Image
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
Next B4DE Event: Reflect, Recharge, and Reach Forward
By
on
In the wake of the election, and with potential major changes ahead for the national "Internet For All" effort, many in the broadband world are wondering: where do we go from here?
That's what the next Building For Digital Equity (#B4DE) livestream event seeks to answer, inviting you to wear your ugly sweater, join the free virtual gathering, and dive into what a post-Biden administration broadband world may look like.
Slated for December 16, 2024 from 3 to 4:15 PM ET, the "Reflect, Recharge, Reach Forward" themed livestream promises to offer penetrating insights and practical ideas on the way forward.
Registration is now open here.
Image
Co-hosted by Institute for Local Self Reliance (ILSR) Community Broadband Networks Initiative and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA), the popular (and free) online event will feature two prominent figures in this space: NDIA Executive Director Angela Siefer and New Street Research Policy Advisor Blair Levin.
The final B4DE of the 2024, it will begin with a recap of the year and highlight some of the progress and hard-won victories connectivity champions have secured – with AMERIND's Davida Delmar taking center screen to recognize the recipients of this year's Seven Star Communities Awards, honoring the work being done to establish digital sovereignty in Indian Country.
The bulk of the event, however, will be dedicated to diving into the latest developments and forecasts of what digital inclusion practitioners can expect in 2025 as a new administration comes to power.
Siefer will focus on the Digital Equity Act, the forthcoming grants associated with that program, as well ongoing efforts to reform the Universal Service Fund (USF) and the prospects for a new Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).
Levin, a former attorney with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) who now works as a telecom policy advisor with New Street, will speak to the potential changes to the BEAD program.
As with the previous #B4DE events, next week's livestream will once again be sponsored by UTOPIA Fiber and co-hosted by NDIA’s Pamela Rosales and ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks Initiative Director Christopher Mitchell.
The livestream will be available (and later archived) on Facebook, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn with live viewer questions answered by the invited speakers and presenters. We will also be posting live from the Community Broadband Networks Bluesky page.
We recommend viewing it on YouTube where the live chat will be most engaging. Other questions can be submitted using the #B4DE hashtag on Bluesky.
Watch the previous B4DE livestream below:
Related Stories
Sherwood, Oregon Ferments ‘Future-Proof’ Fiber To Preserve and Expand Municipal Network
Sherwood Broadband recently secured a $9 million grant from the Oregon Broadband Office Broadband Deployment Program to continue expanding Sherwood’s municipally-owned network. The grant award is part of $132 million in federal Rescue Plan funds the state is doling out to an array of community-owned broadband initiatives for 16 projects across 17 counties.
Bolt Broadband One Of Many Winners In Latest Oklahoma ARPA Grants
In the Northeastern part of Oklahoma, the OBO says it has partnered with several providers on fiber expansion, including a $1.4 million grant doled out to BOLT Fiber, a subsidiary of Northeast Rural Services, which is a division of Northeast Oklahoma Electric Cooperative. The cooperative’s pricing – especially gigabit – is notably lower than what’s seen in many U.S. coastal urban markets, where a lack of competition among regional monopolies has driven up the cost of access while driving down service reach, speed, and overall quality.
New York Awards $13.1 Million In New Low Income Housing Broadband Grants
New York State officials have unveiled the first round of broadband deployment grants made possible by the state’s $100 million Affordable Housing Connectivity Program (AHCP). The plan aims to drive affordable fiber and cheap Wi-Fi to low-income state residents trapped on the wrong side of the digital divide.
North Dakota Nearing 100 Percent Fiber Connectivity
In one of the most rural parts of the U.S., North Dakota is close to being the first state in the nation where every home and business has - or will soon have - access to fiber service, the gold standard of Internet connectivity. State broadband office claims $130 million from the infrastructure law will be enough to reach all of its broadband serviceable locations with fiber.
B4DE Offers Insights For Navigating Broadband Political Divide In Nation's Capital
Digital inclusion advocates are bracing themselves for an uncertain year ahead, as the incoming GOP regime takes aim at key aspects of the Digital Equity Act and the BEAD program. New Street Research policy advisor Blair Leven and NDIA's Angela Siefer offer insights on what to expect.
Minnesota ISPs Say They May Not Participate In BEAD, Citing Restrictions
A growing number of ISPs in states like Minnesota say they may not participate in the BEAD program. A number of Minnesota ISPs are still bristling at BEAD’s requirements, according to Brent Christensen, president and CEO of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance, an organization that represents 70 ISPs across the North Star State.