A look at the major difference broadband access in rural communities can make for employers, from a human resources-oriented perspective.
The end-of-year omnibus spending package passed by Congress has considerable support for broadband projects, as our friends at the Benton Institute discuss in this article.
Through federal funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and American Rescue Plan (ARP), Appalachian states have a chance to take a big step towards affordable, quality broadband for nearly everyone. A new paper by ReImagine Appalachia details essential recommendations to maximize the impact of broadband rollout in the region.
The ACP Outreach Grant Program will provide funding to community organizations to help make sure more people know about and take advantage of a subsidy to help rural and low-income families get broadband access. This program provides a critical opportunity for the Just Transition Fund’s partners and allies, including groups not already working in the digital equity space, to build on the local relationships and trust they’ve developed to spread the word about this program.
Read more from the Benton Institute on the ongoing work focused on how communities can reach their broadband goals—and how philanthropy can help.
Lessons learned from the sixth annual Indigenous Connectivity Summit, where Indigenous community members and digital advocates came together in person for the first time since 2019 to work to advance fast, affordable and sustainable internet for Indigenous communities.
“Rural communities are the backbone of our nation, but for too long they’ve been left behind and they have been underrecognized,” Landrieu said. “We all know how essential the internet is in order to access lifesaving telemedicine, to tap into economic opportunity, to connect with loved ones, to work on precision agriculture and so much more. That’s just beyond unacceptable that that’s not available to rural America.”
We're working to ensure coal communities can access federal and state broadband funding and advocate for their needs in the design of new programs.