How close is the US to universal broadband?

Brookings

Thursday, April 21, 2022 - 10:00am to 11:00am
Time Zone: 
EST
Virtual Event

As the United States works to advance high-speed broadband as part of the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, what is the status, and how are state and local communities being activated to support deployment and digital inclusion activities? The National Telecommunications Information Administration in the U.S. Department of Commerce leads the allocation of $45 billion of the $65 billion federal appropriation, and has worked with governors, and state broadband offices to draft plans for digital allotments, and frameworks for oversight of eligible entities. Simultaneously, municipal, and national coalitions are coalescing around digital inclusion and equity goals.

An expert panel will discuss how states, municipalities, national coalitions, and community-based organizations are working on short- and long-term broadband goals, and how they are addressing roadblocks to closer broadband availability for U.S. residents in urban, rural, and tribal communities.

Viewers can submit questions for speakers by emailing events@brookings.edu or via Twitter at @BrookingsGov by using #UniversalBroadband.

Fireside chat

MODERATOR

Nicol Turner Lee

Senior Fellow - Governance Studies 

Director - Center for Technology Innovation

@nturnerlee

Alan Davidson

Assistant Secretary, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) - U.S. Department of Commerce

DavidsonNTIA

 

Panel

MODERATOR

Nicol Turner Lee

Senior Fellow - Governance Studies 

Director - Center for Technology Innovation

@nturnerlee

Fallon Wilson

Co-Founder - #BlackTechFutures Research Institute

SistahWilson

Matt Rantanen

Director of Technology - Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association (SCTCA)

Peggy Schaffer

Executive Director - ConnectME

connectmaine

Diane Wells

Deputy Director - Minnesota Office of Broadband Development