Welcome everyone!

Drew Plettner - High Country Council of Governments

Heather Elliott - Open Broadband LLC

Asheville, NC - Land-of-Sky Regional Council of Governments Business Svc Rep

Phil Trew, High Country COG

Ben Farmer - Upper Coastal Plain Council of Governments. Edgecombe, Halifax, Nash, Northampton, and Wilson Counties

Jesse Day Piedmont Triad Regional Council

Ben Willis - Western Piedmont Council of Governments

Burney Waring - Innovate Chatham

Taylor Dellinger-Western Piedmont COG

Roland Whitley- Community Technical Assistance Inc.

Tamara RajaramChief Strategy and Impact Officer3Red8, Inc

Merald Holloway- NC 100/MDC Rural Forward (Rockingham County)

Richard Rubin- Digital Equity Advocate

Deirdre Greene, HUBZone Technology Initiative in Henderson NC

Joyce Holloway - Alliance for Greater Eastern North Carolina - Washington County & Northeastern NC. Good morning.

Welcome Colin! So glad you are on team IEI!

Jennifer Ethridge, Digital Durham

First session - Suzanne Moore Wilkes County Public Library

Thanks Ben for being a leader in this space and sharing your experience with us

😀 thanks for all of the support!

Hello from Western NC - James Ayers here at Foothills Regional Commission

Awesome Jesse!

Hello, everyone. This is Katie from the National Association for Community College Entrepreneurship.

Weaverville, North Buncombe, Precinct Chair, Interested party, Economic Development

Mackenzie Wicker here with Foothills Regional Commission

Deb Watts, partner Broadband Catalysts. I've been advisor on 10 Band NC projects in NC and many outside the state and I still learn from these sessions. thanks IEI for creating this learning community.

How do you guys measure the success of these projects?

As the owner of an local ISP, our digital inclusion plan includes providing complementary internet at community facilities, such as churches, in areas that there is low digital adoption. In addition to pricing, What other suggestions do you have for ISPs do encourage adoption. - Susan Myers, Eastern Carolina Broadband

Is there a list of available funding (current and future) for planning initiatives? And who is allowed to request these funds (COG, nonprofits, businesses, etc)?

for those of you that have done a plan, do you have a list of questions you asked committee members/stakeholders that you'd be willing to share>

Signing onto this group's newsletter and listening to their webinars will be very helpful: https://ncheartsgigabit.com/

Thank you!!

NC Broadband Infrastructure Office (BIO) was given $12.5 million/year by the legislature (part of it state ARPA $) for 4 years earmarked for Digital Inclusion/Equity. Their website suggests they'll be putting together more about how they will make those funds available this fall.

A facilitator guide would be so helpful!!!

Here is the NC BIO link to this $: https://www.ncbroadband.gov/grants/awareness-digital-literacy

Re infrastructure: SB105 created new authority for counties to give grants (including with ARPA $) to private ISPs for areas with less than 25/3 (excludes RDOF areas).

To find your CEDS or COG: https://www.ncregions.org/regional-councils/

That is a GREAT question!

thanks Catherine for posting that SB105 bill, does give flexibility

P.A.I.L what was the A P=purpose, I = interest, L= Look. What was the A?

I was going to add into the qualitative (measuring success) discussion (PAIL discussion)….municipalities and Counties (Councils and staff) can gather data on virtual public meetings and the increasing participation (hopefully) through Digital platforms.

First workshop: Digital Inclusion 101 https://ncsu.zoom.us/rec/play/OYQv1V-npWGXaZmfV4ioynKfdEKyRNNSIVwDRFyTG8lpBmoA7KmjsHGN8RdxPXVWWvchrOyEITZdlzxZ.KxvQlCsnim6qZWMx?continueMode=true

@Bill the A is for Audience

Second Workshop: Introduction to Digital Inclusion Planning https://ncsu.zoom.us/rec/play/pCS8StmFuqS_woZRREbD08-b1nVrCYyItUCq42egnBUpojXbjfAF00icF-VqQ4KMJ7h1aOj1wyqP7KON.Lh6XcrSoDiosd2HW?continueMode=trueThird Workshop: Asset Mapping https://ncsu.zoom.us/rec/play/OpIgFSIhFL26Vy7dnXHoDbQ8Dr3RAOoAlQEoX_Rib-v-DG8dhQOhWjDfJUikEhLDE7hTAzYi4zlCpkPt.mMozv_OjMPqBootw?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=OqDzAiaTR5WeJIEI6RPzqg.1644511264114.fd2554006f70128088d9e7811dabbcea&_x_zm_rhtaid=859ARPA and Digital Inclusion https://ncsu.zoom.us/rec/play/QSdU8oxZz2KicR9dgf1JphPEpKZi14hVOj6UJsE18Yicy0HjXaGh_AGVTpgUo4aYbRegW6AvUDDZwrPa.KRNvYGctIpJMdBTk?continueMode=true&_x_zm_rtaid=yTPcDMcXQuyUVsIbZAY0KA.1646234111875.5fbcb06adb3a9daa9b629f44da13a94f&_x_zm_rhtaid=458

Thank you to Maggie and Zoe too! Great work!

Thank you IEI!!!

Thanks!