Community Broadband/Digital Equity Committee Accomplishments

Accomplishments from 2025 Committee Report:

Inform NATOA members of key developments in community broadband and digital equity. Held monthly meetings focused on: 

• Local, state, federal legislation, and advocacy efforts

• Broadband and digital inclusion-related funding opportunities including: BEAD; State Capacity Grants; NTIA Digital Equity Competitive Grant

• Regular check-in session with members on how local government has been impacted with the changes in policy at the federal level around broadband, digital equity, funding, consumer protection, and how to govern in time of uncertainty and complexity.  

Engage more NATOA members in the committee. 

• CBDE committee meeting agendas cross posted to general membership. 

Conduct Community Broadband and Digital Equity Awards nomination and selection process: 

• Maintained the award categories and added a new category:   Also, in the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) of the Year the award includes both the broadband and/or digital equity project/initiative as well as the private sector partner.  

• Created a new category of BROADBAND VISIONARY/LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENT OF THE YEAR for an entity that has demonstrated visionary work and service in advancing broadband and/or legislative leadership at local, regional or state.   

• Established selection process evaluation criteria. 

• This year’s awardees: 

• • • Community Broadband Project of the Year: City of Virginia Beach, VA 

• • Digital Equity Project(s) of the Year (two awards): #1 of 2: San Jose, CA 3. Digital Equity Project(s) of the Year, and #2 of 2: New Orleans, LA 

• • Public-Private Partnership(s) of the Year (two awards):  #1 of 2: Beaver County + Michael Baker International 5. Public-Private Partnership(s) of the Year, and  #2 of 2: Huntsville + Google Fiber 

• • New Category:  Broadband visionary/legislative achievement of the year: ConnectALL Office in New York State