Federal Filings in Support of Connected Nation

Connected Nation and its partners work on the ground every day with the people of America who are fighting to enhance the lives of their children and improve their communities. These Americans have a lot to say. However, until recently, their voices were not heard on a national level. During the past year, through federal proceedings within the Federal Communications Commission, the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Agriculture, a resounding wave of grassroots support for Connected Nation and its programs has permeated the public record. We have compiled a complete list of those voices here (PDF).

Photo: A group of children from the Boys & Girls of
Club of Northwest Tennessee stand with some of
the computers donated through Connected Tennessee's Computers 4 Kids program.

And, here are some of their stories:

Chuck Riley, from Homework Central in Findlay, Ohio, who explains to NTIA the impact that Connected Nation is having on Homework Central’s mission to empower children with the knowledge and tools of the 21st century. 

" The mission of Homework Central, Inc. is to improve children's academic achievement by providing a literacy-rich, safe and nurturing environment through one-on-one mentoring relationships with caring teenagers and adults. […]  Connect Ohio is helping us to add a computer lab to our reading room and life skills activities area. […] As you implement the Broadband Data Improvement Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and as you develop a national broadband plan for America, I urge you to support and fund programs such as Connect Ohio. […] Every state should have a program like Connect Ohio.”  

Henry Bertram, Executive Judge in Pendleton County, Kentucky, who reports first hand experience working with us to the FCC.

"ConnectKentucky folks get out in the mud with locals and service providers to understand exactly which homes have broadband available and which do not – and these maps are always up-to-date on their website for everyone to use. These maps allowed us to pinpoint the areas where broadband service was not available – and the areas where broadband service would not be available anytime soon. The maps also allowed us to target our public funds for broadband deployment in those areas where it was most needed. Without the ConnectKentucky maps and the work of ConnectKentucky staff in the field to keep the maps current and accurate, Pendleton County would never had had the tools to develop our network, and we would very likely still have more than half of our residents without broadband […]  As you contemplate this process, I urge you to leave broadband mapping in the hands of public-private partnerships such as ConnectKentucky. Many government entities have tried, and failed, to produce accurate and comprehensive broadband availability maps.”

Yvonne Myers of the Martins Ferry Public Library in Ohio, who explains to the NTIA that “[a]s a Director of a public library system, I am writing to convey the importance of the Connect Ohio partnership and its No Child Left Offline program. […] Connect Ohio is a public-private partnership […] work[ing] in every county across Ohio for better broadband access and computer literacy.” 

Daryl Phillips, of the Economic and Community Development Association in Hickman County, Tennessee, who offers that “Connected Tennessee has been an efficient and effective force in increasing broadband and technology availability and utilization in my county as well as across our state.”   

Phil Bredesen, Governor of Tennessee, to the NTIA:

“Connected Tennessee has been active in the State of Tennessee since 2006 working to bring broadband availability to all Tennesseans and using innovative techniques to ensure that more and more citizens of the Volunteer State every day realize the benefits of broadband adoption.  Pursuant to P.L. 110-385, the Broadband Data Improvement Act,[…] the State of Tennessee hereby designates Connected Tennessee as the single eligible entity in Tennessee to receive a grant under the State Broadband Data & Development Grant Program. […]  Since the start of our initiative, we have seen concrete and positive benefits, including home broadband adoption growth of 26% compared to an estimated 15% growth nationally.  […]  Broadband adoption among low-income minorities grew by 90% within the first year of Connected Tennessee’s work.”

Ted Strickland, Governor of Ohio, who urges the FCC “to work with, facilitate, and encourage public-private partnerships like Connect Ohio."

 "There programs are taking hold and proving to be an effective method of achieving the goal of ubiquitous broadband that we share. […] Connect Ohio’s state-based broadband maps are critical to the program’s success.  The accuracy and usefulness of these maps depend upon our ability to work with broadband providers, community leaders, and consumers through a collaborative process whereby we help each other build, verify, and update the maps.  A federal program that works with and supports state-based broadband mapping through public-private partnerships would be a solutions-oriented approach to national broadband mapping.”

Diane Wells, Manager, Telecommunications Division, Minnesota Department of Commerce, to the NTIA:

“In February of this year, Connected Nation provided to the State web-based maps of broadband availability in Minnesota, displaying broadband service in a searchable and verifiable format, down to the household level. […]  As a result, the State of Minnesota now has an invaluable set of tools for identifying unserved and underserved households in our state, understanding why households are still unserved, and developing specific policies to promote expansion of the broadband market to ensure all Minnesota residents have access to broadband.  The State selected Connected Nation as a result of the company’s innovative model that works on behalf of the State to develop high quality and verifiable products. Further, the State of Minnesota decided that Connected Nation’s approach to mapping, based on voluntary collaboration with the provider community, is the most expedient and effective way to produce this important policy tool.  […]  Connected Nation and Connect Minnesota have been excellent partners for Minnesota.  As you develop a plan for mapping broadband availability across the United States, we invite and encourage you to look closely at Minnesota’s broadband mapping process.  We believe you will find an excellent model for mapping broadband availability in such a way that is transparent, verifiable, continuously updated, and perhaps most importantly, practical and valuable for identifying those unserved and underserved areas of Minnesota.