public notice here: Affordable Connectivity Program Public Notice
Arizona H.B. 2596 - Broadband Bill
H.B. 2596 allows private broadband providers to install, operate and maintain telecommunications equipment within the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) rights-of-way. It also allows ADOT to grant access to its own broadband conduit to private telecommunications companies in a non-exclusive and non-discriminatory manner — reducing the cost of installing rural broadband infrastructure. 

The bill also creates the “Smart Highway Trust Fund,” using leasing revenue from some ADOT properties as funding for the operations and equipment of the telecommunication facilities.
Broadband In Rural Areas & FCC Broadband Mapping
Rural Counties with More Broadband Tended to Do Better in 2020 Census, Study Shows
Sep 23, 2021 -- Analyzes U.S. Census data from 2010-2020, finding that the rural counties that grew in population had greater access to broadband internet service. Discusses characteristics of counties that grew in population despite the slight overall population loss in rural America, including access to natural amenities, recreation, and broadband access.
 
Broadband: FCC Is Taking Steps to Accurately Map Locations that Lack Access
Describes efforts by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to develop a location fabric, a geographically specific, granular dataset, representing existing and necessary broadband deployment sites. Presents findings from an examination of potential geographic data sources, surveys of 44 states and territories, and interviews with state and federal agency stakeholders. Discusses limitations related to the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of location data.
Additional links: Full Report
​Investing in America’s Communities - EDA Economic Development Administration
American Rescue Plan Programs​
July 22, 2021: Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administraton (EDA) is announcing
$3 billion in funding opportunities to invest in distressed and underserved communities impacted by the
coronavirus pandemic. This historic investment, funded by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, will
support bottom-up, middle-out economic development focused on advancing equity, creatng good paying jobs, helping workers to develop in-demand skills, building economic resilience, and accelerating the economic recovery for the industries and communities hit hardest by the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan includes the following programs
Here are the different programs and links to their Notice Of Funding Opportunities—these include the entire application package:  For more info contact
Asia King, Arizona Economic Development Representative
U.S. Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration
[email protected]
​Benton Foundation Community Networks Report
The Benton Foundation published “Six Community Broadband Networks Demonstrate Diversity of Approaches to Connectivity Challenges”. Download here: https://www.benton.org/publications/community-broadband-networks FYI.​
Arizona Department of Education Technology Task Force Report
Press Release  
The Arizona Department of Education’s Technology Task Force, convened by Superintendent Hoffman in June of 2020, released the Task Force Technology Report. Over the past year, the group met monthly, creating resources for teachers, school leaders, and parents. The task force also provided long-term recommendations for ADE and a whitepaper on the digital divide in rural Arizona. From that work, ADE also launched a new technology page located at azed.gov/technology-hub. The website will serve as a one-stop-shop for technology resources, federal E-Rate program information, as well as broadband programs for school leaders. Task force recommendations include establishing an office of digital teaching and learning in the Department, as well as appointing an advisory board made up of experts from the education, business and technology sectors. The Department is currently evaluating the recommendations made by the task force and will continue to work with partners and key stakeholders to develop a roadmap for implementation. 
  • New technology webpage that includes information about the E-Rate and Broadband programs.
​Arizona Department of Education allocates $1.5 Million to Fund Final Mile Project​
The Arizona Department of Education (ADE) announced a $1.5 million dollar allocation to support the Final Mile Project. Federal relief and recovery funds available to ADE will fund high-speed internet infrastructure to homes located in six geographically diverse rural areas of Arizona. The project aims to create sustainable long-term solutions to the digital divide by capitalizing on existing infrastructure to connect families to affordable high-speed internet. 

