Telecommunications Groups Join Forces to Smooth the BEAD Process
Randy Sukow
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NRTC is among a group of 11 organizations that is teaming up to produce a series of educational webinars to help bring state and federal officials and local community leaders up to speed on many aspects of the broadband business. The 30-minute webinars will be useful as government and industry approach funding applications in the National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) $42 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Development (BEAD) Program.
Other organizations joining NRTC and representing rural members include NRECA, NTCA – The Rural Broadband Association, and ACA Connects. The groups also include organizations with urban/national focus, including USTelecom – The Broadband Association, CTIA, and NCTA – The Internet & Television Association.
“Our primary goal is to make it as easy and efficient as possible to navigate through the BEAD program’s requirements and potential deployment challenges. These webinars are designed to help state broadband leaders, broadband providers, key stakeholders, and the BEAD program itself become highly successful,” the groups said in a joint statement.
The organization will offer webinars on the second Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m. Eastern time, starting with a presentation on Sept. 14, titled “Supply Chain/Build America, Buy America.” Other scheduled webinars include:
- October 12 – Workforce Development
- November 90 – Affordability
- December 14 – Permitting/Rights of Way
- January 11 – Cybersecurity
The group may present additional webinars after January 2023. Those interested in future topics can keep track of the series from NTIA’s Internet for All website. Webinar registration is now open for the first five presentations.
