SHLB's Advocacy Highlights: FCC, NTIA, Federal and State Updates
Dear Reader,
Here at SHLB, things have been heating up this summer. The FCC has endorsed numerous SHLB recommendations in the Tribal E-rate Simplification Order and embraced SHLB's proposed enhancements to the Broadband Labeling rules. ?
SHLB also achieved significant milestones in advocating for digital accessibility.
In a collaborative effort, 49 SHLB members signed a letter urging the NTIA to consider eliminating or waiving the letter of credit requirement for BEAD. And, SHLB continues to advocate for anchor institutions, submitting comments in the Senate Task Force's USF reform initiatives.
States are also making remarkable progress, unveiling their 5-year BEAD plans. Keeping a close watch, our research fellow, Emily Rubin, has been documenting the varied definitions of anchor institutions across states. ?
Speaking of states, we had a wonderful opportunity to host a reception for state broadband leaders in Indianapolis this month. The evening was filled with meaningful conversations and delightful food and drinks! You can find some photos from the event below.
Thank you for reading,?
The SHLB Team
SHLB Indianapolis State Broadband Leaders Reception
SHLB partnered with NTIA to gather?over 150 state broadband leaders?and other SHLB members and friends from across the US in the beautiful Artsgarden in the center of Indianapolis.?
States play a vital role in ensuring anchor institutions - such as libraries, hospitals, schools, and other public gathering spaces -?receive the necessary funding and resources to foster?reliable, high speed and affordable community connectivity.
Moreover, we extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, who continue to exemplify their commitment as patrons of our mission: to bridge the digital divide, one anchor institution at a time.
AnchorNets 2023 is around the corner
The momentum continues to build as we draw nearer to the highly anticipated broadband conference of the year, AnchorNets 2023, on Oct 10-12 in Crystal City, VA. Check out the?agenda at a glance for more information.
The program includes an array of enriching experiences, including keynote addresses by policy leaders,?school and library leaders showcasing their innovative work, and the latest developments on federal and state funding programs.
Secure your spot now!
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Who's SHLB (SHELL-Bee)?
And if you want to get to know the people behind SHLB, take a look at their intro videos:
As always, we are thankful to all of you for playing a vital role in bringing the SHLB mission to life.
Policy Bytes
Watch the August Webinar
Cybersecurity is a critical issue for K-12 education. Many schools lack the resources to hire full-time cybersecurity experts, so managed services can be a viable alternative. Learn more from Keith Krueger and Julia Fallon in this Webinar.
Member News
SETDA?received a grant from Microsoft for its Cybersecurity and Privacy Collaborative, a group of state ed-tech leaders and corporate members who work on cybersecurity issues for K-12 education. The grant will help the Collaborative create cybersecurity resources for small, rural, and under-resourced districts. These resources will be added to SETDA’s Cybersecurity and Privacy Collection OER Commons, an online repository of open educational resources.
The New York State Library engaged the services of technology expert Carson Block Consulting Inc. to conduct a broadband infrastructure needs and technology assessment pilot project for public libraries. The final project report,?Pilot Broadband Evaluation Process for the New York State Library,?was shared with the 23 public library systems and the participating pilot libraries to help advance digital equity in the state. The Kansas Office of Broadband Development released its?Five-Year Action Plan?on Thursday, August 24. Their?Initial Proposal Volume 1, including our?CAI list, is out for public comment until early September, and they invite your feedback. City Utilities, a client of The Broadband Group, has completed the?Fiber Expansion Project,? building a citywide fiber optic network in Springfield, MO. The network provides fast Internet services to the community through Brightspeed, the anchor tenant. The project was completed ahead of schedule and has made Springfield the top city for remote workers in the nation. The network also benefits City Utilities by upgrading its infrastructure - watch the explainer video. ?
Merit’s Technology Impact Research marks one year of advancing technology and digital equity. The department has co-authored the?Digital Opportunities Compass: Metrics to Monitor, Evaluate, and Guide Broadband and Digital Equity Policy, co-managed a pilot program on network quality measurement, and planned a pilot project on AI use and technology governance in education.?Dr. Dagg, the department head, is a Benton Fellow studying community broadband. Contact [email protected]?to collaborate. ?
Quantum Internet & Telephone upgraded the Internet service for a student housing campus in Maryland by using Positron G.hn technology. This technology allowed them to deliver up to 1 Gbps of bandwidth over the existing copper wiring without any rewiring or construction disruption. This increased the Internet speed for each student by 500%, improving their online experience.