The Final Mile Project brings internet equity to rural students and families who have either no home internet, slow internet, or unaffordable internet. The project is spearheaded by the Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) in association with the Arizona Business and Education Coalition (ABEC) and the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents (AACSS). It works to extend the broadband capacity provided to schools and libraries through the federal E-Rate program to the homes of rural students and families.  The Final Mile Project will take the fiber broadband so many of our schools receive, and work to extend that capacity to the student’s home, directly narrowing the digital divide,” said Wes Brownfield, Executive Director of the Arizona Rural Schools Association.  The public-private effort allows internet service providers to offer high-speed internet to students and their families at an affordable cost. 
Projects include:
  1. Holbrook USD, Navajo County
  2. Beaver Creek ESD, Yavapai County
  3. Hackberry ESD, Mohave County
  4. Paloma ESD, Maricopa County
  5. Miami Jr. Sr. High School
  6. Chevelon Butte ESD, Coconino County
  7. Pima USD, Graham County
RFPS for the projects available online
https://www.thefinalmileproject.com/Request-for-Proposal 

​Contacts
  • Milan Eaton, State Erate Director for Schools, Arizona Department of Education 623-332-6357 [email protected]
  • Wes Brownfield, Executive Director, Arizona Rural Schools Association, [email protected], 928-830-7182
NTIA Updated Federal Broadband Funding Guide
Access the updated BroadbandUSA Federal Funding Guide here! 
NTIA, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration, released an updated database with information on more than 80 federal programs across 14 federal agencies whose funding can be used for broadband-related purposes. This comprehensive “one-stop shop” for broadband resources, created with the help of participating federal agencies, supports the Biden Administration’s push for universal high-speed internet access and focus on closing the digital divide. This site also fulfills an obligation in the ACCESS BROADBAND Act to provide a central website for potential applicants seeking federal broadband funding.

Funding opportunities include direct grants, loans, indirect support, and discounts for industry, state and local governments, schools, libraries, small businesses, and other community institutions that are interested in expanding and improving broadband access. Visitors to the website can search for programs by agency, program purpose, and eligible recipients. As agencies release new funding opportunities, NTIA will update the site. The information is also available as a downloadable spreadsheet to allow users to sort the material by selected criteria.

Notably, the current database features many new programs, including the Department of Commerce’s Connecting Minority Communities program, Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, and Broadband Infrastructure Program. Other new programs include the Department of Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, of which broadband is an eligible activity; the Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants; and the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program, Emergency Connectivity Fund, COVID-19 Telehealth program, and Connected Care Pilot program.

The launch of this latest round of federal broadband funding updates will help ensure that the public has easy access to the most up-to-date information possible to best facilitate broadband buildout and economic development. Feedback on the site is welcomed; please contact [email protected] to provide input.

Access the updated BroadbandUSA Federal Funding Guide here! ​​
NTIA Interactive Map to Help Public See the Digital Divide across the Country
NTIA map links poverty usage and broadband access by compiling data sets to show where high-poverty communities are located with relation to internet usage patterns and access to computers and related equipment

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) released a new publicly available digital map that displays key indicators of broadband needs across the country. This is the first interactive, public map that allows users to explore different datasets about where people do not have quality Internet access.  The public “Indicators of Broadband Need” tool puts on one map, for the first time, data from both public and private sources. It contains data aggregated at the county, census tract, and census block level from the U.S. Census Bureau, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), M-Lab, Ookla and Microsoft. Speed-test data provided by M-Lab and Ookla help to illustrate the reality that communities experience when going online, with many parts of the country reporting speeds that fall below the FCC’s current benchmark for fixed broadband service of 25 Mbps download, 3 Mbps upload. This is the first map that allows users to graphically compare and contrast these different data sources.

The new publicly available digital map displays Census tracts where median Internet speeds show fixed broadband below 25/3 Mbps, according to Ookla data.

The map puts poverty and lack of broadband access on the same page. The dataset allows you to see where high-poverty communities are located and how that relates to internet usage patterns, as well as to a lack of computers and related equipment.  The map also shows usage patterns in tribal communities, which have historically suffered from lack of internet access. Users can toggle the separate data sets on and off to compare information, and search for specific locations, including Tribal lands and minority-serving institutions, to gain a better understanding of where broadband needs are greatest.

The latest mapping effort by NTIA  is a new tool that provides valuable insight into the state of broadband across the country. The public can see which areas of the country still don’t have broadband at speeds needed to participate in the modern economy.  
NTIA National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) - (GIS) Platform
NTIA offers to state governments and federal partners a geographic information system (GIS) platform called the National Broadband Availability Map (NBAM) that provides more complex tools for analyzing broadband access, such as the ability to upload GIS files to compare proposed projects. Earlier this month, NTIA announced that Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, Maryland, Mississippi, and South Dakota have joined the growing roster of state participants in the NBAM, bringing the total number of participating states to 36. The mapping platform allows these states and others to better inform broadband projects and funding decisions.

