Philanthropy has an important role to play in supporting community response to the evolving COVID-19 outbreak. This week's topic will focus on broadband availability and access.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, reliable, high-speed internet connection has become an essential need for everyday life. However, more than 42 million Americans do not have broadband access. The pandemic has exacerbated the digital divide, particularly in tribal and rural communities. An estimated seven of 10 residents on rural tribal lands remain without access to fixed high-capacity broadband. Making matters worse, massive swaths of tribal land don’t even have a cellphone signal.

Join us to hear from experts in the different facets of the broadband issue. We’ll learn about: a sovereign nation that is developing their community broadband network; a foundation that has engaged at the local, state and federal levels to support rural access; the latest federal resources that are available and the role that philanthropy can play in supporting broadband.

Speakers

• Bernadine Joselyn, Blandin Foundation
• Russ Elliott, Broadband Director for the State of Washington
• Brandon Maka'awa'awa, Deputy Head of State for Nation of Hawai'i
• Burt Lum, Strategy Officer for the Hawai'i Broadband Initiative, State of Hawai'i
• Karen Hanson, National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)
• Adrianne Furniss, Benton Institute for Broadband & Society
   

Eligibility 

Participation in this meeting is open to philanthropic organizations that currently make grants. This includes corporate giving offices, private and public foundations, community foundations, government grantmakers 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 Nancy Sanabria.