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Arizona COVID-19 Digital Access Planning

On This Page

• What Is Digital Access
• Task Force Mission and Strategy
• Task Force Participation
• Task Force Plans and Teams
• Mobilizing Task Force Teams - Team Meetings

We're mobilizing our Teams!    

To join a Team: Steve  aticarizona@gmail.com 
520-321-1309 to volunteer for one or more of our Teams. See Teams Information Below.

Our Teams!    

• Education and Libraries
• Communities
• Technology
• Funding

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Digital Access Task Force Mission and Strategy 

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

​Everyone,students, parents, teachers, businesses, seniors, etc. also require access to technology such as computers, laptops, and smart phones, as well as other digital equipment such as routers, hotspots, and web cameras. They also need access to digital content resources and skills to effectively use technology.​

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

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

The Task Force will:

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

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

​ Task Force Plans and Teams

Charge To The Teams
Teams will address the following questions:

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

Task Force Activities

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

We're Mobilizing our Teams!
Meetings and Team Leader
​Contact Info     

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Education and Libraries Team Meeting Thursdays 9:30 am. 
Zoom Meeting Link
Phone 669 900 6833 
Meeting ID: 958 4258 1789
Last Meeting: Meeting Summary. 

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Funding and Resources Team Meeting ​Fridays 10:00 am 
Zoom Meeting Link - Password: 015628  ​
Meeting ID: 883 3248 3758 
Phone 1 669 900 9128 -Password: 015628
Meeting ID: 883 3248 3758 
Last Meeting: Meeting Summary

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Technology Team Meetings
​Tuesdays 9:30 am 
Coming Soon

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AZ Telehealth Broadband Action Team
​ 2:00 First Tuesdays Of Every Month
Zoom Meeting Link - Password  866332
Meeting ID: 373 447 491
Phone: 669 900 6833 
See contact Information below

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Team Leaders - Contacts 

Schools and Libraries

• Mala Muralidharan, E-rate Administrator for Public Libraries, Arizona State Library mailto:mala@azlibrary.gov
  ​602-364-4558 M: 480-221-5120;
• Nicole Umayam, Digital Inclusion Librarian, Arizona State Library numayam@azlibrary.gov, 602-542-6271
• Nan Williams, Executive Director, Arizona Technology ​In Education Association, nanwilli@gmail.com, 602-525-6909

​Funding and Resources
 Lea Márquez Peterson, Commissioner Arizona Corporation Commissior
LMarquezPeterson@azcc.gov,
480-549-0997

Technology

•  Steve Hill, President,  Satellite Broadcasting and Communications Association 
  shill@sbca.org 703-963-0350 
• Tom Mehlert, Executive Director 
  ​AZ StRUT  tom@azstrut.org 
  602-677-1014

 
AZ Telehealth Broadband Action Team

• Jeff Sobotka, Arizona Broadband Manger, Arizona Commerce Authority, 602-432-0004
  jeffs@AZcommerce.com
• Janet Major, Associate Director for Facilities, AZ Telemedicine Program 
  jmajor@telemedicine.arizona.edu
  ​Mobile : 520-403-0736
• Nancy Rowe, AZ Telehealth Broadband Action Team
  Associate Director, Public Policy & Outreach
  Arizona Telemedicine Program / Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
  928-266-1164
  nrowe@telemedicine.arizona.edu​​

Teams

Teams Include

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

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