For more information about the NBAM, please visit NTIA’s BroadbandUSA website or email [email protected].
Coconino County partners with SpaceX to Expand Internet Access
Since early May, 45 rural households in Coconino County have used internet access brought to them by state-of-the-art satellites made by SpaceX. The Northern Arizona county purchased and launched Starlink internet in a trial on May 6. The technology is currently available near Tuba City, where there was no service previously. The households include individuals from the Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute and Hopi tribes. Coconino County invested $81,000 in this trial. Each household received a $499 satellite dish and one year of internet services at no cost. Those participating in the trial can continue internet service after the year ends by paying a monthly fee. 

See az tech beat article for more
Report: Learning at Home While Under-Connected​
A new report from New America and Rutgers  — with involvement from Common Sense Media collaborators — on lower-income families' tech experiences during the pandemic found that rates of home internet access and computer ownership are up substantially from 2015, but many children from families with incomes below the national median ($75k) still lack the essentials; and even among families with computers and broadband internet access at home, a majority are “under-connected,” meaning that they report insufficient and unreliable access to the internet and internet-connecting devices. Additionally, the research showed that the digital challenges of remote learning hit families in the lowest income bracket and those headed by Black or Hispanic parents hardest.
Summitted by Task Force member Ilana Lowery, Arizona Director | Common Sense
Download Report Here
Community Networks Website Highlights Arizona Broadband Initiatives
Institute For Local Self Reliance ILSR
ILSR publishes regular newsletters, hosts podcasts, and has a great website with updates and examples of community networks around the country. Website also includes updates on community networking legislation, videos, fact sheets and more. A great resource regarding Community Networking. Check It Out!

Community Networks has highlighted 4 Arizona Broadband initiatives
  • Going Wireless for Students and Seniors in Tucson
  • Mohave Electric Co-op Will Deploy Fiber for Broadband in Arizona
  • Gila County, Arizona, to Create Broadband Master Plan
  • Remote Havasupai Tribe Connects With Community Network
ISLR Community Networks Arizona Web Site
Digital Promise publishes School District Technology Sustainability Toolkit 
​Digital Promise’s new Technology Sustainability Toolkit is designed to help school districts think intentionally about how to use American Rescue Plan unprecedented funds to build sustainable technology plans that will prevent a tumble off the “funding cliff” in three years when money runs out. School districts who don’t plan for sustainability will find themselves in a difficult position in a few years when the technology items they purchase now need repair or replacement. Not only will the districts have more devices and hardware to maintain, repair, or replace, they will also have less funds to do so because the relief funds will be spent and the technology department will be back to its regular general budget. Ultimately, districts will need to develop plans that leverage current funding to realize long-term goals, like equitable access to devices and transformative instructional practices that result in significant student outcomes. Planning for sustainability requires using funds to create a runway to support work that starts now and will continue in the future.
See Information and Toolkit Here
TeleHealth Access for Seniors
We provide seniors and low-income communities with devices, instructions, and free tech-support to connect them to their physicians via TeleHealth, friends and family using digital connectivity, and wellness tools via apps.
More Info
$268 Million Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program​
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today released the Final Rule for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program, which will direct $268 million for expanding broadband to eligible historically Black Colleges or Universities (HBCUs), Tribal Colleges or Universities (TCUs), and minority-serving institutions (MSIs).

The Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Grants will be distributed to help HBCUs, TCUs and MSIs purchase broadband service or equipment, hire IT personnel, operate a minority business enterprise, and facilitate educational instruction. The Final Rule describes the programmatic scope and general guidelines for the program.

As directed by the Act, the Final Rule also establishes a method to determine applicant eligibility and identify which eligible recipients have the greatest unmet financial needs.

Requirements for grant applications and other information about the program will be found here.

