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[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 244 (Thursday, December 19, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 103788-103789]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-30271]

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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration

Regional Roundtables on Broadband Program Sustainability

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of regional roundtables on broadband program 
sustainability.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration's (NTIA) Office of internet Connectivity and Growth 
(OICG) administers the following grant programs: the Broadband, Equity, 
Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, the Digital Equity (DE) Grant 
Programs, the Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP), the Connecting 
Minority Communities (CMC) Pilot Program, the Enabling Middle Mile 
Broadband Infrastructure (MM) Program, and the Tribal Broadband 
Connectivity Program (TBCP). NTIA will host seven (7) regional meetings 
for grantees of these programs between February and May 2025. These 
events will provide technical assistance and oversight and conclude 
with a regional roundtable that enables the public to engage with 
grantees, local experts, and other stakeholders working to address 
digital inequities. During these regional roundtables, attendees will 
participate in critical discussions on how the internet for All 
programs are impacting communities and strategies for making those 
investments and initiatives last. Each regional roundtable program will 
feature experts from local and State governments, public interest 
groups, academia, and industry. They will also provide platforms for 
public and private stakeholders to align on shared goals for every 
resident to experience the benefits of technology.

DATES: NTIA will hold the regional roundtables based on the following 
schedule. Participants can attend more than one meeting, but NTIA 
encourages everyone to attend the regional roundtables closest to their 
community:
    1. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #1--
Southeast: ATLANTA, GA--February 14, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
    2. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #2--
Northern Plains: BOULDER, CO--March 11, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
    3. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #3--
West: SAN DIEGO, CA--March 19, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
    4. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #4--
Southwest: AUSTIN, TX--April 9, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
    5. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #5--
Alaska and Territories: ANCHORAGE, AK--April 23, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
    6. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #6--
Northeast: BOSTON, MA--May 14, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.
    7. Regional Roundtable on Broadband Program Sustainability #7--
Midwest: CHICAGO, IL--May 22, 2025, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

ADDRESSES: These regional roundtables will be held in-person. All 
general sessions will be streamed for virtual participants. Virtual 
participants will receive the streaming link upon registration. NTIA 
will post the registration information on its BroadbandUSA website at 
https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/events/latest-events. On-site 
registration will also be available, but pre-registration is encouraged 
to receive important logistical information prior to the event.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Maci Morin, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 4843, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20230; 
telephone: (202) 578-6304; email: [email protected]. Please 
direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-
7002; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act 
(IIJA) (Pub. L. 117-58) authorized and funded five new broadband grant 
programs to be administered by NTIA: the Broadband Equity, Access, and 
Deployment Program; the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure 
Program; and the Digital Equity Act Programs, which include the State 
Digital Equity Planning Grant Program, State Digital Equity Capacity 
Grant Program, and Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program. The 
Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program is a $42.45 billion 
formula-based program to States, territories, and the District of 
Columbia for qualifying broadband deployment, mapping, and adoption 
projects. The Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program is 
a competitive $1 billion grant program for the construction, 
improvement or acquisition of middle-mile infrastructure. The Digital 
Equity Act Programs--which includes the State Digital Equity Planning 
Grant Program, State Digital Equity Capacity Grant Program, and the 
Digital Equity Competitive Grant Program--allocate $2.75 billion to 
promote digital inclusion and equity for communities that lack the 
skills, technologies, and support needed to take advantage of broadband 
connections.
    Additionally, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), 2021 (Pub. 
L. 116-260) authorized three new broadband grant programs to be 
administered by NTIA: the Broadband Infrastructure Program (BIP), the 
Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP), and the Connecting 
Minority Communities Pilot Program (CMC). The Broadband Infrastructure 
Program is a $288 million broadband deployment program directed to 
partnerships between a State, or one or more political subdivisions of 
a State, and providers of fixed broadband service to support broadband 
infrastructure deployment to areas lacking broadband, especially rural 
areas. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program--created under the CAA 
and receiving additional funding under IIJA--is now a $3 billion 
program directed to tribal governments to be used for broadband 
deployment on tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance 
learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion. The 
Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program is a $268 million grant 
program to Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Tribal 
Colleges and Universities, and Minority-Serving Institutions for the 
purchase of broadband internet access service and eligible equipment or 
to hire and train information technology personnel.
    These regional roundtables are subject to change. Session time 
changes will be posted on the BroadbandUSA website at https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/events/latest-events. Any event cancellations 
will also be posted on the same website. Any date change to a scheduled 
regional roundtable will be provided in a notice in the Federal 
Register.

[[Page 103789]]

    Recordings and transcripts of all previously streamed sessions will 
be posted on the BroadbandUSA website at https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov and NTIA's YouTube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/ntiagov within fourteen (14) days following the live 
session.
    All members of the public are invited to participate in these 
regional roundtables. All attendees will be provided a ``Know Before 
You Go'' guide at least seven (7) days prior to the regional 
roundtables. Grantees are asked to register for the events on the 
BroadbandUSA website at https://broadbandusa.ntia.doc.gov/events/latest-events. Each registrant to provide their first and last name, 
city, state, zip code, job title, organization and email address for 
registration purposes.
    Individuals requiring accommodations such as sign language 
interpretation or other ancillary aids, are asked to notify the NTIA 
contact listed above at least fourteen (14) business days before the 
event. General questions and comments are welcome via email to 
[email protected].

    Dated: December 11, 2024.
Stephanie Weiner,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2024-30271 Filed 12-18-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-60-P
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