Program Updates - August 2024 | |
BEAD Challenge Process Continues,
Massachusetts Volume Two Approved
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The challenge phase of the Massachusetts Challenge Process for the Massachusetts Broadband Institute’s (MBI) $147 million Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program has ended. The challenge phase of the three-phase process provided an opportunity for local governments, non-profits, tribal governments and internet service providers to submit evidence and challenge the status of whether specific locations have access to reliable broadband service. Eighty-three users representing 66 organizations registered for the challenge portal. Registered users entered 33,665 challenges into the portal. An additional 14,449 challenges were created as pre-challenge modifications (3,548) and area and multiple dwelling unit (MDU) challenges (10,901), bringing the total number of challenges to 48,114.
On July 26, 2024, the challenge process moved into the rebuttal phase, allowing registered eligible challengers to rebut the classification of a broadband serviceable location (BSL) by submitting acceptable evidence. Rebuttals submitted will require specific evidence, which can be found in the evidence submission guidelines.
On July 25, the National Telecommunications and Information Association (NTIA) approved MBI's Volume 2 of the BEAD Initial Proposal. Volume 2 will serve as MBI’s roadmap on how the $147 million will be allocated following the BEAD Challenge Process. The complete Volume 2 can be read here.
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Next Steps for BEAD Program: Pre-Qualification Process | |
As part of the next steps in the BEAD Program, MBI will administer a pre-qualification process for the BEAD Program. This process will support the review and approval of subgrantee applications to certify that potential applicants meet the minimum necessary qualification requirements. The notice of pre-qualification will be posted publicly on the MBI website and CommBuys website. | |
NTIA Announces Digital Equity Competitive Grant
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In late July, the NTIA announced a new competitive grant targeted towards a range of eligible entities. The Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program is an NTIA administered grant program. The $1.25 billion appropriated to this program is to be distributed over five years. The funds, once awarded, will be used to address barriers to digital equity faced by covered populations. This grant will support the entities’ effort to achieve digital equity, promote digital inclusion activities, and spur greater adoption and meaningful use of broadband among covered populations.
Examples of eligible uses of funds include the following activities:
- Development and implementation of digital inclusion activities to benefit one or more of covered populations.
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Facilitation of broadband adoption to provide educational and employment opportunities for covered populations
- Implementation of training programs for covered populations for workforce development programs for basic, advanced and applied skills such as digital inclusion projects to address online safety, prevent online harassment and prevent online abuse
- Ensuring availability of equipment, instrumentation, networking capability hardware and software or digital network technology for broadband services to covered populations at low or no cost.
- Constructing, upgrading, expanding or operating new or existing public access computing centers for covered populations through community anchor institutions.
Entities (such as non-profit foundations, corporations, institutions, or associations) community anchor institutes carrying out workforce development programs; tribal entities and others are eligible to apply for this funding. More information, including details of eligibility, can be found here.
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Lead For America Massachusetts Members
Graduate From Program
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Massachusetts Lead For America member, Nidal Naji, presents during the graduation trip to Washington D.C. | |
This year, the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) partnered with the American Connection Corps (ACC) to place 14 members in host sites across Massachusetts for ACC’s Lead For America (LFA) Program. This capacity-building program places individuals with community connections in roles that support the increase of digital inclusion initiatives. The service term of up to 12 months ended in Washington, D.C. with a week of activities including presentations to legislators and their staff, who learned about the digital inclusion work taking place in Massachusetts. While in D.C. LFA members also took museum tours and visited other attractions within the city. The week concluded with a graduation ceremony that took place on July 25, where the national group received completion certificates, and one of Massachusetts’ members Robert Ireland, received a Presidential Lifetime Achievement award for service with the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps. Congratulations, and thank you to all Massachusetts LFA members for their dedication to the community and efforts to bridge the digital divide across the state. | |
Digital Equity Partnerships Program Continues to
Reach New Milestones
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The Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) Digital Equity Partnerships Program has completed several important initiatives throughout the first two quarters of the year. The program provides funding for nine qualified organizations to implement digital equity projects. In the second quarter of 2024, the partners have taken significant steps to close the digital divide:
- Distributed 885 internet-connected devices, including Chromebooks, laptops and tablets;
- Taught digital literacy skills to more than 1,839 people;
- Supplied 329 hotspots; and
- Taught digital skills to meet specific needs were to 2,116 individuals.
