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Google, Samsung, META, Cisco— big names that are all part of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (WBA), which is a global organization that connects people with the latest Wi-Fi initiatives.On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk one-on-one with leader of the WBA to get an industry perspective on everything from connecting rural America to understanding the potential impact of a new Wi-Fi standard—not just in the US but around the world. Related links: website - https://wballiance.com/

On this episode of Connected Nation, we focus on the question of how to effectively bring world-class internet access to smaller cities and rural areas across the US.  Learn how a new joint venture leveraging Internet Exchange Points may finally fill critical gaps in the system – that will not only speed up the internet in all corners of the country – but make it more affordable AND equitable.   Related links:IXP site - https://connectednation.org/ixp/ The 125 “target” locations for IXPs - https://connectednation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/CNIXP_target_location_list.pdf

On this episode of Connected Nation, we wrap-up our look at the Michigan Connected Future Tour—an ambitious 40-stop listening tour focused on  internet access in Michigan. You'll  hear from two people in the ag industry about why internet connectivity on America’s ranches and farms is something every one of us should be concerned about. Related links:MI Connected Future Tour Schedule - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihi/miconnectedfuture/mi-connected-future-tour-scheduleMichigan High-Speed Internet Office - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihiPart 1 - On the road with MIHI: 40 stops, thousands of miles, hundreds of opinionsPart 2 - On the road with MIHI: Hear from those who will help shape a statewide internet connectivity planPart 3 - On the road with MIHI: Tackling the question of affordable access for all 

On this episode of Connected Nation, we return to Michigan for part three of our look at the Michigan Connected Future Tour.  It’s an ambitious 40-stop listening tour being conducted by the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office, which is developing a five-year internet connectivity plan for the state.You'll hear from two retirees about why senior citizens MUST be part of that plan and we’ll “eavesdrop” on the discussion group tasked with tackling affordable access for all.  Related links:MI Connected Future Tour Schedule - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihi/miconnectedfuture/mi-connected-future-tour-scheduleMichigan High-Speed Internet Office - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihiPart 1 - On the road with MIHI: 40 stops, thousands of miles, hundreds of opinions Part 2 - On the road with MIHI: hear from those who will help shape a statewide internet connectivity plan

On this espisode of Connected Nation, we have a special guest in honor of Black History Month – Brelis Spiller, a man who must keep his cool in one of the most technologically advanced and stressful environments in the world as an air traffic controller. Learn how he handles all that pressure. Plus, we'll discuss his role in getting more black youth interested in the aviation industry AND ask why he believes equitable access to technology and the internet is critical for all children.  pushing tin youtbue Related links:Website - https://obap.org/Camps - https://obap.org/outreach-programs/ace-academy/#ACElistWAVE3-TV story - Aviation program really taking offWDRB-TV story - Summer program teaches kids about careers in aerospace Brelis Spiller’s LinkedIn account "Pushing Tin" scene (visualizing air traffic control) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drX435G0SZo

On this episode of Connected Nation,  we return to Michigan for part two of our look at the MI Connected Future Tour.  It’s an ambitious 40-stop listening tour being conducted by the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office, which is developing a five-year internet connectivity plan for the state. In part two, you’ll hear directly from, local residents, business owners, school leaders, internet service providers, and others whose opinions are helping to shape that plan.  Related links:MI Connected Future Tour Schedule - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihi/miconnectedfuture/mi-connected-future-tour-scheduleMichigan High-Speed Internet Office - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihiPart 1 - On the road with MIHI: 40 stops, thousands of miles, hundreds of opinions  

On this episode of Connected Nation, we take you into the heart of Michigan where the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (MIHI) recently launched an ambitious 40-stop broadband listening tour.For the first time on our show, we’re going into the field  to hear what residents, business owners. teachers, and other local stakeholders have to  say about the impact of being disconnected in America— and what can be done to fix it.  Related links:MI Connected Future Tour Schedule - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihi/miconnectedfuture/mi-connected-future-tour-scheduleMichigan High-Speed Internet Office - https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/mihi

