Contents -  Update February 2020

Show Me The Money! 
Looking for funding for broadband for your community? Here's what you will find in this Broadband Update:
  • About the Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network
  • A calendar of webinars and workshops, as well as resources, contacts and funding program announcements to enable you to apply for millions of dollars of federal and state rural broadband funding including:
          - USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grants
          - USDA Broadband ReConnect Program Loans and Grants
          - Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grants and Smart Highway Corridors Funding
          - New FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund
  • Announcements of personal achievements, federal and state grant awards, a job opportunity, Arizona technology legislative priorities, and the State Broadband Director 
News To Share?
Have Broadband related news or announcements to share?
Send articles to: 
​Steve Peters
​AZBSN Coordinator​aticarizona@gmail.com 

Events

  • February 12 Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council Board Meeting. Open To Public
  • February 5 or 7 USDA Rural Broadband ReConnect Program Webinar: The Application System
  • February 10: WhatNXT Summit, Tucson: Google's Vint Cerf, Internet Pioneer
  • February 11: USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) and Broadband ReConnect Program Grant Funding Webinar​
  • ​February 12-13 (Colorado) or 19-20 (Georgia): USDA Broadband ReConnect Program Technical Workshops
  • February 16-19: NTCA RTIME Rural Broadband Conference 2/16-19/20
Vertical Divider
  • ​February 19-21: Meeting of the Minds Annual Summit: Challenges facing the future of smart and sustainable cities
  • February 27: Arizona Blockchain Initiative Free Meetup: Broadband and Connectivity in Rural and Urban Areas
  • March 11: Big Data Southwest’s National Data Center & Smart Cities Summit 
  • May 3-5: American Telemedicine Association (ATA) Telehealth Innovation & Networking

AZBSN - Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network

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You may know that ATIC, the Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council, 
​and GAZEL, the Greater Arizona Educational Leadership organization are leading the development and coordination of AZBSN. We are collaborating with our many partners such as the Arizona Technology In Education Association, the Arizona State Library, the Arizona Telemedicine Program, the Arizona Commerce Authority, the Sun Corridor Network, as well as other government, education, nonprofit organizations and technology and telecom providers.
Steve Peters
AZBSN Coordinator
​520-321-1309 aticarizona@gmail.com ​
​AZBSN is facilitating collaboration, coordination, information sharing and communication among key public, private and nonprofit stakeholders committed to accelerating deployment of affordable and reliable Broadband Internet access in communities throughout Arizona, and to enable those communities to utilize those connections to: support 21st Century education, create jobs and support economic development; train a 21st century workforce; enhance public safety and health care and; connect their citizens to the world. Participation will be open to all interested parties. The Network may lead to collaborative projects, development of joint grant applications, sharing of funding and other resources, aggregation of demand at the state and local level, policy discussions, etc. 
Get the Details and Sign-up Here

USDA and Arizona Broadband Funding Webinars

Show me The Money!

Want to learn about how to apply for for USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT), and USDA Broadband ReConnect Program Funding. See 2 webinar opportunities below. Show Me The Money!
USDA Rural Broadband ReConnect Program Webinar: The Application System
  • Wednesday, February 5, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST
  • Friday, February 7, 2020 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. EST           
Interested in learning more about our Rural Development Rural Broadband ReConnect Program?  USDA will host a new webinar covering application system for the second funding opportunity which opened on January 31. USDA staff and representatives will provide a high-level walk through of the online application system.
 We recommend you register early for and run a system check to ensure quick access on the day of the webinar. We will cover the same materials on both dates.
 Register now for application system webinar: See info below about the ReConnect Program
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Broadband Grant Funding Webinar - February 11, 2020
USDA Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) and
Broadband ReConnect Program

Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
February 11, 2020
12:00 pm – 1:00 pm MST
  • USDA’s Rural Utilities Services Division Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT)
  • USDA’s Broadband ReConnect Program
Register: https://telemedicine.arizona.edu/webinar
USDA Grant Webinar Feb 11 2020.pdf
File Size: 71 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File
Janet Major
​Associate Director, Education & Facilities, Arizona Telemedicine Program, Distance Learning Outreach, Southwest Telehealth Resource Center
​520-626-0131 JMajor@telemedicine.arizona.edu
www.telemedicine.arizona.edu 
​www.southwesttrc.org
 The USDA’s Rural Utilities Services Division is in the process of announcing the opening of two technology and broadband focused grant programs benefiting rural and underserved communities. Attend this webinar to learn about these grant opportunities and tips and tricks to securing this funding. Grant consulting firm, Learn Design Apply Inc., in partnership with the Southwest Telehealth Resource Center, are providing this informational webinar to help spread the word and offer guidance about these important programs.
 
