That. Someone has to come. [laughter] [applause] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations]ank yog us today. Pulling together great event as always. Items cap and do it im a project director of the Broadband Access initiative. Nice to see a lot of familiar faces in the audience so encompasses not pulling any punches they started off with a i to data mapping. We will jump right into the discussion. But before we do i would love to have my panel introduced themselves, amanda kuester. Had a mavis Amanda Martin and impulsive director of the office of Internet Activity helping support all the bipartisan of a structure. Good morning im scott woods president publicprivate partnerships software and Technology Company and i were in the d. C. Office. And Ed Bartholomew senior outreach director for the fcc Broadband Task force i also work as a deputy here and governmental affairs. Im sally doty director of being broadband expansion accessibility of mississippi. All right. Look at the event organizers who we should be moot using the mic in great were going to pass right and ill be good friends with that. So we are, as i would mention it i mention talk but data mapping. I think what i would like to frame the conversation with the perspective that you all are lucky because the perspective you have on this panel rightve e view of the state perspective and also everyone working with local officials. Seventith 35 Broadband Offices to help to prepare these implement these funds we work with the states across the country as well. I think what is so exciting and also challenging is National Standards and mapping. But the implementation how that applies to funding is difficult. It is difficult for all the reasons the progress we have made in data and transparency and local and state engagement. So please get ready for good conversation. Amanda, im going to start with you. Are at the moment . We have heard a lot about the fcc map and the process in the last year. Where are they writing these now . Quickset is a great question. Everybody has had so much fun with fcc challenge process is like why would we have another one . I think this really goes back to the fact its truly a unique program. Its unlike any other program that we have ever had before to make this kind of investment. It goes back to the statute. As written state run challenge process. Weve made huge steps forward with the fcc National Broadband. We have more than we have ever had before. The processes along e and territory to write its own process, its only one time a process to further refine that data to make sure as we are making an Generation Investment that we are making it in the right places. That we have really identified but the locations. Its really important to note each eligible entity gets to design and implement its own process. Its providing oversight for that process make sure we are getting to a more accurate map we are really able to drive these investments. What i am hearing from that is the fcc the math no more. Okay all right. And all serious though i get into a more accurate map can you talk to folks in the room about y its so important to continue engaging with fcc and the process . Definitely. I can start by saying it is required. There are rules you have to do that every six months. Last friday was the deadline as of december 31, 2023 availability data. Were going to do it again this summer every six months just like the statute tells us to do. But i think an important reason to be participating and to continue to participate as having your data on the map. Having your location marked off and help prevent you from being program. There are opportunities along the way for states to re sync to the map to the version of the map tyre going to start with their challenge process. Inflows of new ability data and results of the challenge process and other tweaks that we make with location also make apartment bead planning and other funding round using data and the map for these decisions as well. Thank you. If you are spot on about reconnecting for bringing that up. Try to reconcile and what locations are served in unserved. Where are you all with being right now and if you could of the work you have done with local leaders and Community Members to ready them . We have submitted our initial proposal as all states have. We are waiting on approval for that. Once we get approval we cant run our state challenge process. So, to prepare for we have been working around the state will work through our planning districts around the state we have 10 around the states make that into a manageable process. It is so important to get the information out there. The challenge process is not easy and of course in addition to providers it is for local government and also nonprofits. With our local governments they are trying to get the trash picked up and keep the water on so when you talk to them about participating in a Broadband Challenge their eyes glaze over. They want to do it but simply do not have the capacity. We are going to work with these targeted districts that are used to working with these individuals. They know where the pain points are. A lot of community sometimes its the communities that need help the most t participate. We have eyes on us which was evidenced with a press conference about 100 people per a lot of advocacy groups at the capitol couple weeks ago. And so the answer to their concerns about transparency is data and having good data for thats what we strive to do in mississippi. We work very hard to make it very easy to understand. And we would invite you all to go see her proud of it. It is a remarkable map and it has made in the last two years. Teen months . [laughter] it is really incredible to see a states like mississippi and others that its not only standing up an office to implement several but also then to be on the ground and the way that they are. In some cases like mississippi there working like ready. Net to do that. Scott you talk about wt your company does and the role youre playing in the challenge proc yes absolutely. Software and Technology Company we have the pleasure of working with over 20 states including mississippi in part to develop a platform to enable them to adhere to all theres a portal to make sure sally and other state broadband after directors not act like politics or administrative issues beholden and then in the community. The other directors can communicate the progress being made. Or here in washington d. C. Those of us who worked in policy for a while we built these outside of the screens very difficult for them to understand the policy impacts the reasons why certain decisions are made. And because this program is so reliant and intensive on data and Data Collection and mapping. We found working hand in hand with our state to ensure they have the most update today information they stay on top of being able to communicate where they are the program. The administration as well as automated income flights again this program, like any other is so reliant on data and information. Not just with fcc fabric