Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting Minutes and Notes
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting Minutes and
Notes
June 24, 2021 Virtual Meeting
Attendance
Members Present: [quorum = 8]
Kurtis Danka; Miles Ellenby; Joseph Franell [Chair]; Michael Heffner; Lonny Macy; Galen McGill;
Rick Petersen, by phone; Jeremy Pietzold [Vice Chair]; Cheri Rhinhart
Dave Sabala; Commissioner David Yamamoto
Staff Present: Daniel Holbrook and Fumi Schaadt of Business Oregon
Guests: Diane Garcia, Barbara, Cynthia Gaffney, Eric Kehler, Josh Kvidt, Jenna Jones, LOC, Barbara
Cannady, Alexandra Corvello, Brandy Sweet, Douglas Toomey, UO, Brant Wolf, Peter Cohen,
Danielle Gonzalez, Gregg Mindt, NEBC, Lori Gleichman, Barry Walton, Cynthia Gaffney, Steve
Corbato, Paul Recanzone, Ann Marcus, Barry Walton, Colten Richards, Charles Deister, Matthew
Klebes
Chair Joe Franell called the meeting to order and asked for guest introductions.
Welcome, Introductions, Minute Approval
Dave Sabala moved that the May 27, 2021 minutes be approved as distributed. David Yamamoto
seconded the motion. The council approved the motion. May 27, 2021 meeting minutes were
approved by the Board unanimously.
National Broadband Activity Updates
Daniel Holbrook reported on the following national broadband activity regarding infrastructure
deployment, technology, market trends, public policy, and illustrations of the value of broadband
adoption and utilization since the council’s last meeting.
$288 Million in Funding Available to States to Build Broadband Infrastructure
NTIA recently announced the availability of $288 million in grant funding for the deployment of
broadband infrastructure. Grants will be awarded to covered partnerships between a state, or
political subdivisions of a state, and providers of fixed broadband service.
NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
2021. In the priority order defined by the Act, NTIA will accept applications for projects that are
designed to:
1. Provide broadband service to the greatest number of households in an eligible service area;
2. Provide broadband service in an eligible service area that is wholly within any area other
than a county, city, or town with more than 50,000 inhabitants and the urbanized area
contiguous and adjacent to a city or town of more than 50,000 inhabitants;
3. Be the most cost-effective, prioritizing such projects in areas that are the most rural;4. Provide broadband service with a download speed of at least 100 Mbps and an upload speed
of at least 20 Mbps;
5. Meet the requirements of this NOFO.
More information about the program, including requirements for grant applications, can be found
in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. NTIA is also holding a series of webinars to further inform
the public about the program. The upcoming Broadband Infrastructure webinars will be held on
June 9 and 10.
Oregon Covered Partnerships for NTIA’s Broadband Infrastructure Program
On May 21st NTIA issued the Notice of Funding Opportunity
On June 2nd Business Oregon issued the call for covered partnerships.
I led a small group of department staff to review and put forth a recommendation.
This is a highly competitive process at the state level and even more so at the national level.
Twelve submissions were submitted with a total value of $92M in project costs.
We considered: match, speed, project costs, cost per connection,
We will offer initial acceptance to four organizations:
Households
Organization Area Grant Request (HH)
Alyrica Benton $5,793,000 4500
OTC Grant $1,804,337 362
Qlife Wasco $3,611,032 613
Ziply Josephine $4,478,562 1710
Total $15,686,931 7,185
Let’s congratulate all for their hard work and for the hard work ahead. For those that weren’t
selected, we will partner with USDA-RD on potential funding alternatives and also future state
funding alternatives.
Department of Commerce’s NTIA Announces Nearly $1 Billion in Funding to Expand Broadband
on Tribal Land
WASHINGTON – Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, and
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland announced at the White House the availability of nearly $1
billion in U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information
Administration (NTIA) grants to expand broadband access and adoption on Tribal land. The leaders
called for significant broadband investments in the American Jobs Plan to make affordable high-
speed internet available to all Americans. Secretary Haaland joined the announcement remotely.
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program was established by the Consolidated Appropriations
Act, 2021. Grants will be made available to eligible Native American, Alaska Native and Native
Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment as well as for digital inclusion, workforce
development, telehealth and distance learning.
Wyden Introduces Bill to Help Improve Broadband Coverage for Small Ports
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., today introduced a bill to help small ports in
Oregon and nationwide get federal loans that would improve their broadband coverage, helping
them to grow economically and ensuring they have real-time access to weather updates.
