Connected Nation Urges Community Readiness as $20 Billion Broadband Expansion Moves Forward

As nearly $20 billion in federal broadband funding begins flowing to states, communities across the United States are preparing for expanded access to high-speed internet. The investment is expected to support improvements in areas such as education, healthcare, workforce development, and economic growth. However, broadband advocates emphasize that infrastructure deployment alone may not be sufficient to achieve long-term outcomes.

Connected Nation (CN), a national nonprofit organization focused on expanding digital opportunity, is encouraging communities to pair broadband deployment efforts with strategies that address adoption, affordability, and digital skills.

"Connectivity is coming to communities across the country," said Tom Ferree, Chairman and CEO of Connected Nation. "The critical question is whether communities are prepared to leverage that connectivity and ensure everyone can fully benefit from it."

For 25 years, Connected Nation has worked to address gaps in broadband access and adoption through data analysis, community engagement, and implementation support. The organization uses broadband mapping, field research, and local outreach to identify barriers that may limit connectivity and technology use.

Over the past year, CN conducted outreach initiatives in underserved regions, including Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, West Texas, and communities across Oklahoma. The efforts focused on sharing information about emerging technologies while gathering feedback on local broadband priorities and challenges.

The outreach coincided with updates to the federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, which expanded eligible broadband technologies to include fiber, fixed wireless, and satellite services. The changes reflect a growing recognition that different communities may require different connectivity solutions.

Participants in CN’s community engagements identified broadband as an important enabler of services such as precision agriculture, telehealth, remote patient monitoring, education, and workforce training.

Examples highlighted during the outreach included:

• Amarillo, Texas: Community leaders discussed connectivity needs related to agriculture and rural healthcare delivery.
• Lawton, Oklahoma: An innovation-focused public library initiative offers STEM makerspaces, digital literacy programs, telehealth resources, and 3D printing capabilities.
• Okmulgee, Oklahoma: Workforce development partnerships involving the College of the Muscogee Nation and OSU Institute of Technology are helping prepare residents for technology-related careers.
• Hessel, Michigan: Tribal and community leaders are exploring long-term digital strategies connected to economic development, education, and healthcare access.

"Across these regions, a consistent theme emerged: communities are not only seeking infrastructure, but also prioritizing affordability, digital literacy, and device access," Ferree said. "Lasting impact requires strong ecosystems. That includes digital skills training, local leadership, institutional support, and sustained investment."

To further explore these issues, Connected Nation recently hosted a virtual town hall that included representatives from multiple states, Tribal Nations, state broadband offices, and policymaking organizations. Participants discussed approaches to digital inclusion and strategies for maximizing the benefits of broadband investments.

CN has also collaborated with private-sector organizations, including Amazon, on community engagement initiatives. These efforts included educational discussions about low Earth orbit (LEO) satellite technology and support for household connectivity through donated equipment.

"Through these meetings and partnerships, it has become clear that as deployment accelerates nationwide, policymakers, community leaders, and other stakeholders must align their efforts around comprehensive readiness strategies that ensure more people can participate in our increasingly digital world," Ferree said.

Source: Connected Nation

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