Karen Ziegler
​Consulting Services
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Digital Access Task Force Meeting
Monday March 20, 2023
New Meeting Time 3:00 -4:15 p.m.
We will begin promptly ​@ 3:00 pm
Kibitzing with Colleagues 4:15-? ​See Details Below.
Please engage by video rather that just audio
so that we can ​also share our screens with you.
Meeting Schedule 
Meeting Schedule: March 6, 13, 20, 27
​​Zoom login 
Zoom Meeting ID: 919 9321 8962
​Join the Meeting 
​Password AZBSN
Phone: Dial by your location
  • +1 213 338 8477 US (Los Angeles)
  • +1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
  • +1 206 337 9723 US (Seattle)
  • +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
ID: 919 9321 8962
You will be prompted to enter your unique participant ID - 
​​Press # to skip
​​Registration Required: To enable collaboration, we are requiring you to register when you join the meeting so that we can capture and share presenter and attendee contact info. This contact info will then be included in the meeting report.
Kibitzing with Colleagues: ​An Optional
Monday Afternoon Task Force Experience
After the Task Force Meetings - About 4:15 - ?
​At the conclusion of our regular Task Force meeting, you are invited to stay on line to Kibitz With Your Colleagues. This an informal gathering of Task Force members. ​There will be no agenda, no presentations, no ending time, just discussion, sharing and collaborating. ZOOM will remain open as long as people want to keep kibitzing. Come kibitz with us. 
Download Task Force Reports
​and ​Meeting Presentations​
March 13, 2023 Meeting Recap
View/Download the Meeting Recording, Registration List, Chat, and Zoom Transcript files listed below
See the March 13 Meeting Summary, as well as
​Meeting Reports and Recordings ​from Previous Months, Here
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Support The Task Force
We are launching a Task Force Sponsorship Campaign. Find out how you can sign-on as a sponsor to enable continued coordination of the Task Force and implementation of our short and long term tactical and strategic recommendations and initiatives. With your tax-deductible commitment you will have the opportunity to tell your story, showcase your organization, and connect with public and private Digital Access advocates in Arizona.

See Details Here
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Want To Connect With
​Task Force Colleagues?
​Link To Task Force Participant List
​The list includes only those who
​have completed our Google Form ​​
Are you Included? You could be!
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Enter Your contact info here
March 20, 2023
Digital Inclusion Presentation/Discussion
AZBSN & Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Collaborative Campaigns -
Arizona Department of Economic Security
​and Arizona Children’s Alliance Collaboration Update
Background: 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 Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaigns.

To further our discussion about collaboration, on March 20 representatives from DES and Children’s Action Alliance will join us
  • Dawn Jones, with the Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility at DES and 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
Background
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. Applicants will be required to provide similar information required for ACP.

The Arizona Access program, DES, the Children’s Action Alliance in cooperation with many other organizations will be providing re-enrollment campaigns that will include community events, flyers, PSAS and more.  The Task Force, and our affiliated organizations, are exploring opportunities to collaborate  on these campaigns 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 AZBSN collaboration efforts.  All interested organizations will have the opportunity to be engaged.

Contact Mauricio morozco@care1staz.com 480-282-3631 or
Erin elorandos@azlibrary.gov 480-352-9205
Access has developed a Toolkit to support the campaign. Download the Toolkit Here
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Website and Interactive Map
​The Connect Arizona Website and Interactive Map provides user friendly access to free Wi-Fi hotspots and technical support resources in Arizona. The locations on this map include free public Wi-Fi hotspots at public libraries, schools, businesses and other sites, as well as broadband provider Wi-Fi capabilities made available to the public. The site also provides information on free and discounted resources to get connected and free technical support. Thousands of Arizona  citizens have taken advantage of this resource
Link 
AZBSN Contact Info
Steve Peters, AZBSN and ​Task Force Coordinator
aticarizona@gmail.com ​Phone or Text: 520-321-1309
Task Force Comprehensive Statewide
​Digital Access Strategy Report
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View/Download
​​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.

Agenda, Support, Events & Announcements, About The Task Force

March 20, 2023 Agenda
Tentative Agenda - Record Meeting 
  • 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
  • Congrats Janet Major named Fellow of the American Telemedicine Association (FATA)
  • Updates BEAD and Digital Inclusion Planning: ​Sandip Bhowmick State Broadband Director and ​ Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer, NTIA Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) for Arizona. 
  • ​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. Comments are due no later than May 1, 2023, at 5:00 pm EST 

    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 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.

    Benton Institution: NTIA Needs to Hear From You About Two New Digital Equity Programs For a great summary of the current ask at 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. 