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, June 24, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 2 of 7Wyden’s Broadband Internet for Small Ports Act would add small ports to the priority list for applications to the Agriculture Department’s Rural Utility Service broadband access loan program, which funds construction and improvement of internet infrastructure for eligible rural areas. U.S. Rep. Stacey Plaskett, D-V.I., will introduce companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Broadband is essential infrastructure for every community, and Oregon's small ports are no exception. The small businesses operating out of the ports need dependable broadband to do their work, especially our state's commercial fishing industry which relies on internet access to get the satellite photos and weather maps they need to operate safely,” Wyden said. “Reliable broadband is a must for the Oregonians employed at small ports as well as for the visitors who generate jobs in the recreation and tourism economies of ports’ coastal and inland communities.” This bill is part of Wyden’s work to improve rural broadband access in Oregon and nationwide. Most recently, he helped secure billions of dollars to improve broadband access for families during the pandemic, including over $20 million paid out across Oregon, through COVID-19 relief packages passed by Congress. Wyden continues to press for improved broadband connections for underserved communities, urging the U.S. Department of Treasury this week to make more communities eligible for state and local broadband grants. In March, Wyden also introduced comprehensive broadband infrastructure legislation that would expand access to affordable high-speed internet for all Americans. Full text of the bill can be found here. “During the pandemic, we saw more and more neighborhoods, towns, counties, cities and states figuring out ways to cover the cost of internet service and purchase computers while also providing technical support and digital skills training. The solutions were local. Digital equity solutions in the U.S. have always been local. On the one hand this is fabulous because trusted community relationships are essential to effective digital inclusion work. On the other hand, financial support of local digital inclusion work has been sorely lacking. We celebrate the announcement of the Digital Equity Act because it invests in local solutions,” said Angela Siefer, Executive Director of the National Digital Inclusion Alliance. The Digital Equity Act of 2021 is endorsed by over 100 organizations, including: AARP, Alliance for Community Media, American Library Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, Broadband Connects America, Center for Law and Social Policy, Center for Media Justice, Chief Officers of State Library Agencies, Coalition on Adult Basic Education, Common Cause, Common Sense, Consortium for School Networking, Competitive Carriers Association, EdTech Center @ World Education, Free Press Action Fund, International Society for Technology in Education, Microsoft, National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, National Coalition for Literacy, National Collaborative for Digital Equity, National Congress of American Indians, National Consumer Law Center on behalf of their low-income clients, National Digital Inclusion Alliance, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National League of Cities, National Parent Teacher Association, New America's Open Technology Institute, Next Century Cities, NTEN, Public Knowledge, Rural Telecommunications Congress, Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition, State Educational Technology Directors Association, and the Urban Libraries Council. Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, June 24, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 3 of 7
Senator Murray first introduced the Digital Equity Act in 2019 to help improve broadband adoption and bridge the digital divide. During the 2020 election, this bill was included in then-candidate Biden’s broadband platform. Earlier this year, President Biden also unveiled his American Jobs Plan, which includes a $100 billion investment to build high-speed broadband infrastructure to reach 100 percent coverage, promote transparency and competition, reduce the cost of broadband internet service and promote more widespread adoption. Senators Murray, Portman, and King will be advocating for key provisions of the bipartisan Digital Equity Act to be included in any forthcoming infrastructure package. Read the bill text HERE. Find more background on the Digital Equity Act HERE. Find a section-by-section breakdown of the Digital Equity Act HERE. NTIA Launches Updated Federal Broadband Funding Guide Access the updated BroadbandUSA Federal Funding Guide here! Broadband is essential for work, education, essential services and more, but many Americans find that reliable, affordable high-speed broadband is still out of reach. In order to meet this challenge, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) has been working to expand access and increase connectivity across the U.S. NTIA released an updated database with information on more than 80 federal programs across 14 federal agencies whose funding can be used for broadband-related purposes. This comprehensive “one-stop shop” for broadband resources, created with the help of participating federal agencies, supports the Biden Administration’s push for universal high-speed internet access and focus on closing the digital divide. This site also fulfills an obligation in the ACCESS BROADBAND Act to provide a central website for potential applicants seeking federal broadband funding. Funding opportunities include direct grants, loans, indirect support, and discounts for industry, state and local governments, schools, libraries, small businesses, and other community institutions that are interested in expanding and improving broadband access. Visitors to the website can search for programs by agency, program purpose, and eligible recipients. As agencies release new funding opportunities, NTIA will update the site. The information is also available as a downloadable spreadsheet to allow users to sort the material by selected criteria. Notably, the current database features many new programs, including the Department of Commerce’s Connecting Minority Communities program, Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program, and Broadband Infrastructure Program. Other new programs include the Department of Treasury’s Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund, of which broadband is an eligible activity; the Department of Agriculture’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine grants; and the Federal Communications Commission’s Emergency Broadband Benefit program, Emergency Connectivity Fund, COVID-19 Telehealth program, and Connected Care Pilot program. The launch of this latest round of federal broadband funding updates will help ensure that the public has easy access to the most up-to-date information possible to best facilitate broadband buildout and economic development. Feedback on the site is welcomed; please contact BroadbandUSA@ntia.doc.gov to provide input. Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, June 24, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 4 of 7
State Broadband Activity Updates
Daniel Holbrook reported the following state and national broadband activity regarding
infrastructure deployment, technology, market trends, public policy, and illustrations of the value
of broadband adoption and utilization since the council’s last meeting.
The Oregon Broadband Office applied for The Pew Charitable Trusts Broadband Education and
Training Initiative (BETI). This 12-month program, which has a targeted launch of August 9, 2021,
will provide no-cost technical assistance to a select group of state broadband programs and
lawmakers.
