This presentation presented by BroadBand USA and the International City/County Management Association Conference focuses on the economic impact of broadband on rural communities.

1. Katherine Bates, Manager of Outreach
BroadbandUSA
October 22, 2017
San Antonio, TX
ICMA Smart Communities Task Force

2. 1
National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA)
• NTIA is the Executive Branch agency in the U.S. Department of
Commerce that is principally responsible for advising the President on
telecommunications and information policy issues
• NTIA's programs and policymaking focus largely on:
– Expanding broadband Internet
access and adoption in America,
– Expanding the use of spectrum by
all users, and
– Ensuring that the Internet remains an
engine for continued innovation and
economic growth.

3. 2
Efforts to expand broadband and digital inclusion are
helping but the digital divide still persists
10% of all Americans (34 million people) and 39% of rural
Americans (23 million people) lack access to broadband speeds
Approximately 21 million children do not have the bandwidth
needed for digital learning
34% of non-metro healthcare facilities lack sufficient broadband
connectivity for electronic medical records and information exchange
42% percent of public libraries have 10 Mbps or slower
connections

4. 3
Communities face a number of challenges to their
broadband efforts:
Exploring funding options and potential partnerships
Identifying key issues, options and opportunities to begin
stakeholder outreach and broadband planning
Communicating why broadband is important to residents

5. 4
NTIA’s BroadbandUSA launched BroadbandUSA to:
• Arm stakeholders and community
leaders with information to make the
right decisions
• Develop guidance for pursuing
solutions to broadband challenges.
• Convene and facilitate the right
conversations with the right people
to increase project success

6. 5
Our resources help local leaders learn, share and
implement the benefits of community connectivity

7. 6
BroadbandUSA: Technical Assistance
90% of technical assistance (TA) requests involve broadband planning
62% involve questions related to funding
RFP Development/Review, Asset Inventory,
Digital Inclusion Surveys
Planning
Funding
Partnership Facilitation, Funding Option
Assessments
Implementation
Network Design, Regulatory Approvals,
Interconnection, Permitting

8. 7
Global Cities Team Challenge (GCTC)
• GCTC brings together experts and practitioners to share knowledge
and best practices on smart community technologies
• Led by National Institute of Standards and Technology, in partnership
with the National Science Foundation, International Trade
Administration and NTIA and more
• BBUSA facilitated the Public Wi-fi SuperCluster, focusing on tactical
planning and advice related to building public Wi-fi spaces—
particularly in large, outdoor spaces
• BBUSA is facilitating Agriculture/Rural Supercluster, focusing on
helping farmers use broadband-related technology to optimize
operations and supporting rural communities to close the digital
divide, improve healthcare and spur economic development
• https://pages.nist.gov/GCTC/ for more information

9. 8
Wireless (Public Wi-Fi) SuperCluster
Goals
• Conduct Multi-City Deployments
• Convene Workshop of Stakeholders
• Develop Implementation Blueprint
Multiple
Stakeholders
• Local, State and Tribal Governments
• Federal Agencies
• Businesses and private sector interests
• Universities
Resources
• Implementation Blueprint Available
Technical Assistance on Public Wi-Fi
• Webinars and Resources

10. 9
Agriculture and Rural SuperCluster
Goals
• Develop the SuperCluster
• Conduct Multi-type Deployments
• Convene Workshop of Stakeholders
• Develop Case Studies Blueprint
Multiple
Stakeholders
• Farmers and Agriculture Stakeholders
• Local, State and Tribal Governments
• Federal Agencies
• Businesses and Private Sector Interests
• Universities
Resources
• To participate join the Google group
• Webinar on October 26: register here

11. 10
BroadbandUSA is available to help communities with
their broadband access and digital inclusion efforts
Publications:
• Smart Cities Toolkit
• Federal Funding
Guide
• Public-Private
Partnerships Guide
• Community
Broadband
Roadmap Toolkit
For General Information:
202-482-2048
http://www.ntia.doc.gov/broadbandusa
To Join our Mailing List:
broadbandusa@ntia.doc.gov
To Discuss Collaboration or Request Support:
KBates@ntia.doc.gov and JRice@ntia.doc.gov