Imagine starting a new life in a new country unable to speak the language and unable to navigate the resources and services that could help you – simply because they are online. That’s the challenge for many individuals and families who immigrate to the US.  On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with one man who works directly with Immigrant populations about what can be done to better help and support our nation’s newest residents.  Related links:  Migration policy data - https://www.migrationpolicy.org/article/digital-divide-hits-us-immigrant-households-during-covid-19 Ricky Santiago, Digital Inclusion Manager, Louisville Metro Government - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ricardosantiago787/

On today's espisode of Connected Nation,  we talk with those behind a new report on school connectivity in America that finds more than 23.5 million students lack adequate internet speeds for digital learning in every classroom, every day. Find out how the newest data can be used to improve those numbers, how many school districts are already meeting or exceeding recommended bandwidth goals – AND why NOW is a critical time for more than 4-thousand school districts to upgrade.  Related links:Click here to read the 2022 School Connectivity report  Connect K-12 website - https://connectk12.org/Additional free educational and digital litercy learning resources:Teens Teach Tech - https://connectednation.org/teensteachtech  Achievery - https://www.theachievery.com/en?utm_source=Connected_Nation  Digital Literacy and Learning Program - https://connectednation.org/digital-literacy-workshops/ Digital Works - https://digitalworksjobs.org/   

On this episode of Connected Nation,  we talk with those behind a powerful new partnership aimed at helping school districts remove barriers to the use of technology within special education.  We ask how the new partnership will work to support school leaders, what parents and teachers should know, and why this is a critical step in creating a more effective AND inclusive educational system within the US.  Related links:CITES framework - https://cites.cast.org/get-started CoSN podcast - https://anchor.fm/cosn/episodes/Creating-A-Framework-For-Inclusive-Technology--S3E5-e1p48vu  CoSN website - https://www.cosn.org/  CAST website - https://www.cast.org/  Press release on partnership - https://www.cosn.org/cosn-news/cosn-cast-partner-to-make-digital-learning-inclusive-effective/    

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with two top executives within the broadband industry about the billions of dollars in federal funding now on the table for expanding access to high-speed internet.Learn which subject matter experts they believe are being left out of the conversation, the measurable ways they’ve seen high-speed internet transform economies, AND where they believe tech innovations are taking us.      Related links:Juniper Networks - https://www.juniper.net/us/en.html

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with a representative within the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology about advancing digital equity within our schools and communities.  Specifically, we’ll look at a new resource that provides a series of recommendations for developing plans to close the Digital Divide and enable technology-empowered learning for ALL.  Related links: Free resource guide: https://tech.ed.gov/advancing-digital-equity-for-all/Digital equity story engine: https://tech.ed.gov/stories/story_tag/digital-equity/     

On this episode of Connected Nation,  we’re focusing on an issue of equity within the broadband space—specifically digital inclusion.  We talk with a thought leader on the issue – who has both decades of experience helping vulnerable populations AND who now chairs a Federal Communications Committee that’s providing guidance to national leaders on closing the Digital Divide for those most directly impacted.  Related links: Follow our guest, Heather Gate, on Twitter at @hgate2 Digital Inclusion Week resources -  https://www.digitalinclusion.org/diw22/Teens Teach Tech powered by AT&T - mentorship programs for teens  Digital Literacy Workshops (at no cost to communities or organizations) – head hereDrive: free digital learning platform and resourcesConnected: Creating a Community Technology Action Plan  Free resources for students, parents, and teachers via Achievery  REPORT: Bridging the Divide: Skills for Digital Financial Equity and Inclusion - 

"[Veterans] should not have to march into a clinical sterile setting to try to explain the horrors of war.” ~Dr. Ronald Boyd On this episode of Connected Nation, we ask our audience to consider a serious question.  "How do you believe your world view would shift once you’ve been shot at or been asked to shoot others?”  Hear from one therapist, who is also a disabled combat veteran,  about how the country can  better leverage broadband access is to help more of the nation's veterans—who often struggle to adjust to the normalcy of life at home after experiencing traumatic and dangerous scenarios.  Related links:Serenity Care Counseling - https://serenitycarecounseling.com/about/ Serenity Care Podcast - https://serenitycarecounseling.com/category/resources/podcast/Stop Veteran Suicide website - https://stopsoldiersuicide.org/ 