About These Grants: The RUS Distance Learning & Telemedicine (DLT) Grant is arguably one of the most popular and impactful grant programs. This unique grant is rumored to provide up to $1 Million in federal funds per application in this funding cycle and aims to fund Distance Learning and Telemedicine initiatives targeted at rural communities. The USDA’s Broadband ReConnect Program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. It opens on 1/31/20 with a grant deadline of 3/15/20. For 2020, USDA will make available up to $200 million for 100% grant applications.  The maximum amount that can be requested in an application is $25,000,000. There is also up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans.

  • Cheryl Henshaw President, Learn, Design, Apply Inc.: Cheryl is founder and President of grants consulting company, Learn Design Apply, Inc. She has spent the last eighteen years working with global technology leaders, developing and implementing grant support programs. Working with Non-Profit, For- Profit and State/Local organizations alike, Cheryl and her team of grant managers have assisted in the development of funding strategies, provided support throughout the spectrum of the grant application process and guided awardees through post funding activities. Cheryl’s team specializes in Education, Healthcare, Judicial/Corrections and First Responder grants. This focused support has resulted in over a hundred million dollars in grant funding to date, and has enabled organizations across the U.S. to realize their vision, enhancing and expanding their programs.
  • Dana Satterwhite: Regional Grants Manager, West Territory, Learn, Design, Apply Inc: Dana has worked in the video conferencing field for 10 years and has always specialized in finding funding for technology initiatives. Prior to working with the LDA Grants team, Dana worked with the Tandberg and Cisco Grants teams. She is passionate about working with her customers to find the best possible funding opportunities for them. In addition to her experience with grant funding, Dana also spent time working at Facebook on the marketing team managing large-scale events for Facebook’s clients. Dana lives with her family in Seattle, WA where she attended the University of Washington and received her Bachelors of Arts in English.
Register: https://telemedicine.arizona.edu/webinar
USDA Broadband ReConnect Program Technical Workshops 
Interested in applying for ReConnect Funding? These workshops will provide attendees with an understanding of the program and application requirements. Topics covered include program eligibility, evaluation criteria, application requirements, compliance, post-award reporting and more. 
ReConnect Denver, Colorado - February 12 - 13, 2020
The Westin Denver Downtown Register Now
ReConnect Atlanta, Georgia - February 19 - 20, 2020
InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta - Register Now
See Events Page for most recent ReConnect events schedule
USDA December 30, 2019 ReConnect  Funding Webinar Video
On December 30 USDA presented a webinar providing an overview of the ReConnect grant program.
​ See that webinar here. FYI you will need to create an account to view.
AZBSN Past Federal and State Funding Webinars
On December 13, 2019 and January 23, 2020 the Arizona Broadband Stakeholder Network provided webinars regarding USDA Reconnect Program Grants, and the State of Arizona Broadband Development Grants. See the following links for information about presenters, download their presentations, and view the recorded webinar videos:

Arizona Broadband News

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Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA) Broadband Grants,
and State Broadband Director

The ACA is working to expand the state's digital infrastructure statewide to improve the economy and quality of life of today’s Arizonans.

​Jeff Sobotka, State Broadband Director, Arizona Commerce Authority
You may already know that Jeff Sobotka was recently appointed Vice President and State Broadband Director with the Arizona Commerce Authority. Jeff is responsible for strategically managing relationships with state government agencies, local leaders, telecommunications carriers, federal communications policymakers, and nonprofits to advance the expansion of Broadband statewide. Jeff is coordinating broadband development activities in partnership with local communities, state and local government stakeholders, and the private sector to streamline regulatory hurdles and maximizes strategic broadband funding for Arizona. 
Jeff Sobotka, State Broadband Director
Arizona Commerce Authority
JeffS@azcommerce.com
602-845-1287
​Mobile : 602-432-0004
ACA Website for details 
Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grants
In 2019 Arizona allocated $3 million  to expand broadband services in underserved rural areas across the state. The Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grants will be used to support planning and deployment, enabling Arizona communities to more easily access broadband services at speeds and prices equal to national averages in rural areas, and provide consistent and reliable service. Grants were awarded in 2 categories: RBDG-A Shovel-ready projects to immediately improve broadband infrastructure, with a maximum award of $1,000,000 per project and: RBDG-B Broadband planning activities for projects that are not shovel ready, with a maximum award of $50,000 per project.

