Connect Humanity

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) and the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) initiative were designed to work hand in hand 🤝 While BEAD funds network infrastructure to expand internet access, ACP would ensure low-income Americans could afford to use it. Now, with ACP funding gone, broadband just got less affordable for millions of Americans. ❓ What does this loss mean for those who depended on ACP? How will it impact the economics of BEAD-funded networks? And how are states adapting to prevent this gap from derailing efforts to deliver high-speed, affordable internet? Jake Varn and Summer Boucher-Robinson explore: https://lnkd.in/exGszzbX Via The Pew Charitable Trusts

🌐 10 Steps to Help Build Broadband Resilience 🌐 Resilient broadband infrastructure is essential for keeping communities connected in times of crisis. As climate risks increase, more communities will face challenges like those currently impacting areas affected by hurricanes Helene and Milton. In her latest blog post, Samantha Schartman shares 10 steps that can help communities respond and strengthen their broadband infrastructure so they're prepared: https://lnkd.in/eZJBSSRE

Over the past two years, many of us have used Microsoft's Digital Equity Data Dashboard to get a clearer picture of connectivity across the United States. It’s exciting to see the tool refreshed with new data—showing the strides we’ve made and the work still ahead to close the digital divides that remain. Onwards!

Love to see Buckeye Hills Regional Council recognized for their work through the Appalachia Digital Accelerator! Their efforts in Washington & Meigs Counties, Ohio, are helping bring high-speed, affordable internet to local residents and businesses. Cheers to making broadband dreams a reality! 🎉👏

In the summer of 2023, we teamed up with Quinn Jordan, Gigi Sohn, Elizabeth Bowles, Philip Macres and many others to sound the alarm about BEAD's Letter of Credit requirement which we feared would block small, community-centric, and municipal providers from America's biggest ever broadband investment program. Thanks to collective efforts, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) heard our concerns and offered alternatives to the requirement. One of these alternatives is surety bonds. In this piece for Breakfast Media LLC, Quinn explains that the next crucial step lies with the states, which must include language in their BEAD contracts to enable surety bonds as alternative guarantees. Read Quinn's piece to learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewCh4tCf

💡 Three Lessons from Investing in Community Broadband 💡 At a recent Urban Institute panel on investing for equity, our Chief Investment Officer, Brian Vo, shared three key lessons that guide Connect Humanity's approach to investing in community broadband: ✅ Translation is essential ✅ Rethink the meaning of ‘risk’ ✅ Communities need a seat at the table ▶ Watch the video below and read more about how these lessons are shaping our approach to digital equity in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/eT5ETUGY

Thank you National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) for hosting a super informative Broadband for Breakfast event on #InternetForAll efforts. I was impressed by the thought and care that went into both design, the ongoing problem-solving, and the commitment to continue engaging communities for feedback. I enjoyed seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones, all fierce minds similarly passionate about #digitalequity and #digitalinclusion. Grateful to represent Connect Humanity's perspective! And always inspiring to be in the presence of Francella Ochillo <3

Our panel at the SOAR Summit was a success! Jeff, Harry of #NeonLights and Kari and Jamie of Red Bird Mission spoke frankly and sincerely of their experience with disaster recovery, how broadband planning can be a powerful mitigation measure - that creates more resilient communities- and how the journey of learning about broadband through the #AppalachiaDigitalAccelerator at Connect Humanity has served to enhance local relationships and unveil opportunities not previously identified. Needless to say - they all inspired and captivated the audience! Eastern Kentucky is truly a magical place full of incredible people made of grit, faith and tenacity. Thank you all for your service!

A leadership update: Our founding CEO, Jochai Ben-Avie, is stepping down after four years of advancing our mission to close the digital divide. Under his leadership, Connect Humanity has helped put 100,000+ people on the path to connectivity and unlocked more than $45 million in broadband investments in underserved communities. 👉 Moving forward, Connect Humanity will be led by Erica Mesker, Brian Vo, and Marco Girish, who bring extensive expertise in impact investing, program design, and community development. Together, they'll lead us into an exciting phase as we scale our model to provide even more support to grow community-centric broadband in underserved communities. Digital connectivity is the foundation on which people build better lives and create more prosperous communities. Going forward, we’ll be running harder than ever at the barriers preventing 40 million Americans — and billions globally — from accessing the digital tools they need to to thrive 🌐 Learn more about today’s announcement: https://lnkd.in/esMZYh_G

Heading to Pikeville for SOAR Summit 2024? Don't miss our panel TOMORROW on community-led broadband planning! Samantha Schartman will sit down with participants from the Appalachia Digital Accelerator, who will share their insights from their broadband planning journey and discuss why connectivity is crucial to their efforts to rebuild following devastating floods that hit Eastern Kentucky in 2022. 🎤 Panelists include: Dr. Jeff Hawkins & Harry Collins (Fleming-Neon) Jamie Collett & Kari Collins (Red Bird Mission). Recently, reflecting on Neon's flooding, Dr. Hawkins shared: "A friend once told me there are three kinds of people during a flood. People who float and wait for help. People who give up. And people who swim to shore. When our flood happened, and people came from all over to help clean up, we added a fourth category: people who build lifeboats." These speakers are the lifeboat builders. Come hear their powerful stories. #SOARSummit2024 #EasternKY #CommunityGrowth Shaping Our Appalachian Region, Inc. (SOAR)