Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP) Laura Breeden, Program Director for PCC and SBA

1. Broadband Technology Opportunities Program (BTOP)Laura Breeden, Program Director for PCC and SBA March 8, 2012 Federal Communications Commission Intergovernmental Advisory Committee

2. The Recovery Act highlighted broadband as a key factor for promoting economic growth

3. In total, $4.2B in funding was distributed to 289 recipients across the five grant types More than 2,800 applications were received Construct 10,000 new network miles

4. BTOP projects are impacting communities and populations across the nation Targeted populations include: • Unserved areas: • 90% of households lack access to facilities-based, terrestrial broadband service at the minimum broadband transmission speed • Underserved areas: • 32% of households lack broadband access • Broadband transmission speeds are below the minimum of 768 Kbps downstream and 200 Kbps upstream • Vulnerable populations with low digital literacy or broadband access including: • Minorities • Low income households • Persons with disabilities • Rural residents • Senior citizens • People for whom English is a second language

5. Program activity is improving education, health and workforce outcomes Public Computer Centers Provide access to broadband, computer equipment, computer training, job training, and educational resources • Install and upgrade workstations with enhanced Internet connections and updated technology • Provide communities with physical space to access training opportunities, and develop valuable workforce skills • Break down common barriers to adoption through equipment and service subsidies, awareness campaigns, and training • Demonstrate to individuals the value of Internet in their lives as a means to communicate with others, learn new skills, and access social services Sustainable Broadband Adoption Promote broadband adoption, especially among vulnerable population groups

6. BTOP projects continue to improve digital literacy skills across the country • BTOP projects are developing and using a wide variety of educational tools to expand broadband access and adoption • BTOP recipients can share resources with other digital literacy practitioners and the general public through DigitalLiteracy.gov, building on the nation’s Recovery Act investments • DigitalLiteracy.gov includes more than 488 content resources and averages more than 1,000 visitors each week

7. DigitalLiteracy.gov is a resource for those who teach or want to learn computer skills • Created by the Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration in collaboration with 9 Federal agencies • Launched in May 2011, the site was developed to prepare more Americans for today’s jobs by capitalizing on BTOP investments • Connects educators, librarians, and other practitioners to free digital literacy training and career building applications that teach the online skills needed for today’s global workforce

8. NTIA promotes coordination among grantees through multiple recipient support activities • Disseminate best practices and technical assistance through webinars, drop-in conference calls, BTOP in Action, and BTOP Update • Created affinity groups to facilitate knowledge sharing among recipients, subrecipients, and vendors • Sponsor/co-sponsor conferences and other events to build stakeholder relationships and disseminate ideas • Conducted an in-depth analysis of recipient measurement methodologies as part of a series of technical assistance activities to improve SBA outcomes