RBDG-A recipients included:
  • Sparklight, formerly known as Cable One, will provide fiber to approximately 400 business customers in Payson, Star Valley and Tonto Apache Tribe that has symmetrical service up to 2 Gbps.
  • Mohave Electric Coop will provide high-speed broadband service at speeds up to 10 Gbps symmetrical to its 35,000 members. The project will serve Bullhead City, Fort Mohave and Mohave Valley.
  • Commnet Wireless will create a new fiber-optic middle mile to Page to serve 310 small businesses and 1,066 households within the area.
RBDG-B recipients included: 
  • Coconino County
  • Gila County
  • Town of Springerville
  • City of St. Johns
See ACA Website for details 

Governor's Proposal 2020 ​Arizona Rural Broadband Development Grants and Smart Highway Corridors Funding
Governor Ducey’s has proposed major new investments in Rural Broadband in Arizona that includes $10 million in Rural Broadband Development Grants and nearly $50 million in funding for Smart Highway Corridors. Funding for Smart Highway Corridors will enable the Arizona Department of Transportation to install over 500 miles of broadband conduit and fiber optic cable along designated highway segments throughout rural areas of the state. The new corridors will improve highway safety while providing future broadband capacity for smart infrastructure projects in Arizona's rural and tribal areas. Designated areas for investment include: 
  • Interstate 7 between Sunset Point and Flagstaff
  • Interstate 40 between the Arizona-New Mexico and Arizona-California borders
  • ​Interstate 19 between Tucson and Nogales. 
USDA Invests $1.6 Million in Broadband for Rural Arizona Communities: WeCom/Peach Springs Arizona
USDA has invested $1.6 million in a high-speed broadband infrastructure project that will create or improve rural e-Connectivity for 1,492 rural households, 27 pre-subscribed businesses, six educational facilities, four pre-subscribed farms, three critical community facilities and a health care center. This is one of many funding announcements in the first round of USDA’s ReConnect Pilot Program investments. Through USDA’s ReConnect Program, more than 1,400 Arizonians living in rural communities will get access to the latest broadband technology that will connect them to opportunities in education, health care and economic development. Wecom Inc. will use a $1.6 million ReConnect Pilot Program grant to construct a Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) and hybrid Fiber-to-the-Node (FTTN) fixed wireless system that is expected to connect 1,492 households in Peach Springs, many belonging to members of the Hualapai Tribe, and the surrounding area to high-speed internet.
Paul Fleming
COO & VP of Wecom Inc. and Data-Max Wireless
 928.377.5073 paul@wecominc.com  wecominc.com/datamaxwireless.com
Congratulations to Janet Major, President, United States Distance Learning Association
Janet was recently elected President of USDLA, the United States Distance Learning Association. You may know that Janet, a member of the AZBSN Leadership Team, is the Associate Director for Education & Facilities for the Arizona Telemedicine Program at the University Of Arizona. The United States Distance Learning Association was the first nonprofit distance learning association in the United States to support distance learning research, development and praxis across the complete arena of education, training and communications. The learning communities that USDLA addresses are: pre K-12, higher education, continuing education, corporate training, military and government training, home schooling and telehealth. In addition, USDLA is also focused on national and international technology-based distance learning.

​Contact Janet 520-626-0131 or JMajor@telemedicine.arizona.edu
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Arizona Technology Council Legislative Priorities in 2020 Public Policy Guide
The top priorities for this year include providing new sources for risk capital to encourage entrepreneurship, extending the Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit and Small Business Capital Investment Incentive program, supporting science and technology job creation and retention, and attracting the STEM talent required to compete in a global innovation economy. Read more about these key priorities that aim to accelerate growth

Federal Funding Opportunities

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USDA's ReConnect Loan and Grant Program
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's innovative program furnishes loans and grants to provide funds for the costs of construction, improvement, or acquisition of facilities and equipment needed to provide broadband service in eligible rural areas. The ReConnect Program offers unique federal financing and funding options in the form of loans, grants, and loan/grant combinations to facilitate broadband deployment in areas of rural America that don’t currently have sufficient access to broadband, defined by the law as 10 Mbps (megabits per second) downstream and 1 Mbps upstream. For 2020 USDA will make up to $200 million for grants, up to $200 million for 50/50 grant/loan combinations, and up to $200 million for low-interest loans.

