The Broadband Interest Group's goal is to gain an action-oriented understanding of the role philanthropy can play in supporting broadband access, specifically in rural, Indigenous/Native communities and communities of color in our region. This group will partner with our Tribal Broadband Learning Community, federal and state government offices, community leaders and funder networks to help our communities get improved broadband access.

This week, Mark Buell, the regional bureau director for North America at the Internet Society will be joining us. The Internet Society's mission is to have a digital future that puts people first. They work to bring the internet to the hardest to reach communities and help them gain access on their own terms. They’ve worked with communities from high in the Caucus Mountains to remote African villages and many Indigenous communities around the world.

In this session, participants will learn about: 

• Community-led networks, a “do it yourself” network built by people for people;
• The Internet Society's free Indigenous Connectivity Summit, which ensures that Indigenous communities have affordable, high quality, sustainable Internet access and support social and economic development;
• Their approach to “First Mile” concepts (versus getting caught up in Middle Mile, commercial deals);
• And recommendations where small pots of money can be most effective.

Reach out to Lyn Hunter to propose topics or to get more information. ​​​​​

Eligibility 

Participation in this meeting is open to philanthropic organizations. This includes private and family foundations, corporate foundations and giving programs, community and public foundations, Tribal corporations and nations, governmental grantmaking programs and CDFI institutions with a philanthropic focus. You do not need to be a Philanthropy Northwest member to participate but do need to represent an organizational philanthropic institution. Please do not join this call if you are a nonprofit organization. If you are unsure about your eligibility, please contact Lyn Hunter.