en.Wedoany.com Reported - Connected Nation, a national nonprofit celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, is urging communities to prioritize readiness alongside the deployment of broadband infrastructure to ensure that nearly $20 billion in federal investments truly deliver results. The organization notes that infrastructure alone does not guarantee successful connectivity adoption, and communities need to be prepared to fully leverage this connectivity.
The federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program recently updated its policies to expand the range of eligible technologies to include fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite solutions. This change reflects the reality that no single technology can meet the needs of all communities. In rural and underserved areas, reliable connectivity is increasingly tied to essential services such as precision agriculture, telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and workforce development.
Tom Ferree, Chairman and CEO of Connected Nation, stated that connectivity is arriving in communities across the country, and the key question is whether these communities are ready to utilize it and ensure that everyone can fully benefit. For over two decades, the organization has worked to bridge the digital divide by providing data-driven insights, digital skills strategies, and implementation support.
Over the past year, Connected Nation has conducted outreach activities in underserved U.S. regions, including Michigan's Upper Peninsula, West Texas, and Oklahoma, focusing on sharing information about emerging technologies while gathering input on local priorities. The organization combines broadband mapping, field research, and direct community engagement to identify barriers to access and adoption.
These activities have uncovered examples of local innovation. In Amarillo, Texas, agricultural and healthcare leaders emphasized the need for connectivity to support modern agriculture and rural healthcare services. An innovation campus in Lawton, Oklahoma, features a STEM makerspace, digital literacy programs, telemedicine resources, and 3D printing facilities, all housed within a public library setting. A workforce development partnership between the Muscogee Nation College in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State University's Institute of Technology is cultivating a local talent pipeline. Tribal and community leaders in Hessel, Michigan, are aligning around long-term digital goals related to economic growth, education, and healthcare access.
Ferree noted that a common theme has emerged across these regions: communities are not only seeking infrastructure but also prioritizing affordability, digital literacy, and device access. Lasting impact requires a robust ecosystem, including digital skills training, local leadership, institutional support, and sustained investment.
Connected Nation recently hosted a virtual town hall meeting that brought together stakeholders from multiple states, tribal nations, state broadband offices, and policymakers. Participants emphasized the need for coordinated strategies to comprehensively address digital inclusion. The organization has also partnered with the private sector, including Amazon, to support community engagement efforts, with representatives sharing information on low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology and donating eero devices to support home connectivity.
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