A Series of Webinars 
NTIA is also holding a series of webinars to further inform the public about the program. The next Connecting Minority Communities webinars  Recordings, transcripts and presentations from past Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program webinars: 
NTIA $1 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband on Tribal Land
NTIA announced the availability of nearly $1 billion in grants to expand broadband access and adoption on Tribal land included in the American Jobs Plan to make affordable high-speed internet available to all Americans.

The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021. Grants will be made available to eligible Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment as well as for digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning. These investments will help many Native American, Alaskan Native and Native Hawaiian communities gain long overdue access to life-saving technologies, economic opportunities, remote learning and countless other benefits.

NTIA is seeking infrastructure projects that expand the availability of broadband services on Tribal lands and prioritize deploying broadband infrastructure to unserved households, as required by the Act. The program also invites proposals that address the digital divide on Tribal lands, including broadband and digital inclusion planning, telehealth, education, training staff and Tribal community members, and providing technical support and capacity building for Tribal institutions.

More information about the program, including requirements for grant applications, can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity published today on grants.gov. NTIA is also holding a series of webinars to further inform the public about the program. The next Tribal Broadband Connectivity webinars will be held on June 16 and 17.

Read the Fact Sheet on the announcement online.
NTIA $288 Million Broadband Infrastructure Grants
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced  the availability of $288 million in grant funding for the deployment of broadband infrastructure. Grants will be awarded to partnerships between a state, or political subdivisions of a state, and providers of fixed broadband service. NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021.

More information about the program, including requirements for grant applications, can be found in the Notice of Funding Opportunity published today on grants.gov.
 
NTIA will accept applications for projects that are designed to:
  • Provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area;
  • Provide broadband service to rural areas;
  • Be most cost-effective in providing broadband service; or
  • Provide broadband service with a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed of at least 20 Mbps.
NTIA will group applications based on the priority above that each application addresses, and will sequence its review of application groups in the statutory order listed above.
“NTIA has built durable partnerships with the states through our State Broadband Leaders Network, and with local governments and their broadband initiatives through our technical assistance offerings and other efforts,” said Acting NTIA Administrator Evelyn Remaley. “We are eager to put these relationships to work to ensure a successful program that expands broadband infrastructure in communities that need it most.”

NTIA is also holding a series of webinars to further inform the public about the program. The next Broadband Infrastructure webinars will be held on June 9 and 10.
$10 Billion Treasury Department Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund 
The $10 billion Capital Projects Fund of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 was established to provide funding to states, territories, and Tribes to carry out critical capital projects directly enabling work, education, and health monitoring, including remote options, in response to the public health emergency with respect to COVID–19.  The Treasury Department will begin to accept applications for review in the summer of 2021 and will issue guidance before that date. The Funds provide emergency funding for state, local, territorial, and Tribal governments to respond to the pandemic and its economic impacts, including making necessary investments in broadband infrastructure.

The overall purpose and application process for the Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund can be found on Treasury’s website. For updates, please check the Treasury website regularly or sign up for the mailing list.
Broadband Infrastructure FAQs – Treasury Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds

NTIA wants to keep you updated on the progress of the US Department of Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds’ Interim Final Rule (IFR). Treasury has recently issued FAQs that can be found at this link on the broadband provision of the IFR.
 
Per the US Department of Treasury, today’s FAQ update provides answers to questions raised by a number of stakeholders on eligible areas for broadband infrastructure investment. The update clarifies that states and localities may invest in areas where not all households or businesses are unserved or underserved, as long as an objective of the project is to provide service to unserved or underserved households or businesses. Further, it clarifies that the use of “reliably” in the broadband provision of the IFR provides states and localities with significant discretion to assess the actual experience of users on the ground.
 