Applications for this new round of funding will be accepted beginning January 31, 2020. All applications will be due no later than March 16, 2020. 
For additional details see USDA web site
Brian Smith General Field Representative
Arizona / New Mexico - Telecommunications Program
Rural Development U.S. Department of Agriculture
brian.smith1@usda.gov
623-293-0913
FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF)
FCC Commits $20.4 billion to help close the rural digital divide
On January 30, 2020 the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced the establishment of the  Rural Digital Opportunity Fund. Over the next 10 years, the FCC  will provide $20.4 billion to provide to finance up to gigabit speed broadband networks to underserved rural communities. In the first phase, beginning later this year, up to $16 billion will be available to areas that are "wholly unserved." It will demand broadband speeds of at least 25 Mbps, and the funding will be made available through reverse-auction, a practice meant to drive competition. An estimated six million rural homes and businesses could be eligible. In Phase two the remaining $4.4 billion will be available to partially served areas, and unserved areas not funded in Phase 1. This funding  is in addition to a $9 billion fund for rural 5G connectivity that the FCC announced last month. Last year, it also approved another $137 million to expand rural broadband access to 36,579 homes and businesses over the next decade. RDOF will provide about 24% more money than the Connect America CAF II Fund. The RDOF has been designed to help independent broadband providers, not just the incumbents. The funding will leverage the more precise broadband maps developed as part of the FCC's Digital Opportunity Data Collection, an effort that was meant to address concerns about misleading coverage maps. Both RDOF and Connect America CAF II Fund are supported by the Universal Service Fund.
See the attached file for additional details

See National Law Review web site for summary

FCC Rural Digital Opportunity Fund.pdf
File Size: 158 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Events

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Arizona Telecommunications and Information Council
Board Meetings Open To Public

Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Board Meeting​
12:00 - 2:00 PM
Library Services Center, ​1919 W. Jefferson St., Phoenix
For agenda, location and conferencing instructions 
The Arizona Telecommunications & Information Council holds monthly Board meetings that engage broadband stakeholders in discussion and action to move Arizona broadband issues and solutions forward. Board meetings are open to all interested parties. ATIC Board meets over lunch on the second Wednesday’s of the month at the State Capitol or via remote conferencing from Noon-2:00 PM.
Future 2020 meetings are scheduled for February 12, March 11, April 8, 2020, May 13, and June 10.

​Contact Mark Goldstein,  602-470-0389, ​markg@researchedge.com
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Google's Vint Cerf // Internet Pioneer
February 10, 2020 | Tucson, Arizona
2:00 PM • WhatNXT in Technology
6:00 PM • WhatNXT in Society

​IEEE Tucson and Next Tucson are proud to partner together in co-hosting Dr. Vinton Cerf to Tucson and the University of Arizona at the inaugural WhatNXT Summit in Tucson, Arizona.
"FATHER OF THE INTERNET"
Vint Cerf, the global icon, thought leader and Internet pioneer, is vice president and Chief Internet Evangelist for Google. Widely known as one of the "Fathers of the Internet," Cerf is the co-designer of the TCP/IP protocols and the architecture of the Internet.
FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY AND SOCIETY
At the WhatNXT Summit, join Vint Cerf during two sessions as we discuss a wide range of issues across, both the opportunities created with advanced technologies and the challenges we face as a society in adapting to these changes.
  • TECHNOLOGY: Quantum computing, Cyber-security, Artificial Intelligence, Ethics of coding/technology  
  • SOCIETY: The human impact of automation, Developing a "People-Centered Internet", Age of Accelerations / 4th Industrial Revolution, Inclusion including Tribal Connectivity, Challenges and Opportunities of Innovation
Information and Tickets
For Discount Enter Code: "WhatNXT-NextTucson" 
Meeting of the Minds Annual Summit
Challenges Facing the Future of Smart and Sustainable Cities
February 19-21, 2020
Renaissance Phoenix Downtown Hotel