This work is being done across the state with the assistance of over 100 community partners in over 50 unique zip codes. More information about the program, including awardees and their project work, can be found here.
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Residential Retrofit Program Conducts Site Visits,
Preparing for Second RFP
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The Residential Retrofit Program, which will deploy state-of-the-art broadband infrastructure at approximately 22,000 Public and Affordable Housing properties across the state, is moving forward. Recently, as part of the application process, site visits were conducted at 38 properties for potential project bidders to assess and evaluate the prospective work. This process was conducted as part of the first Request For Proposal (RFP), which closed on June 28. A second RFP for the Residential Retrofit Program is anticipated to be made public in mid-September. To learn more about the program visit the MBI Residential Retrofit website.
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MBI to Host National Digital Inclusion Week Celebration & Awards Ceremony
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National Digital Inclusion Week will be taking place this year on Monday, October 7 through Friday, October 11. In honor of the national initiative to recognize and bring awareness to the innovative digital inclusion work happening across the country, MBI will host a celebration for digital inclusion practitioners on Wednesday, October 9 beginning at 9 a.m. in Worcester. Register now.
MBI is also seeking nominations to recognize outstanding digital equity leaders with the state's first-ever Digital Inclusion Awards, which will be presented live at the celebration in Worcester.
MBI is asking for nominations for the following awards:
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Digital Equity Leader: An individual who demonstrates exemplary leadership and dedication to serving communities and individuals for whom the digital divide is the greatest. Expertise in digital equity and sustained commitment to digital inclusion programs.
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Top Innovator in Digital Inclusion: An organization that has embraced the spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship to implement solutions that address the digital divide. Innovations may encompass technology, program and/or service delivery enhancements and may represent creative partnerships. Innovations cannot solely represent research or concepts.
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Excellence in Community Impact: An organization that has addressed the digital divide for those most in-need in their community. This organization is viewed as a trusted local institution and “the place to go” when community partners or residents need help using the internet, accessing devices or gaining digital skills.
Applications must be submitted no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, August 30. Applicants may nominate themselves/the organization they represent or a peer individual/organization. Read more about the digital inclusion event and award details here.
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NDIA Announces Updated Digital Navigator Definition,
New Standards
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In late June, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) shared an update, defining what a digital navigator is, the standards for digital navigator programs and standards for individuals seeking the title of digital navigator. According to the NDIA’s updated definition, digital navigators “are trusted guides who assist community members with ongoing, individualized support for accessing affordable and appropriate connectivity, devices, and digital skills.” Some standards for individuals with the digital navigator title include being embedded within a trusted community-based organization, being trained and equipped to provide digital inclusion services to their communities on various topics, understanding and respecting how their activities support building digital equity in their field and communities, and more. An explanation of how NDIA came to the definition and a complete list of standards can be found here. | |
Meet the MBI Team: Director of Program Development
Joshua Eichen
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Meet MBI Director of Program Development Joshua Eichen. Eichen helps develop, facilitate and oversee the creation of new, innovative programming to address the digital divide in Massachusetts. He works closely with MBI program staff to manage, facilitate and promote the numerous aspects of programs such as the Residential Retrofit Program, the Municipal Digital Equity Planning and Implementation Programs and the Digital Equity Partnerships Program. Find Eichen and the rest of the MBI team’s contact information here.
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In the News
Select Broadband News from Around the State
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The awarding of $45 million to more than 40 communities across Massachusetts through the Gap Networks Grant Program was highlighted in Broadband Communities.
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The Gap Networks Grant Program awarding of $45 million to serve unserved and underserved communities across the state was reported on by Community Networks.
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