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<div style="direction: ltr;font-family: Tahoma;color: #000000;font-size: 10pt;">Greetings!
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<div>Please pardon the cross-postings -- the following free webinar below may be of interest to some of you.
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><font face="Calibri"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><font face="Calibri">You are invited to join NTIA’s BroadbandUSA team f<br>
or an upcoming webinar on April 19<sup>th</sup>.</font></span></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www2.ntia.doc.gov/node/1006" target="_blank"><font face="Calibri">Strategies for Broadband Adoption and Digital Inclusion in Rural Communities</font></a></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><b><u>Date:</u></b> Wednesday, April 19, 2017</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><b><u>Time:</u></b> 2:00pm EST (11:00a PT)</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><span style="text-decoration:none"><font face="Calibri"> </font></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><b><u>Overview:</u></b> This webinar will focus on strategies to promote broadband adoption and digital inclusion in rural communities
<b>highlighting the role of libraries and university extension programs</b>. The speakers will discuss research findings on the effect of broadband adoption on rural economic development, as well as program strategies to facilitate digital inclusion, such
as mobile-hotspot lending programs, community outreach and digital skills training. Emy Tseng, Senior Broadband Program Specialist, BroadbandUSA will facilitate the discussion.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><font face="Calibri">Speakers:</font></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="Calibri">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Dr. Brian Whitacre, Professor, Department of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="Calibri">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Dr. Bharat Mehra, Associate Professor, Scholl of Information Sciences, University of Tennessee Knoxville</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="Calibri">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span>Katie Hill, Director, Coffeyville (Kansas) Public Library</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><font face="Calibri">To register for this webinar click <a href="https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6187533949562924034" target="_blank">
here</a>.</font></b></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">For more information about BroadbandUSA and its programs and publications visit the
<a href="https://www2.ntia.doc.gov/technical_assistance" target="_blank">website</a>.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><b><u><font face="Calibri">What is BroadbandUSA?</font></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri">The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) developed BroadbandUSA to provide assistance to stakeholders (government, industry, nonprofit) that want to expand their broadband capacity and promote
broadband adoption. BroadbandUSA brings stakeholders together to solve problems, contribute to emerging policies, link stakeholders to other federal agencies and funding sources, and address barriers to collaboration across agencies.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="Calibri">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><a href="https://www2.ntia.doc.gov/technical_assistance" target="_blank">Technical Assistance:</a> BroadbandUSA provides technical assistance to state and local governments, industry and non-profits that want to improve their broadband capacity and use
broadband more effectively.</font></p>
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</span><a href="https://www2.ntia.doc.gov/publications" target="_blank">Publications:</a> BroadbandUSA provides expert, impartial advice and field-proven tools for assessing broadband adoption, planning new infrastructure and engaging in a wide range of partners<span style="color:#1F497D">,
</span>especially private providers, in broadband projects.</font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in; text-indent: -0.25in;"><font face="Calibri">·<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><a href="https://www2.ntia.doc.gov/CCI" target="_blank">Connectivity Initiative:</a> BroadbandUSA is engaging community, corporate and civic leaders to develop and finalize a set of connectivity indicators, create a strategic online self-assessment,
and expand resources that support and accelerate local broadband planning efforts.</font></p>
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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><b><span style="color: rgb(0, 32, 96);">Broadband</span></b><b><span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);">USA</span></b></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#002060"><font face="Calibri">Office of Community Engagement</font></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#404040"><font face="Calibri">National Telecommunications and Information Administration</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#7F7F7F"><font face="Calibri">U.S. Department of Commerce</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt; color:#7F7F7F"><font face="Calibri">(202) 482-2048</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"> </font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Calibri"><span style="color:#002060">Explore funding options in our</span>
<span style="color:#C00000"><a href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/publications/broadband_fed_funding_guide.pdf" target="_blank"><span style="color:#C00000">Guide to Federal Funding of Broadband Projects</span></a></span></font></p>
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