Spring Community Broadband Summit

Connecting Communities Through Broadband Technology

On Saturday, April 28th, Connect.DC hosted a Spring Community Broadband Summit. Hundreds of residents, businesses, and nonprofits from across the city gathered in Ward 8 to explore the intersection of technology and economic opportunity in local communities. This event featured:

• Remarks and Digital Inclusion Day Proclamation by Mayor Vincent C. Gray
• Keynote speech by Angela Simpson, Chief of Staff, National Telecommunications and Information Administration
• Expert Q&A Panel Discussions
• Breakout sessions on how community anchors and others can connect to the DC Community Access Network (DC-CAN)
• Demonstrations of the newly created Broadband Speed Test and Broadband Use Survey
• Digital Inclusion Achievement Award, presented to Gerard Cooper and the IT Computer Wiz Kids
• Connect.DC Raffle, where nine participants won a laptop or iPad
• Grant workshop, held to introduce the SBI Subgrant Program, which will provide microgrants to small businesses, multimedia entities and community groups
• Meeting of the Connect.DC Community Advisory Board

Many thanks to our partners for providing additional activities throughout the day:

• Technology exhibits by nearly 30 government agencies, local businesses and community partners showcasing online content and demonstrating Internet applications
• Online financial literacy tutorials provided courtesy of Bank on DC
• Hands-on technology coaching provided by Bread for the City
   

NTIA Blog Post highlighting the event: Promoting Digital Inclusion in the Nation's Capital