Broadband.io Community’s Post

As a proud sponsor, GovSmart supports the ID Program at The Haven in Charlottesville, a volunteer-run initiative aiding community members facing homelessness, housing instability, or poverty in obtaining vital documents like birth certificates and government-issued IDs. These documents are essential for accessing housing, jobs, healthcare, and other critical services. The ID program offers financial assistance, expertise in the process, troubleshooting, and transportation to the DMV, crucial in helping individuals secure these necessary papers. Thanks to GovSmart's continuous backing, the program has successfully assisted 734 individuals from October 2020 to late 2025 in acquiring birth certificates and/or IDs. This support has been instrumental in empowering community members to move towards stable housing, access medical care, seek employment opportunities, and more. In the past 12 months, from September 1, 2023, to August 30, 2024, the program has served 186 individuals, further demonstrating the impactful and ongoing assistance provided by GovSmart to The Haven's ID Program. This collaboration remains vital in ensuring that our neighbors have the essential documentation required to enhance their quality of life and access crucial services.

As a cooperative broadband service provider, United Fiber is demonstrating how much they truly care about their community by deploying Bark social media monitoring.📱 With this tool, United Fiber is enabling their cooperative members (as well as their own employees) to keep kids safer from digital dangers. Thanks to their investment in the Calix platform and Calix “Smart Start” program, United Fiber executed this launch in less than two months. “The introduction of Bark to our members and subscribers is a pivotal contribution to our impact on the community,” said Jim Bagley, chief executive officer at United Fiber. “This isn’t about financial gain; it’s about making a meaningful difference in our communities.” United Fiber expects to grow 50 percent in the next 18 months, which will deepen the impact of Bark. What do you think about leading with community values and making a difference? Share your thoughts below👇 🔗https://ow.ly/ug3x30sBufs #ManagedServices #OnlineSafety #CustomerSuccess

Need help with your BEAD applications?

In the season of feel-good promises by candidates for public office, remember that most solutions to problems will come from people like you. When I think of the many challenges that come with aging, I see no track record of consistent action by federal or state government officials to improve the lives of older Americans. More often, I see them deliberately ducking the issues. But locally (as in, within walking distance from my house), I see private organizations taking real action that will have a huge impact. Central Penn College and LeadingAge PA are teaming up to prepare professionals to work effectively in long-term care settings. This is how challenges will be overcome. This is how the quality of life for older people will be enhanced. If you have ideas to make life better for a growing population, run with it. Find your community partners. It's on us. https://lnkd.in/ecT4ih-N

This week’s BEAD updates include the prequalification phase opening for Vermont on 11/5/2024. Why does BEAD (Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment) matter? Broadband and online services are essential for our daily lives, allowing us to access education, healthcare, work, connect with each other, and access critical services. According to the US Census Bureau and the World Economic forum some underserved populations lacking broadband equity affect 43% of low-income families, 13.23% of tribal residents, and 16.9 million school-aged children. Many state, territorial, Tribal, municipal, and local governments have launched programs to promote digital equity among covered populations. This presents a unique opportunity for governments to prioritize and allocate resources to expand broadband access and digital inclusion. CCI Systems can assist you in planning and preparing your applications, ensuring that all necessary documentation and project plans are ready for submission. CCI Systems can help you every step of the way from compliance, to design, to build out, to maintaining the network post-construction. Your end-to-end solution partner for BEAD: CCI Systems - Let’s Build the Future Together! Check our BEAD Progress Tracker at: https://hubs.li/Q02WCqGC0 #BuildTheFutureWithUs #BEADGrants #CommunityDevelopment #TelecomPartners #FiberOptics #FiberNetwork #Infrastructure #ConnectivityMatters #DigitalTransformation

Our Best Starts for Kids community-designed approach was a key part of this report by First Focus on Children and Start Early. Our Home-Based Services partners joined listening sessions back in 2022 to share insights, and their input was unvaluable. The report, "Community-Based Home Visiting: Fidelity to Families, Commitment to Outcomes," dives into the strengths and challenges of community-based home visiting models. It emphasizes the need for culturally responsive and family-centered approaches. https://lnkd.in/gJByNshD