mapping yes its not also with the data that is required for states to submit on a continuous basis. Just following on that point a little bit, is there can you shed any light on the differences between what states are collecting now versus what they will be reporting . States right now1u a granular data. Not just Broadband Availability but bead test Data Community anchors multiple dwelling unit data a lot of information demographic information. Were processing a lot of data and information to submit to a tia and that is going to essentially tell the states where they are eligible and ineligible areas are. That is going to guide the allocation in the grant funds. All states are different some have more data some states have no data at all. But they are beholden to federal and local officials and stakeholders and the Operator Community that can attest to. Ive ridden all around mississippi as she k mississippe the back of her hand. She is responsible for effectively communicating not only about the credibility for an tia and fcc. Being able to communicate effectively where the processes, where the next steps are garner support we can solve the Digital Divide with this effort. Definitely a collaborative approach again it is and informn silverman done with broadband. I will just mention we talked a lot about the kind of data we are collecting now. The collecting for the grantees to make sure this money is doing what it was supposed too. It is really important to continue to be reporting to the fcc. Redoing this one time challenge process to make sure we are investing in the right place fcc National Broadband map is the source of truth for Broadband Service going forward. I think it is important to have the data and all the different places. Only put a finer point on that. All of the data has been crossed. States are worki with their federal counterpart to say this is what we have, what do you have . That is being updated come mention this earlier is being updated right now its being updated frequently theres constant conversations the left lefthanded stock into the right there making the most informed decisions possible that theythaf both levels is really essential. So ed and amanda can you talk a little bit about how some of the changes and federal standards with data, with mapping, are they expecting the funding implementation are they the way youre thinking about administration and adam going to come to you first. They definitely are in granularity is the key. Its been mentioned a few times already on the panel. It takes a lot of work to achieve it but its costly getting better. We mayote a perfect map yet but we keep working on that. It is and involving data that continues to grow. To the important thing is still a lot of his children never had before the challenge process that we ran leading into the is very robust participation. We have been doing extensive verification work. That is outside of the process we are in contact with helping d the rules of the brand of Data Collection the things youre supposed to be reporting to us. At the end of the day better data it is whats key to making more informed funding decisions and ensuring everyone has a chance to get connected. I agree with all of that. The ability to make funding decisions on a more granular level allows us to get funds to the right places. The other benefit we are seeing is where speaking the same language when we are talking about locations and service availability. Having the shared fabric were using across all the different locations to talk very specifically about each individual location gives inability to coordinate and away we have been able to previouslyu the state level is so important to have the state broadband thats looking at the site as a whole and is familiar with all the communities in the state. We spent a lot of time looking at that map. One day we were looking at it and there is this tiny town that shows it has a fiber■ ker and i were like how did that happen . So, from a state level were able to look in spots and problems and identify so we make sure our map is correct for funding decisions that we will make. That point on consistency and again information sharing is really important. I work with a lot of state legislatures as well and theres a lot of confusion reconnect with the rate can you explain what it is. Creating consistency to the extent possible one step at a creating consistency on starting with data and awareness has been a really powerful tool for Public Education and Public Engagement. I think thats also been one of the challenge process at least for where i sit youve got somewhere to poi that i had angry constituents yelling at me please encourage them to participate. Scott, with perspective to the question on funding implementation and Public Engagement you mentioned this earlier but anything else you want to add about the Public Engagement process . It is very important number one. You cannot manage it by static pdf and excel spreadsheets. Lets be honest. It isonfusing sometimes iterating guidance from the end tia as well as the fcc that we have to work with our state partners to ensure they understand the requirements and our approach is geospatial workflow to allow for state Broadband Offices to point to a Public Portal or a public process that ensures participants are not only involves in the Stakeholder Engagement but reflected. Right now we are seeing primarily providers are participating but not communities and not anchor institutions. That tells a Broadband Officer is more outreach to happen has to occur on the government level in communities with anchor institutions. To get them involved in the challenge process this data is iterating any state Broadband Office can tell trying to manage it the way we did in the program with the spreadsheets and pdf and old files on a google earth map is not going to be the best use of funds so that again he funds are going exactly into the communities that need them. To the operators who will utilize the funds and do what they say theyre going to do. It is a collaborative process. Processing the Data Collection but the outreach and engagement is continuous and it is so important because every time a new challenge processorata is available fbos are going to directors have to be accountable internally to their team but more importantly externally to all other stakeholders. Its also about efficacy funding. An understanding and anticipating future needs. We all know it plays a Critical Role in connectivity and ensuring folks have skills when they dont have home access we need to understand what future college will look like and how we promote the literacy and the role in them. That. This is not just about decs made over the next year this is pushing forward and being able to what the needs may be. Speaking at the point of coordination, a sec about everybodys favorite subject in washington which is interagency coordination. Ed and amanda. [laughter] it is working. Their mn place. [laughter] thank you sorry. Okay its early to making jokes about that. But ed and amanda caa little