Monday May 4, 2020 AZBSN COVID-19 Task Force Meeting
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Time: 7:30 - 8:30 AM
Audio and Video Conference Only See Meeting Agenda Tab below Please engage by video rather that just audio so that we can also share our screens with you. Next Task Force Meetings
Mondays May 4 and 11. Ad hoc meetings as needed. All meetings are Monday morning 7:30 am - 8:30 AM by audio and video conferencing |
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Conferencing Instructions
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We're mobilizing our Subcommittees!
If you haven't already done so, please fill out this survey to volunteer for one or more of our subcommittees. We also want to know if you will step-up as the Champion/Facilitator of a subcommittee to help facilitate the work of the subcommittees. Need more info about the subcommittees see the About COVID Task Force Tab below.
If you haven't already done so, please fill out this survey to volunteer for one or more of our subcommittees. We also want to know if you will step-up as the Champion/Facilitator of a subcommittee to help facilitate the work of the subcommittees. Need more info about the subcommittees see the About COVID Task Force Tab below.
Federal And Arizona Updates and Resources
See the Updates and Resources tab below for Federal and Arizona announcements, updates and resources.
See the Updates and Resources tab below for Federal and Arizona announcements, updates and resources.
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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 Broadband Internet access. Everyone, especially students, also require access to technology such as computers, laptops, smart phones and other digital equipment such as routers, hotspots, security cameras, telemedicine hardware/software, etc., and digital content resources. |
The Task Force will:
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.
- 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
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
Teams will address the following questions:
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Subcommittee Teams
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Tentative Agenda
Primary agenda item is to continue our discussion on the AZBSN COVID-19 Response.Welcome and Introductions
Primary agenda item is to continue our discussion on the AZBSN COVID-19 Response.Welcome and Introductions
- Welcome and Introductions
- Meeting Schedule: May 4 and 11
- Thanks Cory Ter Eick MSS Management Consulting Services, and Terence Ford Insight
- Federal and State Updates: Jeff Sobotka, State Broadband Manager; Mala Muralidharan, E-rate Administrator for Public Libraries Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Karen Ziegler, Arizona Public Safety Program Manager with the Arizona Department of Administration; Janet Major, Associate Director for Education & Facilities with the Arizona Telemedicine Program; others, Sofia Maberry, Project Manager, Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction, Arizona Department of Education
- Arizona Telehealth Broadband Action Team (BAT) Tuesday, May 5, 2020, 2:00-3:00 pm. See attached file below
- Mobilizing The Subcommittee Teams Update – Cory and Terence
- Microsoft Teams Training Webinar. View Here
- Survey and Champions
- Time Line – 30, 60 and 90 days
- Engagement with others-newsletter, webinar, invites to participate in Task Force & Subcommittees - Online sign-up and input
- Announcements
- Sponsorships
Updates and Resources
- Arizona Department Of Education School Technology Survey - For Use Only By School Districts: 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 below
- 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
| Commerce Authority Broadband COVID Resources2020.pdf |
| AZ Telehealth BAT May 2020 Agenda.pdf |