<div dir="ltr">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. <div><br></div><div>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.</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br clear="all"><div><div><div dir="ltr">Christopher Mitchell<br>Director, Community Broadband Networks<br>Institute for Local Self-Reliance<div><br><a href="http://www.muninetworks.org" target="_blank">http://www.muninetworks.org</a><br><div>@communitynets</div><div><a href="tel:612-276-3456%20x209" value="+16122763456" target="_blank">612-276-3456 x209</a></div></div></div></div></div>
<br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, Apr 27, 2016 at 2:32 PM, Richard Lowenberg <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:rl@1st-mile.org" target="_blank">rl@1st-mile.org</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex">I would suggest that the Four-Corner States cooperate more closely<br>
on such opportunities, especially with regard to tribal and rural matters.<br>
>From the NTIA's perspective, this may be a more significant approach.<br>
RL<br>
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McCain Advocates for Broadband Expansion in Arizona<br>
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26 April 2016 Rachael Dean<br>
<a href="http://www.prescottenews.com/index.php/news/current-news/item/27567-mccain-advocates-for-broadband-expansion-in-arizona" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">http://www.prescottenews.com/index.php/news/current-news/item/27567-mccain-advocates-for-broadband-expansion-in-arizona</a><br>
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SENATOR JOHN McCAIN URGES NTIA TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS TO NATIVE AMERICAN RESERVATIONS & RURAL ARIZONA<br>
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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.<br>
<br>
“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.”<br>
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The letter:<br>
<br>
April 26, 2016<br>
<br>
Lawrence E. Strickling<br>
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and Administrator,<br>
National Telecommunications and Information Administration,<br>
U.S. Department of Commerce<br>
Herbert Hoover Building, Room 4898<br>
Fourteenth Street and Constitution Avenue, NW<br>
Washington, DC 20230<br>
<br>
Dear Mr. Strickling,<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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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.<br>
<br>
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.<br>
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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.<br>
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Sincerely,<br>
<br>
John McCain<br>
<br>
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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director<br>
1st-Mile Institute <a href="tel:505-603-5200" value="+15056035200" target="_blank">505-603-5200</a><br>
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,<br>
<a href="mailto:rl@1st-mile.org" target="_blank">rl@1st-mile.org</a> <a href="http://www.1st-mile.org" rel="noreferrer" target="_blank">www.1st-mile.org</a><br>
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</blockquote></div><br></div></div>