Community Broadband Action Network Corp

DEVELOPED, IMPLEMENTED, AND TRAINED A FULL-TIME DIGITAL NAVIGATOR PAID FOR BY A GRANT FROM THE NATIONAL DIGITAL INCLUSION ALLIANCE. ADMINISTERED FISCAL OVERSIGHT SYSTEMS TO ADMINISTER GRANT FUNDS, INCLUDING BUDGETING, ACCOUNTING STRUCTURES, PAYROLL, AND INSURANCE. TRACKED STRATEGIC PROGRAMMATIC ACTIVITIES BY IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE ACTIVITY AND CONTACT SYSTEMS PROGRESSED ON CONTRACTED PROGRAM MANAGEMENT, DATA MANAGEMENT, AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH BY ATTENDING MEETING SCHEDULES, DEVELOPING SUPPORTS, AND PROCESSES FOR THE DIGITAL NAVIGATOR. ATTEND COHORT ORIENTATIONS, TRAININGS, AND OTHER ONLINE PROGRAM MEETINGS ORGANIZED AND HOSTED BY NDIA; INCLUDES TRAVEL AND PARTICIPATION TO NET INCLUSION 2023. DRAFTED AND ISSUED COMMUNITY FLYERS, PRESS RELEASES AND WEBSITE UPDATES PERTAINING TO THE GRANT AWARD AND PROGRAM GOALS. CREATED PROGRAM ASSET MAPPING AND BASELINE PROGRAM MATERIALS FOR COMMUNITY OUTREACH IN THE TARGETED AREAS; INITIATE INITIAL CONTACTS. RESEARCHED BEST PRACTICES AND GUIDES PERTAINING TO DEVELOPING AND PROVIDING EFFECTIVE DIGITAL NAVIGATOR PROGRAM SERVICES. DRAFTED EARLY PILOT CLIENT INTAKE AND SKILLING BASELINES AND MILESTONES. MET WITH IOWA-BASED DIGITAL EQUITY STAKEHOLDERS TO DRIVE NATIONAL DIGITAL NAVIGATOR CORPS SUCCESS IN IOWA IN FUTURE YEARS. DEVELOPED SPECIFIC PROGRAM TOPICS FOR CYBER SECURITY AND DIGITAL GENEALOGY PROGRAMS AS A GATEWAY TO OTHER DN ASSISTANCE WITH OVER 60 ATTENDEES IN TOTAL. ARE NOW IN EARLY PLANNING STAGES TO COLLABORATE WITH LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND LIBRARIES STARTING THE NEXT REPORTING PERIOD. HOSTED THE 2023 CBAN SPRING SUMMIT THE FIRST WEEK IN APRIL FOR OVER 50 ATTENDEES, WITH DIGITAL EQUITY TOPICS PRESENTED. ALSO PRESENTED ON THESE TOPICS AT THE IOWA ASSOCIATION OF MUNICIPAL UTILITIES SESSION THE NEXT DAY. RECORDED AND BROADCASTED 2 BROADBAND BUNCH PODCASTS ON DIGITAL NAVIGATION, EQUITY, AND NDIA DN PROGRAM. ATTENDED COUNTY FAIRS IN JULY FOR MORE IN-PERSON CONTACT TO INTRODUCE THE PROGRAM TO RESIDENTS. THE ENTIRE CBAN TEAM (STAFF AND CONTRACTORS) ORGANIZED AND PARTICIPATED IN CBAN'S ONLINE FALL FORM SERIES SESSIONS DURING DIGITAL INCLUSION WEEK 2023. OVER 130 PEOPLE REGISTERED FOR THESE SESSIONS. TOPICS INCLUDED "WHAT'S NEXT FOR DIGITAL EQUITY", "PREPARING FOR BEAD", "SMART CITIES AND DIGITAL EQUITY", "MAPPING THE BROADBAND ECOSYSTEM", "THE FUTURE OF THE ACP", AND "NAVIGATING THE DIGITAL DIVIDE - CHAMPIONS OF DEVICE ACCESS". ADDITIONAL PODCAST PRODUCTION TOPICS INCLUDED "DEVICES AND DIGITAL EQUITY", "THE ALARMING TRUTH ABOUT YOUNG ADULTS AND DIGITAL SKILLS", "THE FIBER EVOLUTION", "RURAL TELEHEALTH-OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES", "TODAY'S BROADBAND SOLUTIONS FOR UNDERSERVED AREAS", AND "SAFE HOLIDAY ONLINE SHOPPING". THE 2024 GOAL IS TO PROGRESS ON BUILDING AN EARLY NETWORK OF POTENTIAL DN PROGRAM SPONSORS ABLE TO EXPAND THE GEOGRAPHIC AREA OF THE PROGRAM INTO THE GREATER DES MOINES METRO AREA (11-COUNTY REGION) AND SUSTAIN IT POST-NDIA GRANT BY COLLABORATING WITH OTHER NON-PROFITS AND PUBLIC ENTITIES TO APPLY FOR GRANTS UNDER FEDERAL BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT FUNDING BEING ADMINISTERED BY STATES AND THE NATIONAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION