[1st-mile-nm] McCain Advocates for Broadband Expansion in Arizona

Wed Apr 27 12:39:47 PDT 2016

I would note that NTIA has held at last 3 workshops. I have been to each of
them. 2 of them were held jointly with Next Century Cities, an organization
that I helped to cofound (so I am biased).  The ones with Next Century
Cities were significantly better in my opinion and based on reviews I paid
attention to.

I think there are a lot of good things happening in the SW but I am not
convinced NTIA is the best way to elevate them and move forward.

Christopher Mitchell
Director, Community Broadband Networks
Institute for Local Self-Reliance

http://www.muninetworks.org
@communitynets
612-276-3456 x209

On Wed, Apr 27, 2016 at 2:32 PM, Richard Lowenberg <rl at 1st-mile.org> wrote:

> I would suggest that the Four-Corner States cooperate more closely
> on such opportunities, especially with regard to tribal and rural matters.
> From the NTIA's perspective, this may be a more significant approach.
> RL
>
> ------------
>
> McCain Advocates for Broadband Expansion in Arizona
>
> 26 April 2016   Rachael Dean
>
> http://www.prescottenews.com/index.php/news/current-news/item/27567-mccain-advocates-for-broadband-expansion-in-arizona
>
> SENATOR JOHN McCAIN URGES NTIA TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS TO NATIVE
> AMERICAN RESERVATIONS & RURAL ARIZONA
>
> Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter to the
> National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today
> urging the agency to work with BroadbandUSA to hold an upcoming regional
> workshop in Arizona as a way to help communities expand broadband access
> and adoption – particularly across Native American reservations and rural
> parts of the state.
>
> “As you may know, Arizona is home to 22 tribal reservations, including
> portions of the nation’s largest, the Navajo Nation. While Arizona has seen
> progress in broadband availability and speeds thanks in part to significant
> investments by the private sector, more work must be done, particularly in
> rural parts of the state,”writes Senator McCain. “Based on conversations I
> have had with communities in Arizona proactively working to improve
> broadband infrastructure, I believe a regional workshop organized by NTIA
> and BroadbandUSA would receive enthusiastic support in the state.”
>
> -------------
> The letter:
>
> April 26, 2016
>
> Lawrence E. Strickling
> Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator,
> National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
> U.S. Department of Commerce
> Herbert Hoover Building, Room 4898
> Fourteenth Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
> Washington, DC 20230
>
> Dear Mr. Strickling,
>
> Among the most significant concerns of my constituents in Arizona’s rural
> communities, including on tribal lands, is broadband internet access. As
> you may know, Arizona is home to 22 tribal reservations, including portions
> of the nation’s largest, the Navajo Nation. While Arizona has seen progress
> in broadband availability and speeds thanks in part to significant
> investments by the private sector, more work must be done, particularly in
> rural parts of the state. These areas could most benefit from the
> educational opportunities, economic growth and medical and emergency
> services made possible through improved broadband access.
>
> With this in mind, I write to enlist the technical expertise of the
> National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA)
> BroadbandUSA program in partnering with Arizona stakeholders to improve
> broadband infrastructure in the state.
>
> Relying on the expertise acquired through its work administering
> broadband-focused grants, NTIA’s BroadbandUSA is now “providing communities
> with technical and strategic advice on how to expand broadband access and
> adoption.” Based on conversations among staff, I appreciate your
> organization’s willingness to work with Arizona communities to provide this
> expertise.
>
> I also understand that as part of its mission, BroadbandUSA is carrying
> out a series of regional workshops to aid communities seeking to expand
> local broadband deployment by providing “free hands-on technical
> assistance, toolkits, guides, webinars and other support.” NTIA has
> completed six of these regional workshops to date, from California and the
> Pacific Northwest, to Mississippi and New England. Given the unique and
> significant challenges facing Arizona and the southwest region in deploying
> broadband, particularly in rural areas and tribal lands, I believe Arizona
> would be a fitting location for a future regional workshop.
>
> This workshop would be an opportunity for state, local and federal
> officials, tribal leaders, the private sector, broadband providers, and
> other community members to come together to better understand the
> challenges Arizona faces, to examine successful broadband efforts from
> other parts of the country, and to identify solutions for Arizona’s digital
> future. Based on conversations I have had with communities in Arizona
> proactively working to improve broadband infrastructure, I believe a
> regional workshop organized by NTIA and BroadbandUSA would receive
> enthusiastic support in the state. Please let me know if scheduling such a
> workshop in my home state is feasible in the near future.
>
> Expanding high-quality and reliable broadband is necessary to ensure all
> Arizonans have access to basic telecommunications services for health care,
> public safety, and education, and to be sure these communities can be tap
> into 21st century opportunities in economic development. I appreciate your
> support in achieving this goal.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> John McCain
>
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
> 1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
> Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
> rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
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