Specifically, the FAQ update addresses the following questions:
  • For broadband infrastructure investments, what does the requirement that infrastructure “be designed to” provide service to unserved or underserved households and businesses mean?
  • For broadband infrastructure to provide service to “unserved or underserved households or businesses,” must every house or business in the service area be unserved or underserved?
  • For broadband infrastructure investments, what does the requirement to “reliably” meet or exceed a broadband speed threshold mean?
  • May recipients use payments from the Funds for “middle mile” broadband projects?
 Treasury regularly updates FAQs to provide further clarification on the IFR, and is committed to responding expeditiously to questions and concerns. They also encourage interested stakeholders to submit comments for the record to ensure that their perspectives are reflected in the public comments during the 60-day public comment period on the IFR. These comments will be considered as part of the process for revising the rule.
$7.171 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund  - What is it?
See SHLB - Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition Special June 9 Online Workshop
To help schools and libraries provide devices and Internet connectivity to students, school staff, and library patrons during the pandemic, Congress established a $7.171 billion Emergency Connectivity Fund as part of the recently enacted American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The Federal Communications Commission is now defining the rules to distribute the new funds to eligible schools and libraries for the purchase of eligible equipment and advanced telecommunications and information services for use by students, school staff, and library patrons at locations other than a school or library—primarily to homes. 

Is this an E-Rate program?
No, it isn’t the same as E-Rate. The fund is going to be administered by the Universal Service Administrative Company (USAC) - the same entity that administers the E-Rate program for schools and libraries. While there are some commonalities between the two programs it is important to remember that the Emergency Connectivity Fund is not E-Rate and it will be its own program with its own rules, regulations and processes.

What will it fund?
For eligible schools and libraries, this will provide funding (and reimbursement) for advanced telecommunications and information services and equ​ipment including Wi-Fi hotspots, modems, routers, devices that combine a modem and router, and connected devices. These funds can be used in competitive procurements or to reimburse eligible expenses dating back to January 27th, 2020. It is also worth noting that the funds from this program will remain available until September 30th, 2030.

Arizona Contacts
Milan Eaton, State Erate Director for Schools, Arizona Department of Education.
See Milan’s ECF Training for Arizona Schools here
CONTACT: Milan Eaton Cell: 623-332-6357 [email protected]

See Benton Institute For Broadband For Society Emergency Connectivity Fund Overview Here
Arizona Passes Legislation To Expand Broadband In Arizona
Arizona passed House Bill 2596 aimed at expanding broadband access in Arizona that will help Arizonans living in rural and tribal areas gain access to fast, affordable and reliable internet.
​House Bill 2596:
  • Allows private broadband providers to install, operate and maintain telecommunications equipment within the Arizona Department of Transportation’s (ADOT) rights-of-way.
  • Allows ADOT to grant access to its own broadband conduit to private telecommunications companies in a non-exclusive and non-discriminatory manner — reducing the cost of installing rural broadband infrastructure.
  • Creates the “Smart Highway Trust Fund” to deposit leasing revenues generated from the use of ADOT rights-of-way, which are to be used for operation and maintenance of telecommunications facilities within ADOT’s rights-of-way. 
AZ Department Of Education $12 million to support Student Equity and Achievement 
The Arizona Department of Education has allocated an additional $12 million in federal recovery dollars to support Student Equity and Achievement throughout Arizona. Allocations were made in the following areas:
  • Student Equity & Achievement
  • Educator Recruitment & Retention
  • Safe & Healthy Schools
  • Serving Arizona School Communities through the Pandemic & Beyond
  • Post-Secondary Access & Attainment
  • Additional Relief Funding to Public Schools
 Includes $853k – Laptop and Hotspot Partnership with City of Phoenix; $1.5 Million – Expanding Rural Broadband with the Final Mile Project; $15k – Kajeet Hotspots for Students & Families; 
See Details Here
Local First Arizona Arizona Economic Recovery Center - Grants Info
 Local First Economic Recovery Center
The Arizona Economic Recovery Center aims to enable more qualified Arizona cities, towns, counties, and nonprofits to win competitive federal, state, and foundation grants. Qualifying communities:
  • Meet the definition of Rural as defined by the Arizona Commerce Authority, or be in LMI urban census tracts
  • Do not have a dedicated staff for development
  • Are interested in applying for work that supports a regional or local strategic plan
  • Have a proposed application that includes at least 3 partnering organizations
  • Have an idea that can be initiated before 2023
An initiative of Local First Arizona, the center serves communities statewide by:
  • Researching and simplifying grants and stimulus opportunities
  • Identifying funding sources for large and small projects
  • Connecting funding sources to communities in need of funding
  • Providing the capacity for grant writing, facilitation, and project management to ensure success rates for qualifying communities and nonprofits.
Local First Economic Recovery Center
USDA Rural Development Innovation Center
The following information was extracted from the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center Innovation Matters Newsletter that provides a listing of funding opportunities, events and resources in rural America. ​Join the mailing list to receive Innovation Matters from the USDA Rural Development Innovation Center.
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​​COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide To access programs that can be used to provide immediate and long-term assistance to rural communities affected by the COVID-19 outbreak, download the COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide.
ASU American Indian Policy Institute
ASU American Indian Policy Institute Tribal Broadband Resources

