CONNECTED NATION INC

CONNECT PROGRAM - COMPRISES COMMUNITY PLANNING, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH, MAPPING, AND OUTREACH.COMMUNITY PLANNING, ALSO KNOWN AS THE CONNECTED COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM OR CONNECTED, IS A FACILITATED BROADBAND AND TECHNOLOGY PLANNING EFFORT. CONNECTED ENGAGES LOCAL LEADERS TO EVALUATE THEIR COMMUNITY'S CURRENT STATE OF TECHNOLOGY ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND USE. THE PROGRAM OFFERS COMMUNITIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO MEASURE THE SUPPLY, DEMAND, AND USE OF TECHNOLOGY IN THE COMMUNITY WITH UNPRECEDENTED DATA GATHERING, ANALYSIS, AND PLANNING.CONNECTED'S UNIQUE COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT PROVIDES INSIGHT INTO THE LOCAL TECHNOLOGY ECOSYSTEM, IDENTIFIES GAPS AND OPPORTUNITIES, AND SUPPORTS THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN ACTIONABLE TECHNOLOGY PLAN TO IMPROVE THE COMMUNITY'S STANDING IN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY. THE PROGRAM IS SERVICED VIA A DEDICATED WEB PORTAL AS WELL AS COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND HELPS COMMUNITIES FRAME THEIR NEEDS AROUND BROADBAND ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND USE BY COLLECTION OF LOCAL DATA VIA A SERIES OF SURVEYS. AFTER ASSESSING THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY, THE PROGRAM MATCHES IMPLEMENTABLE SOLUTIONS WITH LOCALLY IDENTIFIED BARRIERS TO ACCESS, ADOPTION, AND USE.STATE BROADBAND PLANNING, IN 2009, CN BECAME THE SINGLE MOST PROLIFIC BROADBAND DATA COLLECTION AND PLANNING ENTITY IN THE COUNTRY UNDER THE STATE BROADBAND INITIATIVE (SBI) GRANT PROGRAM ADMINISTERED BY THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION (NTIA). WITH THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT AND JOBS ACT (IIJA) OF 2021, ONCE AGAIN THE NTIA RELEASED FUNDS TO SUPPORT STATES IN EXPANDING BROADBAND. THE TWO PRIMARY FUNDING PROGRAMS ARE THE BROADBAND EQUITY, ACCESS, AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM AND THE STATE DIGITAL EQUITY PLANNING GRANT PROGRAM. WITH CONNECTED NATION'S EXTENSIVE HISTORY IN STATE BROADBAND PLANNING, THE ORGANIZATION HAS SECURED ROLES IN SUPPORTING 15 STATE BROADBAND OFFICES IN FULFILLING REQUIREMENTS UNDER THESE TO PROGRAMS. THE REQUIREMENTS CALL UPON ALL OF THE ORGANIZATION'S CORE COMPETENCIES AND IS ALIGNED WITH ITS MISSION TO CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE ACROSS THE COUNTRY. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND RESEARCH OPENS UP A GATEWAY TO EDUCATIONAL, INFORMATIONAL, GOVERNMENTAL, HEALTH, WORKFORCE, SOCIAL RESOURCES, AND ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS WORKED WITH POLICYMAKERS, COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS, RESEARCHERS, BUSINESSES, EDUCATORS, COMMUNITY AND STATE LEADERS TO OFFER GUIDANCE, EXPERTISE, AND RESEARCH TO EXPAND BROADBAND TO UNDERSERVED AREAS AND POPULATIONS ACROSS THE NATION.THE ORGANIZATION'S INDUSTRY-LEADING RESEARCH INTO BROADBAND DEMAND AND USAGE, AS WELL AS BARRIERS TO BROADBAND ADOPTION, PROVIDES THE NEEDED INFORMATION FOR COMMUNITIES TO MAKE INFORMED DECISIONS. COMBINED WITH ITS INNOVATIVE MAPS, THE ORGANIZATION'S PROGRAMS GIVE AN UNPRECEDENTED VIEW OF AN AREA'S BROADBAND LANDSCAPE. MAPPING RELIES ON THE COOPERATION OF PRIVATE PROVIDERS, AND THE ORGANIZATION'S BROADBAND EXPANSION EFFORTS SIMILARLY RELY ON WORK WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR. THE ORGANIZATION ACTIVELY SEEKS TO ENGAGE PARTNERS FROM ALL SECTORS IN THE WORK OF BRIDGING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE. THESE PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW THE ORGANIZATION TO PROVIDE TANGIBLE RESULTS IN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE NATION. FIELD DATA COLLECTION AND VALIDATION EFFORTS PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CONFIDENCE IN BROADBAND DATA ACCURACY AND ALSO PROVIDE CONFIRMATION OF OR REVISIONS TO PROVIDER REPORTED INFORMATION; THESE EFFORTS ASSIST IN EXPANDING BROADBAND IN AREAS THAT HAVE TYPICALLY BEEN OVERLOOKED.RAISING AWARENESS OF THE ISSUES SURROUNDING BROADBAND EXPANSION IS A KEY COMPONENT OF THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION. THE ORGANIZATION FACILITATES BROADBAND SUMMITS AND WORKSHOPS WHICH BRING TOGETHER STAKEHOLDERS FROM GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFITS, THE PROVIDER COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, AND OTHER SECTORS, ALONG WITH OTHER INDUSTRY LEADERS, TO OFFER A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR DIRECT ENGAGEMENT, PLANNING, AND KNOWLEDGE SHARING. SIMILARLY, THE ORGANIZATION ACTIVELY WORKS WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, STATE, AND TRIBAL ENTITIES AND VARIOUS SECTORS TO ENGAGE THEM IN THE PLANNING PROCESS BY OFFERING A COMPREHENSIVE STRUCTURE AND THE NEEDED SUPPORT TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS. TELEHEALTH IS ONE SUCH SECTOR IN WHICH THE ORGANIZATION IS REPEATEDLY ENGAGED. RECENTLY, THE ORGANIZATION UNDERTOOK A COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF RURAL TELEHEALTH BARRIERS AND OPPORTUNITIES. THIS STUDY LED TO THE DESIGN OF A TELEHEALTH AWARENESS AND CAPACITY BUILDING PROJECT TO IMPROVE THE ACCESS TO AND USE OF TELEHEALTH IN RURAL COMMUNITIES. ANOTHER RECENT STUDY ASSESSED CONNECTIVITY IN RURAL HOSPITALS AND THE BARRIERS TO TELEHEALTH EXPANSION WHICH ULTIMATELY LED TO SECURING $25 MILLION IN FEDERAL FUNDS TO CLOSE THE IDENTIFIED GAPS. THE ORGANIZATION CONTINUES TO ADVANCE THE USE OF BROADBAND FOR TELEHEALTH TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR RESIDENTS IN THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH IT IS ENGAGED.

DIGITAL LITERACY AND LEARNING - THE ORGANIZATION IS COMMITTED TO EMPOWERING COMMUNITIES AND THEIR RESIDENTS WITH THE POWER OF BROADBAND AND RELATED TECHNOLOGIES. THROUGH DIGITAL SKILLS TRAINING, CAREER READINESS, AND JOB PLACEMENT OPPORTUNITIES, THE ORGANIZATION IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR DISADVANTAGED FAMILIES, NEW TECHNOLOGY ADOPTERS, JOB SEEKERS, VETERANS, AND MILITARY SPOUSES TO ADOPT AND USE TECHNOLOGY EFFECTIVELY. BELOW ARE SOME RELATED PROGRAMS:DIGITAL WORKS: A UNIQUE AND SUSTAINABLE DIGITAL UPSKILLING AND JOB READINESS PROGRAM THAT BRINGS HIGH-DEMAND TECHNOLOGY-BASED JOBS TO LOCAL COMMUNITIES WITHIN VULNERABLE DEMOGRAPHIC AND GEOGRAPHIC POPULATIONS. DIGITAL WORKS CONNECTS TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES TO PEOPLE WHO ARE SEEKING EMPLOYMENT BY ADDRESSING DIGITAL SKILL GAPS AND LEVERAGING BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY FOR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT OUTSOURCING AND ADVANCED REMOTE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY POSITIONS. USING A DIGITAL LEARNING MODEL, THE DIGITAL WORKS PROGRAM TRAINS, PLACES, AND MENTORS HIGH-QUALITY CANDIDATES AND LOCATES CO-WORKING CENTERS IN SETTINGS WHERE JOB DEMAND IS HIGH, FEW EMPLOYERS