[1st-mile-nm] McCain Advocates for Broadband Expansion in Arizona

[Richard Lowenberg]

I would suggest that the Four-Corner States cooperate more closely
on such opportunities, especially with regard to tribal and rural 
matters.
 From the NTIA's perspective, this may be a more significant approach.
RL

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McCain Advocates for Broadband Expansion in Arizona

26 April 2016   Rachael Dean
http://www.prescottenews.com/index.php/news/current-news/item/27567-mccain-advocates-for-broadband-expansion-in-arizona

SENATOR JOHN McCAIN URGES NTIA TO EXPAND BROADBAND ACCESS TO NATIVE 
AMERICAN RESERVATIONS & RURAL ARIZONA

Washington, D.C. ­– U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ) sent a letter to the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) today 
urging the agency to work with BroadbandUSA to hold an upcoming regional 
workshop in Arizona as a way to help communities expand broadband access 
and adoption – particularly across Native American reservations and 
rural parts of the state.

“As you may know, Arizona is home to 22 tribal reservations, including 
portions of the nation’s largest, the Navajo Nation. While Arizona has 
seen progress in broadband availability and speeds thanks in part to 
significant investments by the private sector, more work must be done, 
particularly in rural parts of the state,”writes Senator McCain. “Based 
on conversations I have had with communities in Arizona proactively 
working to improve broadband infrastructure, I believe a regional 
workshop organized by NTIA and BroadbandUSA would receive enthusiastic 
support in the state.”

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The letter:

April 26, 2016

Lawrence E. Strickling
Assistant Secretary for Communications and Information and 
Administrator,
National Telecommunications and Information Administration,
U.S. Department of Commerce
Herbert Hoover Building, Room 4898
Fourteenth Street and Constitution Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20230

Dear Mr. Strickling,

Among the most significant concerns of my constituents in Arizona’s 
rural communities, including on tribal lands, is broadband internet 
access. As you may know, Arizona is home to 22 tribal reservations, 
including portions of the nation’s largest, the Navajo Nation. While 
Arizona has seen progress in broadband availability and speeds thanks in 
part to significant investments by the private sector, more work must be 
done, particularly in rural parts of the state. These areas could most 
benefit from the educational opportunities, economic growth and medical 
and emergency services made possible through improved broadband access.

With this in mind, I write to enlist the technical expertise of the 
National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s (NTIA) 
BroadbandUSA program in partnering with Arizona stakeholders to improve 
broadband infrastructure in the state.

Relying on the expertise acquired through its work administering 
broadband-focused grants, NTIA’s BroadbandUSA is now “providing 
communities with technical and strategic advice on how to expand 
broadband access and adoption.” Based on conversations among staff, I 
appreciate your organization’s willingness to work with Arizona 
communities to provide this expertise.

I also understand that as part of its mission, BroadbandUSA is carrying 
out a series of regional workshops to aid communities seeking to expand 
local broadband deployment by providing “free hands-on technical 
assistance, toolkits, guides, webinars and other support.” NTIA has 
completed six of these regional workshops to date, from California and 
the Pacific Northwest, to Mississippi and New England. Given the unique 
and significant challenges facing Arizona and the southwest region in 
deploying broadband, particularly in rural areas and tribal lands, I 
believe Arizona would be a fitting location for a future regional 
workshop.

This workshop would be an opportunity for state, local and federal 
officials, tribal leaders, the private sector, broadband providers, and 
other community members to come together to better understand the 
challenges Arizona faces, to examine successful broadband efforts from 
other parts of the country, and to identify solutions for Arizona’s 
digital future. Based on conversations I have had with communities in 
Arizona proactively working to improve broadband infrastructure, I 
believe a regional workshop organized by NTIA and BroadbandUSA would 
receive enthusiastic support in the state. Please let me know if 
scheduling such a workshop in my home state is feasible in the near 
future.

Expanding high-quality and reliable broadband is necessary to ensure all 
Arizonans have access to basic telecommunications services for health 
care, public safety, and education, and to be sure these communities can 
be tap into 21st century opportunities in economic development. I 
appreciate your support in achieving this goal.

Sincerely,

John McCain


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Richard Lowenberg, Executive Director
1st-Mile Institute     505-603-5200
Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504,
rl at 1st-mile.org     www.1st-mile.org
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