AIPI is a think-tank with a primary focus on public policy analysis and research. We have expertise in telecommunications, communications, broadband, digital inclusion, technology for language retention, and technology as the backbone for community and economic development, and communications technology. We disseminate our work via outcomes to be disseminated in policy briefs, newsletters, lectured, conference presentations, and white papers.

ASU has a resource at the Center for Policy Informatics that includes a portal for information on  broadband issues, data collection and broadband research: General Broadband Research Data Repository  ​
Utility Commissioners Broadband Task Force Draft Broadband Recommendations
A task force made up of state public service commissioners for utility services released a set of draft recommendations to help coordinate and facilitate the closing of gaps in broadband service nationwide. The National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners (NARUC) Broadband Expansion Task Force, published draft recommendations that focus on:
  • Improving broadband mapping
  • Enhancing broadband program coordination Ensuring broadband providers meet their obligations
  • Supporting non-traditional providers
  • Adopting broadband​
More Info Here. ​
Consortium for School Networking study on students’ at-home Internet connectivity
CoSN, the Consortium for School Networking, released a report on the preliminary findings of a breakthrough study on students’ at-home internet connectivity and provided guidelines on bandwidth, devices and other remote learning needs based on the data. The study, supported by a grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI), fills a critical need among educators and policymakers for detailed insight on students’ learning experiences at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 
Thirteen K-12 urban, suburban and rural school districts from across the United States with approximately 750,000 students participated in the six-week study, securely sharing information on internet usage, latency, and performance from network filter logs and video conferencing solutions. The resulting findings will guide school district technology leaders across the United States working to improve online learning equity.
Broadband Breakfast Club Weekly Newsletter and Online Events
You may want to sign-up for the Broadband Breakfast Club newsletter with lots of great info about broadband and digital access. Subscribe to their twice-weekly newsletter and visit their Broadband Breakfast Live Online event every Wednesday at 12 Noon ET. ​
Seniors 2 Seniors Program ​Bridges Digital and Generational Divide
Seniors 2 Seniors Program 
The Tri-Co Seniors 2 Seniors program that includes a technology course designed to introduce seniors to the benefits of high-speed internet through teacher-led instruction, hands-on practice and one-on-one support in a classroom setting. It’s a hands-on program led by an instructor who has vast experience in the field of information technology. Additionally, the seniors are being supported in the classroom by senior high school students who have an interest in and experience with computers and technology. Their  goal is to show seniors how to use computers so they can stay connected with family and friends, utilize telemedicine or health care from home, access government online tools, utilize online banking, and work and shop from home, Over eight weeks the course provides instruction on basic computing skills, conducting internet searches with Google, setting up an email account and sending email, saving and storing documents and files, using social networking such as Skype and Facetime, and handling and sharing photos. There are also components dealing with online banking and cybersecurity.

