New legislation and initiatives such as the Federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and California’s Broadband for All provide funds to support future-proof broadband infrastructure expansion. To receive funding and maximize the benefits, communities must be ready to identify, plan, design, propose and implement broadband initiative projects like middle- and last-mile deployments. They will need comprehensive roadmaps that identify needs, gaps, and quantifiable benefits leading to proposed strategies and action plans. These roadmaps will help communities more effectively identify and connect unserved and underserved residential, business, and institutional (education, first responders, etc.) users and ultimately meet their connectivity goals.
This course will cover how to begin developing a roadmap, the importance of including a technology plan, creating a business model and how to establish partnerships and identify opportunities to amplify the impact on businesses, programs and economic growth. Designed for community planners, city and county officials, broadband stakeholders, digital inclusion champions, and anyone who wants to take part in making their community connected and digitally inclusive.
Learning Objectives
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Identify key members for multidisciplinary teams to develop a community’s broadband connectivity vision
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Complete a community-based assessment of broadband gaps, needs and resources
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Use CPUC, FCC, and NTIA data to conduct a data-driven assessment of existing broadband deployment/access
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Compare broadband technology solutions for different scenarios
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Compare business models for different proposed broadband deployments
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Create an outline for a community broadband roadmap and identify the elements to put the roadmap together