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The  Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) Program will provide significant funding for states to close the digital divide for underserved communities. On October 3, 2023, The Marconi Society continued our webinar series on state-level planning in this area by showcasing the activities underway in North Carolina.

Leaders from North Carolina joined us to talk about ways the state is addressing their needs. Panelists included: 

• Tracy Doaks, Moderator, CEO & President, MCNC
• Nate Denny, North Carolina Deputy Secretary for Broadband & Digital Equity
• Tracy Futhey, Chief Information Officer & Vice President, Duke University
• Patrick Fleming, Chief Information Officer, NC Community Colleges
• Bo Coughlin, Chief Operating Officer, Fybe
• Tracy Olson, CEO, NC Telehealth Network
• Tommy Jacobson, COO, MCNC

The discussion underscores the multifaceted nature of digital equity challenges and the need for ongoing collaborative efforts, education, and funding initiatives to create meaningful and sustainable change in addressing these disparities in North Carolina and beyond. 

Community Building:

Developing the organizational infrastructure is just as important as deploying the technology for communities to gain all the benefits of broadband services. The panel addressed community building in the first segment of the discussion.

• The panelists agree on the importance of local solutions and building a digital equity ecosystem by recognizing existing efforts and connecting resources where they are most needed. Nate Denny, North Carolina Deputy Secretary for Broadband & Digital Equity, highlights the significance of amplifying local voices and letting local leaders identify the gaps and strengths within their communities.

• Some organizations are doing digital equity work without explicitly labeling it as such. For example, the bakery owners who offer free public Wi-Fi at their store would likely not classify themselves as digital equity practitioners, but they are addressing a need in their community.

• Tracy Futhey, Chief Information Officer at Duke University, talks about the NC Share project, which aims to bridge the resource gap between larger research universities and smaller colleges in the state. This collaborative effort involves sharing computational and research network capacity among institutions, ensuring that smaller colleges can access resources they might not be able to afford individually. Tracy emphasizes the importance of public and private partnerships and collaboration across sectors to provide equitable access to resources in North Carolina.

• Other examples of community building in the digital equity space include state grants for local nonprofits who are working in their communities to support connectivity, devices, and digital. Duke University is helping North Carolina Central University connect to housing authority sites to strengthen network infrastructure for students and families.
  

• “Our job here with this unprecedented funding opportunity]is not to create new things, not to build new things here at the state level. But really make sure that we are looking for the solutions and the solution makers locally,” states Nate Denny.

Quality of Life:

Once broadband access is widely available, how is the quality of life within a community affected? The panel described positive impacts in several areas.

• Tracy Olson, CEO, NC Telehealth Network, emphasizes the significance of telehealth as an innovative solution, particularly when individuals face barriers like lack of transportation or childcare. Permanent legislation supporting the use of telehealth is crucial to ensuring its effectiveness in bridging healthcare gaps.

• Tracy Futhey shares that there are significant opportunities with online learning, which can raise educational standards for people who lack access to traditional institutions. However, challenges include identity and credentialing issues, making it difficult for learners to transfer credits or validate their educational achievements. In this case, closing the digital divide 

• Ultimately, preparing the workforce to address digital equity will be an economic boost for the state. Patrick Fleming talks about the challenges faced in securing new infrastructure and provisioning Internet access, leading to cybersecurity issues like ransomware attacks. However, these challenges also presented opportunities for collaboration and skill development. Community colleges initiated cybersecurity training programs and issued certificates to prepare individuals for employment in cybersecurity-related fields.

• These solutions are not one size fits all. Tracy Futhey challenges everyone to address these challenges with the individual in mind. “Don’t just try to lift and shift what you’ve done to somebody else, right? But really try to understand what it is they’re grappling with.” 

Continuous Improvement 

Broadband deployment and gaining access to services is just the start. As broadband technology and the applications it enables continue to evolve, support for digital equity must advance as well.

• Bo Coughlin, Chief Operating Officer for Fybe, talks about the challenges faced by last-mile fiber optic providers, such as fulfilling promises made to provide high-speed Internet services to underserved areas. He emphasizes the long-term, multi-generational impact of the lack of broadband access and how, in turn, addressing these issues will require sustained efforts over multiple generations.
  
• The panelists emphasize the continuous nature of addressing digital equity. They reject the idea of a “finish line” and stress the importance of ongoing efforts, community partnerships, and advocacy to enhance digital access and skills. Collaboration between government agencies, nonprofits, educational institutions, and other stakeholders is vital for sustained progress. The speakers highlight the need to establish baselines, continually improve digital access, and invest in community building to ensure a holistic approach to digital equity.
  
• The work continues in North Carolina. Tommy Jacobson shares that the partnership between Fybe and MCNC has led to the significant extension of infrastructure in homes in 11 counties in southeastern North Carolina. MCNC plans to do more even after the current projects are completed.