Alaska Broadband Office Program Overview The Alaska Broadband Office (ABO) is primarily responsible for managing the State of Alaska’s federal program responses to the Digital Equity (DE) Act and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program established in the Infrastructure, Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) passed by Congress in November 2021. These programs provide the state with funding to bridge the digital divide by building out technology neutral infrastructure and increasing capacity for unserved and underserved Alaskans by providing grants to eligible parties to build out broadband infrastructure, in a scalable, sustainable, and technology neutral manner. <span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker"></span><span id="selection-marker-1" class="redactor-selection-marker"></span> Broadband GIS Latest News and Current Events BEAD Initial Proposal Volume 2 – 30 Day Comment Period Starting November 20, 2023, running through December 20, 2023 The State of Alaska, Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Alaska Broadband Office (ABO), is seeking public comment on the State of Alaska’s Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) “Initial Proposal, Volume 2” which provides the details on the State of Alaska Grant Program along with the other requirements of the BEAD Program. The State of Alaska’s “Initial Proposal Volume 2” documentation is linked below for public review and comment. All interested parties are invited to submit comments on the “Initial Proposal Volume 2” using ced.abo.general@alaska.gov by on December 20, 2023. Initial Proposal Volume 2 Draft Grant Program Engagement Tracker Workforce Development Report Digital Equity Plan – 30 Day Comment Period Too many communities in Alaska lack access to high-speed internet. Many more face affordability barriers. There is a stark divide between those who have internet access and those who don't. Digital equity means all have access to reliable and affordable high-speed internet to access education, healthcare, employment, and participate in today’s economy. Starting November 9, 2023 and running through December 9, 2023, the Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development (DCCED), Alaska Broadband Office (ABO), is seeking public comment on the State of Alaska’s Digital Equity Plan. The Digital Equity Act provides $2.75 billion nationwide to establish grant programs that promote digital equity and inclusion. In advance of “Capacity Grant Awards” (managed by the State of Alaska ABO) the Rasmuson Foundation and their partners over the last year have collected and compiled data, and drafted the initial State of Alaska Digital Equity Plan. Attached is that document with State of Alaska Departmental review. The document outlines the inequities that exist in the state and develops Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that are focused on reducing or eliminating digital inequity for eight covered populations identified in the Digital Equity Act. Those populations are: 1. Individuals with Disabilities 2. Individuals with a Language Barrier 3. Individuals who are Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority 4. Individuals who Reside in Rural Areas 5. Aging Individuals 6. Veterans 7. Households at/or below 150% of the Poverty Level 8. Incarcerated Individuals. The State of Alaska’s Digital Equity Plan is linked below for public review and comment. All interested parties are invited to submit comments on the Plan using this feedback form by December 9, 2023. Draft Digital Equity Plan Last update: 11/11/2023. Public Listening Sessions Do you know what broadband is? Are you and your family having ongoing issues with your internet connectivity, or challenges paying for it? The Alaska Broadband Office is excited to host an online public meeting series. Come with your personal experiences, feedback or questions about broadband and our office. The series is split into several different regular sessions. The Tuesday meeting is a Native Entities Session that focuses on listening to the concerns of Native leaders in Alaska. The general interest meeting is for anyone to give feedback, while the technical interest meeting is directed at members of our business communities. The meetings are open, so anyone is welcome to attend either session. Meeting details are listed below. The Native Entity session is held every Tuesday from 2 to 3PM AKST. The General Interest session is held every Wednesday from 2 to 3PM AKST. The Technical Interest session is held every Thursday from 2 to 2:30 PM AKST. Join Our Listening Session through Zoom. To join, click on the button below, enter the meeting ID and passcode into your Zoom application, or use the call-in option below. Native Entity Session Nov 28 Meeting ID: 883 2235 5234 Passcode: broadband Or call 253-215-8782 and enter the Phone Meeting ID: 883 2235 5234# Phone Passcode: 042730167 Join Meeting Here General Interest Session nov 29 Meeting ID: 845 1544 8859 Passcode: broadband Or call 253-215-8782 and enter the Phone Meeting ID: 845 1544 8859# Phone Passcode: 426954690 Join Meeting Here Technical Interest Session nov 30 Meeting ID: 845 1544 8859 Passcode: broadband Or call 253-215-8782 and enter the Phone Meeting ID: 845 1544 8859# Phone Passcode: 426954690 Join Meeting Here