Each year, 425+ urban practitioners convene at the Meeting of the Minds Annual Summit to showcase recent successes and to discuss the ongoing challenges facing the future of smart and sustainable cities. What sets this event apart from others is the inimitable list of speakers and attendees — city leaders, innovators, providers, and practitioners from across sectors and silos who meet at this unique event to share best practices, lessons learned, and new solutions for a sustainable urban future.
Attending the Meeting of the Minds Annual Summit is a one-stop opportunity for thought leaders seeking cross-disciplinary strategies and partnerships that deliver scalable, transferable, and equitable solutions for cities and regions. We encourage you to join this cross-sectoral group of VIPs from city agencies, transportation authorities, economic development agencies, utilities, corporations, start-ups, foundations, universities, and non-profits.
​
Details & registration at https://meetingoftheminds.org/events/motm2020
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Blockchain Initiative Free February Meetup
Broadband and Connectivity in Rural and Urban Areas
Thursday, February 27, 2020
5:30 PM 8:00 PM  Galvanize 515 E Grant St., Suite 150 Phoenix

Let's talk about the state of connectivity and internet access in Arizona!
Broadband and Connectivity in Rural and Urban Areas. Let's talk about the state of connectivity and internet access in Arizona! Are all Arizonans connected to the internet? We’ll discover the different technologies that are available in Arizona, discuss the state of connectivity, and what’s being done to bring internet access to all communities.

We're a nonprofit that works to develop programs to get Arizonans from underserved communities into careers in technology, by delivering access to the training they need -through mesh networks in both urban and rural areas.
Who should join?Anyone interested in bridging the Digital Divide, meeting fellow connectivity enthusiasts, and meeting professionals from the networks and broadband industries. You may also become a volunteer or a mentor!
What we'll do... We will have a mix of talks, demonstration labs, and panels; let's share some pizza and network!
Details
Big Data Southwest National DataCenter & SmartCity Infrastructure Summit 
March 11th
Arizona Grand Resort, Phoenix Arizona
Building on both the data center and smart city/region momentum in the State, USDC20 will be offering a program with exemplary speakers who will be joined by technology, business, and government leaders from some of the most innovative, disruptive companies and organizations in the world. Learn, engage & network in a best in class collaborative environment to maximize the creation of STEMJobs & promote global sustainability! Use discount code:
​Information and Registration
Use MegaMark20 for reduced rate.
American Telemedicine Association (ATA)
ATA20  Telehealth Innovation & Networking Event
May 3-5 in Phoenix
ATA2020 is the world’s largest telehealth innovation and networking event. It’s where providers, technology developers, business professionals and leaders from across the healthcare sector come together to have an in-depth, thoughtful, critical discussion about the future of health. ATA2020 brings you a 3-day, multi-track expedition to the edge of digital, virtual and tele-health as we imagine it. Experience firsthand the largest platform for the exchange of ideas, networking and data-driven solutions. Main programming will be packed with over 50 sessions and 200 speakers, immersive deep-dive sessions for attendees to explore key topics in a workshop setting, two stages on the exhibit floor featuring presentations from some of the most innovative companies and researchers and several networking opportunities to foster collaborations onsite and build lasting partnerships.

Details & registration at https://legacy.americantelemed.org/

Announcements

Job Posting Vice President, Connect K-12, EducationSuperHighway/Connected Nation 
For the past several years EducationSuperHighway has been supporting  eRate initiatives in Arizona Schools and Libraries. Connected Nation was selected by EducationSuperHighway to carry forward its important work after it sunsets later this year.  As part of that transition, they will be hiring a VP-level program lead to oversee Connected Nation’s K-12 school connectivity work, including advocacy, external relationships, and a new data analytics platform called “Connect K-12,” which we will be launching with EducationSuperHighway later this year.  This free online tool, which is being developed with support from Funds for Learning, will equip state and district leaders with the actionable intelligence needed to maximize E-rate funding, spur better competition, and improve access.The VP, Connect K-12 role will be a senior leadership position and is telework-eligible, so it will not be necessary for the candidate to reside in or relocate to the Washington, DC, area.  However, somewhat frequent travel will be required. 

​The job posting can be found on Indeed and LinkedIn.  To read more about the EducationSuperHighway-Connected Nation announcement, click here. 

Contact: Contact Lindsay Conrad Director, Public Policy 202.368.5782 lconrad@connectednation.org connectednation.org or Brent Legg blegg@connectednation.org
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