about the interagency coordination and perhaps a Success Story . I will go first on this one. Our level of coordination has really increased. I could just been time with ed every week. Weve a lot of ongoing conversations. Good Success Story coming out of this is the National Broadband map we were able to get on the phone with a number of state Broadband Officers with state Broadband Offices, and fcc all represent on calls. This allowed us to look at things seen on the map sometimes it was about explaining how the map was working how thef the challenge process works. Sometimes there is a mistake in the mouth. A new reporting protocol for all the providers. Until being able to get all three of those groups together in multiple situations really helped us be able to continue to move those maps forward. I would just echo to amandas point that extends well beyond the parameters of an mou for their stretches of times theres three time a week meetings to talk through things we were saying. To trios quickly buried their instances were and gia was also working very closely with the data set has discovered there is a provider whos got aib network there reporting is high latency. That does not seem to line up whats talk to that provider and figure was going on there because to sallys point state these things i think we got a call not too long after you discover the tiny town there is an error in someones reporting South Carolina i think kansas is in the room today too, everybody has reached out and said this does not align the somethings i am collecting from us a reporting process to be truth on the ground for going back to the to amandas points having all of the agencies and everybody focused on outreach and engagement with singular terms and a singular direction appoint people and was incredibly helpful in moving quickly we called it a preproduction draft. Moving from■a that to an allocation in a very short period of time because of the back were heavily engaged with working together to get it right and making sure people understood the process. It is just not easy to do so i commend you all for doing that and for making what you have. Sally, point of inter agency what if it was like at the state level right now . We appreciate you taking our calls and working through those issues. We are also looking ahead as to implementation. As the funds are deployed, what can we do as a state office to help that move faster . We are in the process also worked with capitol projects funds we have a Broadband Infrastructure Program grant that our office is administering we have noticed a point within our state on state historical approvals. We are going ahead and working with our state, our guys in history we know they have difficult staffing issue its difficult for them to make the decisions in a timely manner. We are going to use Grant Funding to have a liaison to their office to help us work with it it is been great to get that into place. And then well roll it right in. I think this room would appreciate one of our providers if you have an error in your building out they give you a plan for what you have to do to doing 40 miles of fiber and was required to run mccues pte 18inch hole every 100 feet for that 40 miles was the first pass he got from the original guys in history wouldve added a, a Million Dollars to the projects. Project. Our agency was able to come through and talk through that. ■ regulations we are going to do that in the looking for ways to do that with other state agencies as well as we see the points come up. Just to make him understand you correctly you are all dedicating funding to add to another agency to help alleviate . Yes thats great. Some other states are doing that to so it is exciting to hea you all are using funds that way. Scott, les took a little bit about p3 and publicprivate partnership. We worked on the public side youre working on the private side. What it takes for them to be successful. Any perspective on that . ■ its really about collaboration. I give you a realworld example. Sally can speak to jada as well been there with them. The first time they roll out and stand up and from a stakeholder meeting with their operators or Community Members or local government officials. Do know with the first thing they do . Anyone want to know . They go exactly to their dresser their mothers address. At that date is not r dispute ie whole thing is wrong. My mother lives and i know that she doesnt get whatever is being portrayed on the map. Again we can talk about collaboration with operators and State Government and await our industry doesnt know and hasnt done. But needs to do for going to effectively use this opportunity and this historic funding to make the impact we want which ultimately provided connectivity and unserved and underserved communities. Getting anchor institutions the needed connectivity they need. Im a different perspective of the ncaa when it started, i left and went private and i work with states and communities and still is a federal government work with the federal government as well. But the collaboration its going to be required im telling you right now is something unlike we have ever witnessed in the broadbent industry. If you are a provir, unless you are a small provider you have to adjust your Business Models to accommodate the demand points in the processes needed. And if you are really serious about solving the Digital Divide and really looking for where we want to be in the future, theres no when you shouldnt work with. Its going to take everyone to come ask around principles and points to ensure we can get it done. I want to say its not going to be easy. With a policy perspective it its sounds great but doing it every day is extremely hard. If i could curse i would say but its really hard. Its really hard to do but we are invested in it. We are i our partners. Once you go out into the community, you see the operators who are there you see the local officials at every meeting they go to, they hear how they need to improve broadband. Go with the director you hear the feedback they receive again we are more partners to the table to ensure we can help them be successful. Its ultimately where we want to go. Not just where we went to get too. That is good. With that at time im going to give one more one piece of advice for the providers and other entities who are right no. What do they need to do if they are not already preparing what did the need to will let amanda go first. Whats my one thing you have to be engaged with each state or territory. Each process is going to look a little different you have to engage with each one. My piece of advice is to call the broadbent office and talk to people at the broadbent office not the governors office. [laughter] its very good advice, you all should follow it. Okay be uniform message and givea pot of federal funding currently building out or getting ready to deploy, talk to your state broadbent office. Communicate let them know your timing is, what your plans are, we havefj1 reiterated this to or awardees. Other agencies its funding out there are