Sara Nichols Updates

Region B Council of Governments Regional Planner Updates, May 10, 2021

As is true of the last year, we’re expecting big things in broadband changes. I’ve been holding off this email in hopes that we’d have some answers- but there are a few things that I want to make sure you are aware of going on in case there’s something you want to support. As always, I do my best to make time for questions- so if you want to check in on anything and how it can impact your community please don’t hesitate to reach out directly.

First- EBB Program is Here!- The FCC’s EBB program starts May 12^th! This program provides $50 a month in broadband service for eligible participants, if your provider is participating in the program. Many of the providers in our region are participating, so please spread the word to your network about the program as we are anticipating the funding to go quickly. For more information about the program https://www.fcc.gov/broadbandbenefit. I’ve also put together some marketing collateral for you to use and spread the word. Help yourself to it, and feel free to edit them further EBB Materials, FCC has social media and other materials herehttps://www.fcc.gov/emergency-broadband-benefit-social-media-images. I will be sharing this information on our social media this week (Land of Sky Economic and Community Development) and would love your partnership in resharing to your communities.

Second- Funding I’m watching and waiting on- There’s some stimulus funding that we may (or may not) have good details on or how we will be able to utilize them in North Carolina. I’d like to put on a training when we do get better information, but in the meantime please have on your radar these options.

• American Rescue Plan- Federal funding specifically says broadband, but North Carolina policy currently is restrictive against it. Local governments ability to use these funds for broadband will depend on policy at that time. If you haven’t seen it already this School of Government blog post is especially clear and helpful https://canons.sog.unc.edu/american-rescue-plan-act-of-2021-local-government-authority-to-expend-their-allocations/. I have some ideas about this, so feel free to give me a shout to discuss options you may have if broadband is the priority for your community. Separately, we are expecting the state to get funding for deployment options. Local decision making is your best bet at doing the projects you want to move forward, so watch for policy options below that might open up opportunities.

• Emergency Connectivity Fund- Reimburses schools and libraries for providing free broadband service to citizens at their homes. Cannot really be used to build networks, but might be a good fit for bulk contracts with providers.

• Coronavirus Capital Projects Fund- Funding to the states to carry out critical projects that enable work, education, healthcare, etc. Funding could be limited to broadband and broadband adoption.

• Local Fiscal Recovery Fund- Funds to municipalities, counties, states, and tribes to keep first responders, health care workers, teachers, etc to roll out vaccines and rebuild main street economies.

• Homeowners Assistance funds- Will make grants to states to administer programs that assist with mortgage payments and related costs such as internet service.

• Broadband Expansion to Underserved Communities- Grants for competitively and technologically neutral projects for unserved areas.

• USDA Telehealth and Distance Learning Grant- this is a normal program, applications are open now and due June 4^th. There’s a 15% non-federal match requirement, but the options with how you can use the funds are pretty good in rural areas. This is a grant program governments can actually be the applicants on!

Third- Policy worth checking into, and reaching out to help your community- These are changing constantly, and there’s likely some I’m missing- but there does seem to be positivity that movement will happen.

· H289 - DIT/Broadband Mapping Funds, appropriates funds to the North Carolina Department of Information Technology for the preparation of statewide broadband maps and establishes the department as the sole source of broadband mapping for state agencies. The bill passed in the House and in the first reading in the Senate.

· H476 - Broadband Consumer Protection, enacts the North Carolina Broadband Consumer Protection Act to provide oversight of broadband service by the North Carolina Utilities Commission.

· S517 - Innovative Statewide Broadband Infrastructure, appropriates funds to the Department of Information Technology for the preparation of statewide broadband maps and to establish the department as the sole source of broadband mapping for state agencies; relieves regulatory burdens to expedite broadband expansion; allows for use of existing easements for broadband expansion; expands distribution of state surplus computers and computer hardware for nonprofits; allows local government leasing of existing broadband infrastructure; expands funding for the GREAT program; and provides stopgap internet access for classroom access, health care access, and job creation.

· S547 - FIBER NC Act, fosters infrastructure for broadband expansion and resources in North Carolina by authorizing counties and cities to build and lease facilities and equipment of broadband services to increase adequate broadband services in rural areas of the state where the need for broadband is great.

· S689- County Broadband Authority, increases access to pole assets to ISPs at competitive rates and gives local government more options in providing grants to ISPs. In this bill local governments would also be able to levy taxes for broadband grants.

What I’m working on…..

As for what I’m working on- We have the data in from our recent marketing campaign on the broadband survey, we are in the process of getting that information together and creating new maps! I’m hoping that this data will help drive further investment to our communities in this next round of funding. Paul (our new hire on the team) and I are heavy at it getting the regional digital inclusion plan together- I’m hoping to have something to show you soon on that. We also are proud to announce that two of our four community center Wi-Fi projects are up and at full steam ahead, the remaining two are headed in the right direction. The Town of Mars Hill was awarded an ARC grant to do Downtown Wi-Fi recently in conjunction with some Hometown Strong funding, so we’re excited to see our options for public Wi-Fi continue to grow. If you have a good project your community has done to help support our #internetforall initiative we’d love to hear about it, and if you have a idea that needs some cultivation we love brainstorming with passionate innovative thinkers.