UPCOMING ULC EVENT
ACP Next Steps: A Pathway to Affordable Broadband and Greater Digital Equity
United States
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The U.S. Congress failed to extend funding for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), and now up to 23 million households may lose access to affordable broadband service as soon as next month. With this financial lifeline winding down for millions of lower income families, veterans and seniors, how can libraries continue to help close the digital gap?
During the COVID-19 pandemic, libraries were instrumental in improving how people got online from erecting cellular towers, to providing devices like Wi-Fi hotspots, to helping eligible households receive ACP benefits. While many of these pandemic-era programs are winding down, libraries are finding new ways to ensure their customers stay connected and can thrive.
Join this webinar to understand the ways public libraries can continue to provide sustainable broadband access in their communities. Hear from library leaders on the importance of effective partnerships and collaborations and a post-ACP world. Attendees will also learn how to access your state’s Digital Equity Plan to identify new pathways to meet your community’s goals.
Speakers:
- Joshua Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer, DigitalC
- Michelle Simon, Director, Pima County Office of Digital Inclusion
- Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director, Cleveland Public Library
QUESTIONS? Contact [email protected] for help with this event.
Michelle Hamiel, Chief of Programs, Urban Libraries Council
Michelle strengthens the urban library role in local ecosystems and advances partnerships and programs resulting in systemic change. She is known and respected throughout public libraries for her leadership to diversify the profession, to serve marginalized communities and to increase racial and social equity. Prior to joining ULC, Michelle served as Prince George's County Memorial Library System's chief operating officer and led the mission, vision, innovation and operations of the library's 19 branches and the county detention center.
Joshua Edmonds, Chief Executive Officer, DigitalC
Joshua Edmonds is the Chief Executive Officer of DigitalC, a nonprofit technology social enterprise headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, committed to disruptive telecommunications, digital equity, and facilitating community-based collaborations.
Prior to joining DigitalC, Joshua was appointed to serve as America’s first municipal Director of Digital Inclusion at the City of Detroit. There, he created the Office of Digital Inclusion (ODI), developed Detroit’s first municipal fiber optic broadband plan, established Connect 313, a 600+ member public private partnership devoted to bridging Detroit’s digital divide. In addition, Joshua was selected to testify in front of the US Congress on the matter of digital equity. During Joshua’s tenure, he oversaw the deployment of over $70M of public, private, and philanthropic capital earmarked for establishing digital equity in Detroit.
Joshua has served as a Digital Inclusion Policy Fellow at the University of Michigan, a Digital Innovation Fellow at The Cleveland Foundation, and a Cleveland Foundation Public Service Fellow at the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority working on President Obama’s ConnectHome initiative. Among others, Joshua has been recognized by Forbes, the Federal Communications Commission, Next Century Cities, Government Technology, the NAACP, and the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for his contributions to the field.
Michelle Simon, Director of Digital Inclusion, Pima County Office of Digital Inclusion
Michelle Simon is the Director of Pima County’s Office of Digital Inclusion. Her previous role as the Deputy Director of Support Services for the Pima County Public Library afforded her the opportunity to create the Connect Pima taskforce, a collaboration between County departments, municipalities, community-based organizations, and internet service providers to further the goals of digital equity and inclusion.
Michelle spearheaded the hotspot and Chromebook checkout program at the Library, implemented the Hotspots around Town project (120 free wifi hotspots in the community) in partnership with Cox Communications, and managed a collaborative grant-writing effort for the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program. As a result, Pima County received a $30.3M federal grant award from the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to build the Pima County Regional Broadband Fiberoptic Ring (135-miles). Her passion for digital equity and inclusion will help everyone in Pima County gain access to the resources they need to be successful in this increasingly digital age.
Felton Thomas, Jr., Executive Director, Cleveland Public Library
Felton Thomas, Jr. has served as Executive Director of Cleveland Public Library (CPL) since January, 2009.
As Director of Cleveland Public Library, Thomas has launched initiatives aimed at addressing community needs in the areas of access to technology, education, and economic development.
Director Thomas’ awards and accomplishments include being named a “Mover and Shaker” by the Library Journal and being named a White House Champion of Change for Making in 2016. Nationally, in 2015, Felton was elected as President-Elect of the Public Library Association (PLA), served as President in 2016. Felton is currently the Chair of the Digital Public Library of America. He also serves as a trustee on the boards of FRONT International, University Circle Inc., Cleveland Museum of Art and United Way of Greater Cleveland.