The webinar summary and Key Strategies were contributed by the National Association of Regional Councils.
In July 2023, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) announced a $42 billion investment in the nation’s broadband network through the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) program. As states, the District of Columbia, territories, and Tribal Governments work on their initial proposals under this grant program, coordination between state broadband offices and regional organizations, including Economic Development Districts, is critical to meeting the program’s goals to deliver broadband access to underserved and unserved segments of the population.
Broadband allows communities and individuals to access essential information and opportunities. Without broadband, it is increasingly difficult to participate in many aspects of society. As a result, lack of broadband is a drag on a region’s economic vitality. Given its important role in many facets of modern life, broadband can be viewed as a necessity, like electricity or water. The Economic Development Administration (EDA) plays a significant role in supporting broadband expansion through strategic planning, industry sector analysis, feasibility studies, workforce development, construction and infrastructure projects, and technical assistance. EDA provides grants through its Public Works and Economic Adjustment Assistance Programs, which can be used to support broadband infrastructure projects, digital skills training, and smart cities development in alignment with local or regionally driven Comprehensive Economic Development Strategies (CEDS). NTIA and EDA encourage engagement with state broadband offices regarding their respective five-year action plans.
The National Association of Regional Councils in partnership with the National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation and EDA held a webinar bringing together regional organizations, Economic Development Districts (EDDs), and a state association to discuss not just what this huge investment in broadband funding means for regions and localities, but how EDDs can best coordinate with their state broadband offices to ensure communities do not go unserved. The webinar featured discussion with Andy Waple, Deputy Executive Director at the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission; Ginny Lewis Ford, Executive Director at the Texas Association of Regional Councils; Jon Stavney, Executive Director at the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments, and Nancy Gilbert, Economic Development Integrator at the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration. Throughout the webinar these broadband experts discussed strategies, lived experiences, tips, and shared resources with participants on how to engage partners from local to state level.
Some of those tools, tips, and resources are shared below.
Broadband is a significant issue in Southwestern Pennsylvania, due to diversity in the region’s topography. The Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission (SPC), a metropolitan planning organization serving the 10-country region in Southwestern Pennsylvania including the city of Pittsburgh, has developed a broadband program that provides tools and resources to help their communities and partners address broadband from a regional perspective. When they developed their connectivity improvement program, modeled after their transportation improvement program, they allocated a significant amount of funding to stakeholders for public engagement. To date they have engaged over 400 entities across their region to understand different perspectives and facilitate collaboration. Additionally, they conducted a public survey with a landline phone component for those in unserved or underserved areas. Having robust participation from a diverse group was beneficial throughout the planning process. In early 2023, SPC hosted a Regional Broadband Summit, educating local governments, non-profits, partners, and the public about the state of the region’s connectivity, community funding opportunities and available resources (programmatic and infrastructure), current and future legislative considerations, and other important issues. Additionally, SPC and partner organizations developed a regional Connectivity Roadmap which provides a guide to build a more comprehensive and equitable broadband network to connect people to opportunity.
Ensuring local voices are heard is essential to the work of the Texas Association of Regional Councils (TARC) and its members as they navigate broadband access across the state of Texas. Regional councils often serve as conveners and planners, making it important to have them at the table to provide insight on maintaining broadband networks, ensuring affordability, and creating long-term liability plans. TARC encouraged their state broadband office to start hosting monthly broadband calls with locals, non-profits, and regional councils. TARC has been vocal about developing a long-term strategy for broadband rather than focusing on the short-term to encourage planning for maintenance. Additionally, TARC is planning to monitor prices that internet service providers (ISPs) charge once they receive BEAD funds to make sure those prices are affordable for their region. Advice from Ginny Lewis, the Executive Director at TARC, was simple yet powerful: meet with your state broadband offices early and often. The road to expansive and inclusive broadband access for all is long. The more often you gather all invested partners and stakeholders the smoother that process will hopefully be.
The Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG) coordinated with their State Department of Local Resources to help fund a regional broadband plan. NWCCOG is the Economic Development District serving 30 member towns, cities, and counties in a six-county region of Northwest Colorado. Over the past five years, they have provided technical assistance and operated a middle-mile network that serves nine counties and 15 rural towns and cities. Simultaneously, the Colorado Broadband Office has focused on complying with BEAD program guidelines by preparing state and local organizations to gear up for the influx of funds from NTIA. One key step under this compliance was the state welcoming local champions, such as NWCCOG, to the decision table. NWCCOG acted as intermediary providing important introductions, connections, and extensive expertise. Jon Stavney, NWCCOG’s Executive Director, encouraged other economic development districts to act as the intermediary and convener for state and local coordination around broadband.