Fun news…
• The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the President’s advisor on telecommunications and Internet policy issues, is launching the Community Connectivity Initiative (Initiative) on Wednesday (3/8) as part of a broader White House announcement on efforts to expand broadband.
• Through the initiative, NTIA’s BroadbandUSA program is partnering with a number of civic organizations and cities and towns to create a comprehensive online assessment tool to help community leaders identify critical broadband needs and connect them with expertise, tools and resources for overcoming the challenges to expanded broadband deployment and adoption.
• The tool will provide a framework of benchmarks and indicators on access, adoption, policy and use for communities. Stakeholder participation is critical through every step of the design and implementation of this tool.
• Leading national organizations have already come on board to collaborate with NTIA to design and develop the tool. Among the groups supporting the initiative are:
- – American Library Association
- – Blandin Foundation
- – ConnectME Authority
- – EveryoneOn
- – ICMA, The International City/County Management Association
- – National Association of Counties
- – National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors
- – National Digital Inclusion Alliance
- – National League of Cities
- – New America’s Open Technology Institute
- – Next Century Cities
- – NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association
- – Schools, Health, Libraries and Broadband Coalition
- – US Ignite
• In addition, a number of communities have already agreed to support the development of the tool, and the list is growing. Partner communities include: Ammon, Idaho; Arvada, Colo.; Baltimore, Md.; Bettendorf, Iowa; Boston, Mass.; Charlotte, N.C.; Greenbelt, Md ; Hopewell, Va.; Hot Springs, Ark.; Hurst, Texas; Kansas City, Mo.; Kenmore, Wash.; Lenexa, Kan.; Oak Harbor, Wash.; Putnam, Conn.; SeaTac, Wash.; Red Wing, Minn.; Sammamish, Wash; and Seattle, Wash.
• A number of engagement opportunities are planned to gather stakeholder input on the Initiative. NTIA invites organizations and communities that would like to be engaged in the development process to send email to BroadbandUSA.ntia.doc.gov.
• This initiative was first announced as part of the Administration’s Broadband Opportunity Council Report. NTIA and The White House committed to conduct stakeholder outreach to define and create a Community Connectivity Index. The “Index” has evolved to a broader Community Connectivity Initiative in response to extensive feedback from community and civic leaders, analysis of eight major change programs, and a review of indicators used in a number of national, state and local broadband assessment programs.