Broadband industry launches state broadband office educational webinar series

The nation’s leading broadband trade associations announced they will deliver a monthly educational webinar series to support the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and State Broadband Offices with the implementation of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) Program that will provide over $42 billion to state and territory broadband projects.

There are 11 associations presenting the webinar series that represent broadband providers of every size and technology across the U.S. They are ACA Connects, Competitive Carriers Association (CCA), CTIA, the Fiber Broadband Association, INCOMPAS – the Internet and Competitive Networks Association, the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), National Rural Telecommunications Cooperative (NRTC), NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, USTelecom – The Broadband Association, and the Wireless Infrastructure Association (WIA).

The webinar series will educate state broadband leaders, the NTIA, community leaders, and potential BEAD participants on the opportunities, challenges, and mitigation strategies related to the BEAD program and broadband deployment. Starting on September 14 at 1 PM ET, the 30-minute webinars will be held the second Wednesday of the month at 1 PM ET. The initial webinar dates and topics include:

• September 14 – Supply Chain / Build America, Buy America
• October 12 – Workforce Development
• November 9 – Affordability
• December 14 – Permitting/Rights of Way
• January 11 – Cyber Security

The Associations issued the following group statement about the webinar series: “Our primary goal is to make it as easy and efficient as possible to navigate through the BEAD program’s requirements and potential deployment challenges. These webinars are designed to help state broadband leaders, broadband providers, key stakeholders, and the BEAD program itself become highly successful. Congress, via the NTIA, has presented our industry with a monumental opportunity to close the digital equity gap for good. The leading industry associations have aligned to present this monthly webinar series and attendees will be able to leverage our united expertise and bring back proven broadband deployment tips and best practices to their own communities.”

Future webinar topics may include Ask Me Anything (AMA) with all participating associations, best practices in setting up successful grant programs, maximizing participating from qualified providers, and other subjects of high interest to NTIA and state broadband leadership. For more information on the BEAD webinar series. Please also visit the official Internet for All website hosted by the NTIA and the Department of Commerce that outlines the key broadband infrastructure programs from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

CT Bureau