Broadband Education and Training Initiative
The federal government has taken an unprecedented step in providing states and local
governments billions in funds for broadband deployment and digital equity.
This is an exciting opportunity to make meaningful progress in achieving universal access—but
one that comes with potential challenges. Whether establishing a new program, expanding the
operational footprint of an existing program, or developing a statewide plan, states may need
additional support in achieving their goals.
To aid this work, The Pew Charitable Trusts’ (Pew) is launching the Broadband Education and
Training Initiative (BETI). This 12-month program, which has a targeted launch of August 9, 2021,
will provide no-cost technical assistance to a select group of state broadband programs and
lawmakers.
State broadband programs may apply to receive:
• Foundational training – webinars on key subjects to build technical expertise in broadband
and state broadband program design
• Technical support – custom, high-touch support to a cohort of states to help establish and
implement an evidence-based operational framework.
State lawmakers may apply to receive:
• Foundational training – webinars on key subjects to build technical expertise in broadband
and state broadband policy
• Strategic support – custom research and guidance on policy and statewide strategies for a
select cohort of states
In addition to educational or custom support, BETI participants will have access to resources,
events, and communications developed especially for the program. As needed, all direct costs,
including travel, will be covered to the extent permitted under state law.
We encourage you to consider applying to BETI. The information collected in this application will
help inform the team’s content development strategy. Pew will do its utmost to meet the full range
of state needs, but we will not be able to provide custom support to every state. If you recommend
Pew reach to another entity within your state government to offer this support, please reply to this
email.
Applications are requested no later than June 22, 2021. States will be informed of their selection
and support type no later than July 9, 2021.
OSU findings regarding Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The FCC has finally released some basic enrollment numbers.
https://www.usac.org/about/emergency-broadband-benefit-program/emergency-broadband-
benefit-program-enrollments-and-claims-tracker/
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, June 24, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 5 of 7I did some investigation on the attachment and it looks like Oregon’s 18,171 enrollees account for
0.79% of the total EBB enrollment. This ~ 0.43% of Oregon’s total population. Comparing our %
enrollment to the state’s % of US population, we’re underperforming. Overall, we’re 43 in EBB
enrollment performance ranking, compared to 27 in population, so we’ve got some work to do.
Unfortunately the published EBB numbers don’t break down tribal enrollment’s by state. We are
working between OSU and UO to try and engage those who live on tribal lands with this
opportunity.
Presentations
Training and networking opportunities:
• LOC/AOC Jenna Jones
AOC/LOC Broadband Webinar - July 19 from 9 a.m. 1 p.m.
• Infrastructure Summit, Gregg Mindt (basics, funding, transportation nexus, and what’s next)
Virtual Summit – September 13-14, 2021 [Broadband funding, 101, looking forward, ]
• Oregon Connections Telecommunications Conference, Dave Sabala
Ashland, OR – October 28-29, 2021
Shake Alert and Alert Wildfire Prof. Douglas Toomey, University of Oregon
Professor Toomey presented on the work of the Oregon Hazards Lab: Pacific Northwest Seismic
Network, Multi-hazards monitoring and alerting, and leveraging partnerships, Shake Alert and
Alert Wildfire.
New Funding Opportunity Fumi Schaadt, Business Oregon
Fumi Schaadt presented on a new funding opportunity for planning and technical assistance for
counties thru Community Development Block Grant. The funding announcement will be issued next
week.
- HUD’s family income data per county: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html
Work Session
Oregon Broadband Office next steps
Daniel Holbrook presented on the Oregon Broadband Office’s next steps. This is my general road
map
• Secure State /Federal Funding
• NTIA Grant
• Pew Charitable Trust, Technical Assistance for States
o Foundational training – webinars on key subjects to build technical expertise in
broadband and state broadband program design
o Technical support – custom, high-touch support to a cohort of states to help
establish and implement an evidence-based operational framework.
• Hire staff (4FTE, OPA 4, PA3, Contract Specialist)
• Rules Advisory Committee for Programs funded by state funding (Three (Infrastructure,
Digital Equity, Outreach) programs plus Oregon Broadband Fund program).
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, June 24, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 6 of 7• Implementation Roadmap
o Communications
o Mapping and data
o Capacity assistance
o Middle-mile/resiliency
Public Questions / Comments
Danielle Gonzalez/Peter Cohen from Marion provided updates on Marion County.
Alexandra Corvello from Lane County provided updates on Lane County.
Meeting Schedule
The June 23, 2021 meeting of the Oregon Broadband Advisory Council was held as a virtual on-line
web-conference. The next meeting of the council will be held on July 24, 2021 as a virtual on-line
web-conference. Meeting information will be posted on the council website.
Approved by:
___Signature on file______________________________ July 22, 2021
Joseph Franell, Chair Date
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council
___Signature on file______________________________ July 22, 2021
Daniel Holbrook Date
Business Oregon
Oregon Broadband Advisory Council Meeting, June 24, 2021, virtual on-line web-conference Page 7 of 7You can also read
