Category Archive

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (March 29, 2023) – I recently had a discussion with a friend about the dynamics of female friendships after dealing with some bullying amongst my daughter and some friends. I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase, “girls are mean.” As the mom of a 12-year-old girl, I can tell you that yes, they are — they just are. The …

West Texas (March 28, 2023) — When you think of the services and buildings that function as the heart of your community, what comes to mind? Connected Nation staff (Alek Argueta and I) recently traveled to four cities in West Texas, by invitation from the Rio Grande Council of Governments, where the public libraries undoubtedly function as a vital organ …

Berrien Springs, Michigan (March 24, 2023) — Last week, Connected Nation’s Director of Research Development, Chris McGovern, highlighted the gaps in high-speed internet service available to Michigan businesses. The study, shared for the first time on March 17 at the 2023 conference of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters, shows that businesses (just like households) in rural parts …

Berrien Springs, Michigan (March 20, 2023) – On March 17, I presented a poster titled, “Assessing Local ARPA Broadband Expenditures in the Great Lakes Region,” to the 2023 Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and Letters (MASAL) Conference at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. My poster focused on funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) allocated toward broadband investments …

Nashville, Tennessee (March 16, 2023) – As we celebrate Women’s History Month, it is important to not only celebrate the positive impacts we, as women, have on society, but also to acknowledge the discrimination, underrepresentation, and inequity we continue to endure in many aspects of our lives. We need to make our voices heard, especially in traditionally male-dominated workplaces. Over …

Bowling Green, Kentucky, (March 14, 2023) – In the last post, I gave an example of a BEAD grant award that was too big. The state should have required more private matching capital. But sometimes, a nearly 100% subsidy is necessary in order to make any broadband deployment project happen at all. In this post, I’ll show why. It’s one …

Bowling Green, Kentucky (March 8, 2023) – It takes a bit of inspiration, a little good advice, and a lot of hard work  to do what is needed to find a career you love while also creating positive change in the world. In honor of International Women’s Day, we asked the women of Connected Nation (CN) to share their thoughts …

Bowling Green, Kentucky (March 7, 2023) – March 7 is National Be Heard Day, a time for small businesses to shout out to the world and make their voices be heard! Broadband is one of the most powerful tools that small, local businesses have to ensure their messages are not drowned out by the big advertising bucks being spent every …

Nashville, Tennessee (March 2, 2023) – On Wednesday, March 1st, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) hosted the “Internet for All Webinar Series – Broadband Infrastructure Program One Year Anniversary Celebration”. During this webinar, NTIA leadership and Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP) staff celebrated the one year milestone by recognizing the work of the fourteen grantees and highlighting program milestones. …

(Austin, TX – March 2, 2023) When Connected Nation (CN) is asked to host a Digital Literacy and Learning Workshop, it is often in partnership with libraries, community colleges, or community centers. During CN’s trip to Austin, Texas in January, the Austin Urban Technology Movement (AUTMHQ) lent their time and resources to support our shared missions to close the Digital …