    ​The National Competitive Outreach Program (NCOP) and the Tribal Competitive Outreach Program (TCOP) are two complementary grant programs that are part of the ACP Outreach Grant Program
  • ​​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 

    --- Other? 
  • ​ACP Lessons Learned: Ilana Lowery Arizona Director, Common Sense Media will report on The lessons Common Sense Media learned with our ACP pilot awareness and enrollment campaign in Phoenix.  https://www.commonsensemedia.org/kids-action/articles/why-closing-the-digital-divide-is-a-team-effort 
  • AZ Digital Inclusion planning for government and nongovernment funding. As the state moves ahead with planning for digital inclusion, local organizations need to start doing their planning, they need to identify what they want to do, what's it going to cost, target areas/populations, how much staff will they need, etc. to feed into the state Digital Inclusion planning process. BTW, there are also nongovernment funding resources such as foundations and corporate.  Steve reported that he has been in touch with Nicole and the  Arizona Economic Recovery Center about possible workshops or webinars to help local organizations to do their planning. 
  • ​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 Medicaid & ACP Sign-up Campaigns. 

    To further our discussion about collaboration, on March 20 representatives from DES and Children’s Action Alliance will join

    --- 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 and Lyle.
  • ​Cyber Security. Mala and Steve 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
    Draft Web Page
  •  U.S. Department of Commerce is giving $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.
    ​Announcements
  • --- 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 .  
    https://www.applitrack.com/pimajted/OnlineApp/default.aspx?Category=High+School+Teaching&AppliTrackJobId=180&AppliTrackLayoutMode=detail&AppliTrackViewPosting=1

    ​--- 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 Shereka Jackson futurestarsaz@hotmail.com 623-221-0902
  • Funding  Opportunities

    --- 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.  

    --- ​U.S. Bank Foundation Community Possible Grant Program. includes Programming and services that advance positive community engagement efforts 

    --- 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 
​​
  • Other Events - see email announcements for links and details 
    ​
  • ​---​ 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 is now available online. See AZBSN Newsletter for details and links. The National Skills Coalition, in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, has released new research that could help guide the way.
  • ​Announcements Other Info and Updates​      
  •  ​Federal and State Updates
  • ​Project Updates/Announcements​ 
​COVID-19 Task Force  2022 Sponsorship Campaign
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Updates and Digital Access
​Resource Presentation
Federal and State Updates
Arizona Commerce Authority
  • ​Sandip Bhowmick Vice President of Infrastructure and State Broadband Director
Arizona State Library, Archives and ​Public Records 
  • Mala Muralidharan, E-rate Administrator for
    Public Libraries
  • Telehealth and Libraries - Mala and Janet Major
  • Erin Lorandos, Digital Inclusion Library Consultant 
  • Holly Henley, State Librarian & Director of Library Services, Archives & Public Records   
Arizona Telemedicine Program 
  • ​Janet Major, Associate Director for Innovation & Digital Health, Arizona Telemedicine Program & Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
Arizona Department of Education
  • Phillip Seng, IT Project Manager: Office of Digital Teaching and Learning
  • Karina Jones, Deputy Associate Superintendent
    IT Program Engagement
  • ​Milan Eaton, eRate Director 
Digital Inclusion Updates 
  • Cindy Hogan: Literacy Connects Digital 
    Inclusion Ambassador
  • ​Erin Carr-Jordan, Executive Director, 
  • Digital Equity Institute​
​National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), U.S. Department of Commerce
  •  Nicole Umayam, Federal Program Officer – Arizona, Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG)
Sun Corridor Network
  • Derek Masseth, Executive Director
  • Laura Etter, Deputy Director
Arizona Rural Schools Association (ARSA) ​and Final Mile Project
  • ​Rory Conaway, CEO, Triad Wireless
  • Milan Eaton, eRate Director, Arizona Department of Education
Task Force Support Needed From You
ATIC/GAZEL Database Update: To support the Task Force we need to refresh the Task Force  database. We would appreciate any help you can provide in obtaining the following lists, preferably in Excel spreadsheets: All Mayors, City Managers, County Managers, Economic Development Directors, School Superintendents, important association and chamber of commerce executives, education advocacy organizations, telehealth and health care organizations, regional Association of Governments execs, municipal and school CTOs/CIOs, key government agency directors, key university and community college contacts, any other individuals and organizations that may be interested in our digital access initiatives.
Task Force Database Update – Please Respond ASAP
​Task Force Collaborators  - Yes That is You! 
Since the creation of the Task Force we have added many new people to our Team. Some of you requested participation, some were referred by others. Anyway, to make a long story short, we do not have complete contact information about many of you. In order to encourage greater collaboration, please take a couple of minutes to fill out this Google Form to provide us your name, organization, title, phone, mobile # (optional), email, web site link, and a short description about you or your organization(also optional). Your mobile number would be helpful to enable us send an occasional text message. We would like to start sharing this information with the Task Force.​
Amazon Smile – Support the Task Force For Free
Do you shop at Amazon? Now you can support the Task Force with no expense to you. All it takes is a couple of minutes of your time. AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support the Task Force every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5% of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. GAZEL, the Greater Arizona Educational Leadership one of the Task Force’s lead organizations, is a registered Amazon Smile 501(c)(3) organization. Just select Greater Arizona Educational Leadership when you sign up for Amazon Smile. See this Amazon Smile web page for additional details.
Events, Resources and updates
​View our Events, Resources and Updates page to see the latest info about funding opportunities, important webinars and workshops, and other federal, state, local, community and nonprofit Internet and other digital access resources and initiatives.
About The Task Force
Due to the COVID-19 global pandemic the world is creating the largest telecommunity of all time. Social and physical distancing is becoming the new normal requiring unpresented demand for digital access for all Arizona communities including tribal, rural and other underserved communities and low-income neighborhoods in Arizona. 

AZBSN, the Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network, led by ATIC, the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council, GAZEL, the Greater Arizona Educational Leadership organization, in cooperation with many other stakeholder organizations, have created  an AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force.
What Is Digital Access
​Digital access is more than just access to fast affordable and reliable Internet access.

​Everyone, especially students, 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 digital content resources and skills to effectively use technology.​
The Task Force will:
  • Facilitate collaboration, coordination, information sharing and communication among key public, private and nonprofit stakeholders
  • Collaborate on priority initiatives for schools, libraries, telemedicine, communities, and more
  • Develop a statewide COVID-19 digital access strategy to support, schools, universities, community colleges, students, homes, libraries, health care facilities, businesses and communities
  • Identify and advocate for funding to enable implementation of COVID-19 Digital Access Projects
Task Force Participation
Participation will include representation from: state and local government officials, public policy makers, rural community leaders, economic development, education, local or state government, health services, public safety, libraries, telecommunications and technology companies, and more.  
AZBSN COVID-19 Task Force Plans and Subcommittees
  • Regular Task Force informational, coordinating and planning meetings
  • Task Force Subcommittees including Education, Libraries, Telemedicine, Service Providers, Communities, and Funding
  • Regular Community, Stakeholder, and Citizen Communications by newsletters, webinars, web site and informational meetings, social media, etc.
  • Service Provider Resources with Arizona Contacts
  • Federal and State Digital Access Briefings
  • Short Term Initiatives
  • Online Database: Resources, Needs, Contacts, etc.
  • Collaboration Platform
  • A State plan defining short term plans and priorities that will identify challenges, barriers and recommendations related to  key issues including Education, Libraries, Telemedicine, Service Providers, Communities, and Funding
  • AZBSN COVID-19 Digital Access Task Force Web Pages, with links to and from the Arizona Commerce Authority and other sites providing related information
  • Statewide Webinars and stakeholder informational meetings
  • AZBSN Newsletters to all relevant stakeholders in Arizona
  • Social Media Announcements 
Charge To The Teams
Teams will address the following questions:
  • What do you perceive are the major Digital Access/Digital Inclusion needs such as Internet access and devices, as well as training, funding and technical support. What are the issues/barriers?
  • What specific strategies, initiatives, resources, partnerships, technologies or opportunities can we recommend to help address these needs. If we can determine it, what specific funding do we need?
  • Who else needs to be involved in your Committee?
  • Others Questions?
Teams
  • Education 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: (changed from Service Providers): What Digital Access/Digital Inclusion technologies should be considered to provide Internet access to schools, libraries, families and communities such as wire line, satellite, mesh networks, cellular microwave, WiFi on buses, open schools and libraries Erate networks. What kinds of devices are needed and should be considered such as computers and tablets, cell phones, hot spots, web cams, software, conferencing services?
  • Funding/Resources: What funding and resources opportunities are there such as federal, state and local funding, foundations, donation campaigns, volunteer support, refurbished equipment, donations and support from Internet providers and technology companies, etc.
Note: Telemedicine and Public Safety: While the Task Force also has interest in Telemedicine and Public  Safety, 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

Subcommittee Teams
  • Education
  • Libraries
  • Communities
  • Technology
  • Funding
Connect With ATIC

602-254-5887
​Email