On this episode of Connected Nation, we examine a report from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, which issued new guidance and recommendations for making some telehealth access measures permanent when treating substance use disorders.  Hear from two health care legal experts about what the report uncovers regarding treatment options and  what’s at risk if the country uilaterally rolls back changes made to telemedicine during the pandemic. Related links:Official White House Office of National Drug Control Polic  review and recommendations - https://aboutblaw.com/3BkMintz article: White House issues telehealth guidance on substance use disorder services Mintz Twitter: https://twitter.com/Mintz_Law Mintz Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/MintzLaw/ Mintz LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/mintz-law/  Lara Compton LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lara-compton Jean Krebs Mintz Biography: https://www.mintz.com/our-people/jean-d-krebs 

On this episode of Connected Nation, we focus on one of the largest organizations in the country that’s advocating for digital inclusion— the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA).The  organization just released its first impact report since its founding in 2015. Find what steps it’s taken to narrow the Digital Divide, what success NDIA has seen as a result, and why the group calls this “digital equity’s moment.”  Related links: NDIA website - https://www.digitalinclusion.org/ NDIA Twitter - @netinclusion  2022 NDIA Impact Report - https://www.digitalinclusion.org/impact-report-2022/?mc_cid=66c96a38d1&mc_eid=f1a132c63a Details on the 2022 Digital Inclusion Week - digitalinclusion.org/diw22

On this episode of Connected Nation, the focus is on the federal “Internet for All” initiative recently launched by the Biden-Harris Administration.  We talk with the man who’s been named “Special Representative of Broadband” about what YOUR state and community leaders should be doing NOW to access the billions of dollars in broadband-related funding.  Plus, we examine next steps in getting more Americans connected, discuss why that’s so important, and ask how those behind the initiative define success.  Related links: Website - https://www.internetforall.gov/ Overview of funded programs - https://www.internetforall.gov/programs Informational webinars - https://www.internetforall.gov/webinars BEAD Program - https://www.internetforall.gov/program/broadband-equity-access-and-deployment-bead-program Digital Equity Act Programs - https://www.internetforall.gov/program/digital-equity-act-programs Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Program - https://www.internetforall.gov/program/enabling-middle-mile-broadband-infrastructure-program

On this episode of Connected Nation, we're talking big data and big dollars with Faster Internet Oregon – a group working to ensure that billions of dollars in federal funding for improving internet access and speeds is distributed equitably Learn what the grassroots organization is asking residents, community organizations, and businesses to do AND find out why it's probably something that should also be happening in YOUR state. Related links:Test your at-home speeds - https://www.fasterinternetoregon.org/ Free materials - Get free promotional materials by clicking here Press release - Press release about statewide broadband speed testing Season 2, Episode 23  - What wildfires taught Link Oregon’s leaders about expanding broadband access     

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with leadership at the USDA about the recently launched Rural Partners Network which promises to bring “the federal government [directly] to rural America.”  We find out how this approach will work, which remote areas will immediately benefit, and how other small towns across the US can take advantage of this new opportunity.  Related links:Get the factsheet about the Rural Partners Network - https://www.rural.gov/Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Rural Playbook: A roadmap for delivering opportunities and investments in rural America  - https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/BIL-Rural-Playbook-.pdf From the White House: Press release announcing the Rural Partners Network (RPN) About USDA Rural Development - https://www.rd.usda.gov/ Learn what else the USDA is doing to connect rural America – Connected Nation podcast, season 2, episode 14  

On this episode of Connected Nation, we talk with the COO of Patriot Broadband – a company with a mission to “bring reliable, fast, affordable, and secure internet connections to underserved rural communities.” The company is fulfilling its goal by asking if YOU want to own the internet and empower your own community. We’ll explore how that could work.  Related links:Company website: https://patriotbroadband.com/Details on becoming a franchisee: https://franchise.patriotbroadband.com/