It is great to see a growing number of success stories like Macon County, that outline the benefits and impact of community broadband networks, and the partners that make it possible! "Where networks remain in private hands, such agreements help protect community interests, providing accountability to, for example, ensure rates stay affordable and the ISPs build in the neighborhoods they say they will. The new fiber network in Macon County is already proving to be a game-changing investment for the community. Last month, auto parts maker Samkee opened a new factory in Tuskegee, part of a $128 million investment that was contingent on high-speed internet being available. Improved connectivity has also enabled a new telehealth facility at Tuskegee University. Macon County is just one of hundreds of communities across the country showing how broadband can be built differently, finding creative solutions to expand internet access while delivering benefits for residents — whether that’s by reinvesting revenues to help more people get online, providing free service for families of school aged children, or, like Macon County, strategically leveraging networks for economic development. What’s more, these community-focused ISPs frequently provide better, cheaper, faster service than traditional providers." The team at ECC Technologies, Inc. are working diligently to bring quality connectivity to more communities through locally owned networks. There are still far to many communities that are in need of good internet options, that are not going to be solved through the upcoming BEAD funding efforts. If this is your community, reach out so we can talk about your options! Keep up the great work!! Connect Humanity, Jochai Ben-Avie, Brian Snider Rural LISC, Christa Wagner Vinson https://lnkd.in/etdZHEjJ

The Washington State Department of Commerce is initiating this Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to solicit proposals from qualified entities to distribute assistive technology and digital literacy skills training to individuals with disabilities. A total of $4.925 million is available and applicants must apply for at least $1.5 million in funding. The goal of this project is to promote equal access to technology and digital inclusion to online education, employment, and community life for individuals with disabilities. The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Coronavirus State & Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program provided this funding to address the negative economic impacts of the public health emergency. This project prioritizes people living in counties with a fifteen percent or higher population of individuals with disabilities as identified in the Washington State Digital Equity Dashboard. Learn more at: https://lnkd.in/g2fSaeip 

As a cooperative broadband service provider, United Fiber is demonstrating how much they truly care about their community by deploying Bark social media monitoring.📱 With this tool, United Fiber is enabling their cooperative members (as well as their own employees) to keep kids safer from digital dangers. Thanks to their investment in the Calix platform and Calix “Smart Start” program, United Fiber executed this launch in less than two months. “The introduction of Bark to our members and subscribers is a pivotal contribution to our impact on the community,” said Jim Bagley, chief executive officer at United Fiber. “This isn’t about financial gain; it’s about making a meaningful difference in our communities.” United Fiber expects to grow 50 percent in the next 18 months, which will deepen the impact of Bark. What do you think about leading with community values and making a difference? Share your thoughts below👇 🔗https://ow.ly/S0oX30sC4lQ #ManagedServices #OnlineSafety #CustomerSuccess

Today, the CPUC approved $91 million in grants for last mile broadband projects as part of the $2 billion Last Mile Federal Funding Account Grant Program, which expands broadband internet access for underserved and unserved communities across California. This continues a rolling process of awards and recommendations, highlighting the state’s commitment to bridging the digital divide through Broadband For All.     Separately, the CPUC approved grant funding of up to $279,415 from the California Advanced Services Fund Broadband Public Housing Account to bring free internet access to those who do not already have access in public housing in Corte Madera and San Jose.     Many Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant awardees are creating new networks, connecting the next generation to education, improving access to healthcare, and empowering rural communities for economic development and emergency connectivity. Combined, these proposed projects will serve predominantly disadvantaged and low-income communities across the state.    Today’s Last Mile Federal Funding Account grant awardees include $91 million for Last Mile Federal Funding Account in Marin, Mendocino, San Benito, Santa Cruz, and Sutter counties benefitting an estimated 32,000 Californians. The awards include grants to City of Ukiah, City of Fort Bragg, Comcast, Hankins Information Technology, Marin County, Round Valley Indian Tribe, and Surfnet.    Pictured below: Deputy Director, Broadband, Maria Isabel Ellis (Restrepo Florez), presenting a staff resolution on last-mile grants for Commission vote today in Sacramento.