Broadband stimulus roundtable moves to Arizona

At the third broadband stimulus roundtable, speakers attempted to tackle the problem of reaching vulnerable populations with broadband deployment.

Representing various parts of the Grand Canyon State, panelists laid out the case for why it was imperative for funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act be allocated to rural and tribal lands.

Reasons for the necessity of broadband deployment in Arizona ranged from telehealth to education, and public safety to civic engagement.

Sara Pressler, the mayor of Flagstaff, was one of the panelists. She said:

"Serving and protecting vulnerable populations is important. Rural and tribal communities without either broadband or electric power need to benefit, too... Rural communities have great potential because we know what it means to work with limited resources and to get things done."

The Executive Director of Native Public Media, Loris Taylor, said:

"We need broadband so as to stream content, and foster political and electoral participations. Whose democracy is it when so many voices are left out?"

The second and third panels of the day were based on the same topics as the first and second panels in Washington DC and Las Vegas: selection criteria and definition of "broadband", "unserved" and "underserved."

The NTIA is requesting comments from the public until April 13.

In Arizona, Urging Broadband Stimulus Spending For the Benefit of All (Broadband Census)

First NTIA broadband stimulus roundtable (Speed Matters)

Broadband availability on tribal lands discussed at second broadband roundtable (Speed Matters)

Comment Form (NTIA)