Contact: Bill Gerski, Mobile: 702-493-6142 [email protected].
Three AARP Articles: Tech Resources for Seniors including Training and and Help to Get or Upgrade Computers and Internet Access
  • Article 1 AARP Emergency Broadband Benefits Program: AARP has long worked for low-cost internet solutions for older Americans, who need high-speed broadband for teleworking, medical and health-related information and news, online health-care consultations with doctors and nurses, and interacting with loved ones and friends, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. See Article Here  
  • ​Article 2 Technology Skills Training. Senior Planet and its parent organization, Older Adults Technology Services (OATS), a nonprofit organization that specializes in teaching technology skills to older adults, is uniting with AARP to offer its courses to even more older adults nationwide — for free. AARP is collaborating with  OATS to expand its offerings and make them known to a wider audience through AARP’s new Virtual Community Center. Senior Planet programs are designed to teach adults 60 and older basic and advanced computer skills. Its interactive online classes, offered in English, Spanish and Chinese, are free to anyone of any age. About 50 classes are on the schedule each week. The relationship with AARP allows both organizations to help more people learn the computer skills they need now more than ever because so many activities and events are available only online. AARP has two places to sign up for free online classes and workshops: Senior Planet’s upcoming events and AARP’s Virtual Community Center See the Article Here
  • Article 3 Devices and Internet Access Resources: This Article provides info and links to resources for seniors that offer free personal computers or tablets or discounted internet access. City governments, nonprofits and communications companies across the country are stepping up to remedy the deficiencies in technology. Pockets of seniors in many communities are using new laptops or tablets with free internet and training, courtesy of partnerships aimed at averting the ill effects of isolation. See the Article Here
AZ And FCC EBB Emergency Broadband Benefits Program Campaign

Arizona And FCC EBB Emergency Broadband Benefits Program Campaign

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On May 12 the FCC will officially launch the new Emergency Broadband Program. As you may know, the EBB addresses the unprecedented need by low-income households for affordable digital access resources including Internet and devices such as computers and cell phones. The EBB provides eligible households a subsidy of up to $50 per month on Internet service, or $75 per month for those living on Tribal lands. The EBB may also provide eligible households a one-time discount of up to $100 to purchase a laptop, desktop or tablet computer. It is urgent that we get the word out and help eligible low-income households register for this program ASAP. EBB is a limited funding and limited duration benefit program so we need to act now to help Arizona low-income consumers get signed up before time and money run out.
Arizona EBB Campaign and Toolkit
A statewide Arizona coalition of government, education and nonprofit organizations is asking for your participation in a statewide campaign to get eligible households signed-up ASAP. We know that for many people signing up for government programs can be scary and complicated so we are asking schools, libraries, non-profit and faith-based organizations, social service and health care agencies, and local and state governments to help get the word out to your constituencies about the EBB program, and to help them register for these benefits. 
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The AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force is participating in the Coalition, led by Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, School Connect, Common Sense Media and United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, in cooperation with many other government and nonprofit organizations such as  the Arizona Rural Schools Association, the Arizona Telemedicine Program, the Arizona Department of Education, and economic development organizations. They are collaborating on a promotion strategy and EBB Toolkit to make it easier for your organization to access the information you may need. The toolkit was developed to share with your networks, school districts, education leaders, nonprofits, community organizations and others.
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​The toolkit is housed on the Connect Arizona website, which also provides resources and guidance for individuals needing virtual learning opportunities for students, access to free WIFI hotspots and digital tech support. 
The toolkit includes: 
  • A PDF showing step-by-step instructions on how individuals can
    ​apply for EBB discounts
  • An Emergency Broadband Benefit FAQ sheet
  • The FCC Emergency Broadband Benefit program guide
  • A Flyer in English outlining the program and eligibility requirements
  • A Flyer in Spanish outlining the program and eligibility requirements
  • A Half-page flyer in English that can be printed and distributed locally
  • A Half-page flyer in Spanish that can be printed and distributed to locally
  • A sample email to use as a template to share out to your networks​ 
Here Is How You Can Help
  • ​Become an Outreach Partner. Get your organization involved  to help get the word out to your constituencies about the EBB program, and to help them register for these benefits. 
  • Identify a Point of Contact within your organization to learn about the EBB, and the processes to help eligible consumers sign-up and take advantage of these programs
  • Print and distribute EBB flyers to your constituents
  • Provide funding to pay for flyers      
Want to help? Contact: Other FCC Resources
​Help Get Arizona Partners Signed-Up For EBB - Send an Email
 We are asking you to help get the word out to your contacts and networks to recruit partner organizations and Navigators/Points of Contact. Feel free to use the attached email templates as is, or modify it for your needs. You can remove our logo and add yours, and change it any way that will be most useful for you. We know people will be more responsive receiving communication from people and organizations they know and trust. We suggest you cut and paste info into an email rather than sending an attachment.
EBB Partner Request Email Template .docx
File Size: 105 kb
File Type: docx
Download File
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