EXIST, AND THE COST OF LIVING IS LOW. THIS INCLUDES RURAL AND MORE URBAN SETTINGS AS WELL.DIGITAL LITERACY AND LEARNING WORKSHOPS: TO ADVANCE DIGITAL LITERACY ACROSS AMERICA, THE ORGANIZATION HAS TEAMED UP WITH AT&T'S CONNECTED LEARNING PROGRAM TO OFFER IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING WORKSHOPS ACROSS THE COUNTRY IN COMMUNITIES WHERE DIGITAL LITERACY TRAINING IS NEEDED FOR THE DIGITAL EMPOWERMENT OF RESIDENTS. THE WORKSHOPS ARE CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, SENIOR CENTERS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT FACILITIES. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION EXCEEDED 100,000 PEOPLE TRAINED VIA CONNECTED NATION TRAINING PROGRAMS.TEENS TEACH TECH: THE PROGRAM HARNESSES HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' TECHNOLOGY EXPERTISE TO HELP THEIR FAMILY AND OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS GAIN NEW COMPUTER/INTERNET SKILLS. THE PROGRAM EMPOWERS STUDENTS TO PERFORM COMMUNITY SERVICE WHILE LEARNING REAL-WORLD PROBLEM SOLVING, COLLABORATION, AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. TEACHERS, COMMUNITY LEADERS, GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, AND PARENT VOLUNTEERS PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPPORTING TEENS ARE RECRUITED TO MENTOR THE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT CUSTOM LOCAL DIGITAL INCLUSION PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. SINCE 2023, THE PROGRAM HAS RESULTED IN OVER 22,000 PEOPLE TRAINED ACROSS THE COUNTRY.DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY PLANNING: THE ORGANIZATION PARTNERS WITH STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO ADVANCE DIGITAL INCLUSION THROUGH STRATEGIC PLANNING, CAPACITY BUILDING, AND IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT. THIS INCLUDES ASSISTING WITH DEVELOPING COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY STRATEGIES THAT ADDRESS BROADBAND ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, DIGITAL LITERACY, DEVICE ACCESS, AND WORKFORCE READINESS. THESE EFFORTS HELP ENSURE THAT ALL INDIVIDUALS CAN FULLY PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S DIGITAL SOCIETY. IN 2023 AND 2024, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTED EFFORTS IN KENTUCKY, OKLAHOMA, PUERTO RICO, MICHIGAN, IOWA, AND TEXAS TO BUILD AND OPERATIONALIZE DIGITAL INCLUSION PLANS THAT RESPOND TO LOCAL NEEDS AND ALIGN WITH FEDERAL AND STATE PRIORITIES.DIGITAL DEVICE DISTRIBUTION PROGRAM AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: THE ORGANIZATION COLLABORATED WITH AMAZON AND EERO TO INTRODUCE THE EERO CONNECTIVITY COMMUNITY DONATION PROGRAM, A PILOT INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE WI-FI ACCESS FOR UNDERPRIVILEGED AND UNDER-CONNECTED HOUSEHOLDS. BY DONATING 5,000 EERO PROS TO FAMILIES THROUGH LOCAL PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, THE PROGRAM SEEKS TO PLAY A VITAL ROLE IN NARROWING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE BY OFFERING A RELIABLE SOLUTION TO EXTEND INTERNET CONNECTIVITY IN UNDERSERVED HOMES. THIS, IN TURN, EMPOWERS RESIDENTS TO MORE EFFECTIVELY ACCESS EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES VIA A RELIABLE INTERNET CONNECTION. IN 2024, THE ORGANIZATION EXPANDED ITS PARTNERSHIP WITH AMAZON TO ENGAGE AND EDUCATE TRIBAL AND RURAL COMMUNITIES ABOUT ADVANCEMENTS IN LOW-EARTH ORBIT (LEO) SATELLITE BROADBAND, IN COLLABORATION WITH AMAZON'S KUIPER PUBLIC POLICY (PP).