[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 46 (Wednesday, March 9, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12475-12476]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-05261]


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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

National Telecommunications and Information Administration


Community BroadbandUSA Connectivity Initiative Workshop

AGENCY: National Telecommunications and Information Administration, 
U.S. Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice of open meetings.

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SUMMARY: The National Telecommunications and Information Administration 
(NTIA), through the BroadbandUSA program, will hold a half-day workshop 
on March 22, 2016, to engage stakeholders in developing meaningful 
measures for community broadband access, adoption, policy and use as 
part of its efforts to develop the Community Connectivity Initiative. 
The Community Connectivity Initiative will provide a framework to 
enable local leaders to better assess their community connectivity and 
strengthen efforts to align broadband technology with local policies 
and priorities. The Community Connectivity Initiative will include a 
tool for helping communities assess their broadband readiness. 
Stakeholder participation is critical to the design and implementation 
of the self-assessment tool. NTIA will convene this workshop to provide 
opportunities for participants to share insights and suggestions on the 
design of the program. NTIA also

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announces two webinars to provide additional information on the 
Community Connectivity Initiative.

DATES: The Community Connectivity Initiative Workshop will be held on 
March 22, 2016, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Pacific Daylight Time. 
The first webinar will be held on March 24, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 
3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time. The second webinar will be held on 
April 12, 2016, from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Eastern Daylight Time.

ADDRESSES: The Workshop will be held in the Chief Seattle Conference 
Room of the Federal Office Building (FOB), 909 1st Avenue, Seattle, WA 
98174. Individuals are subject to security screening in order to enter 
the building.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:  Barbara Brown, National 
Telecommunications and Information Administration, U.S. Department of 
Commerce, Room 4889, 1401 Constitution Avenue NW., Washington, DC 
20230; telephone: (202) 280-8260; email: [email protected]. Please 
direct media inquiries to NTIA's Office of Public Affairs, (202) 482-
7002; email: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: NTIA's BroadbandUSA program provides expert 
advice and field-proven tools for assessing broadband adoption, 
planning new infrastructure and engaging a wide range of partners in 
broadband projects. BroadbandUSA convenes workshops on a regular basis 
to bring stakeholders together to discuss ways to improve broadband 
policies, share best practices, and connect communities to other 
federal agencies and funding sources for the purpose of expanding 
broadband infrastructure and adoption throughout America's communities.
    The Community Connectivity Initiative is a recommendation of the 
Broadband Opportunity Council, an inter-agency working group 
established by the White House in 2015 ``to use all available and 
appropriate authorities to: Identify and address regulatory barriers 
that may unduly impede either wired broadband deployment or the 
infrastructure to augment wireless broadband deployment; encourage 
further public and private investment in broadband networks and 
services; promote the adoption and meaningful use of broadband 
technology; and otherwise encourage or support broadband deployment, 
competition, and adoption in ways that promote the public interest.''
    The workshop and webinars will be open to the public and press. 
Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-serve basis. 
Online registration is available for both the in-person workshop on 
March 22, 2016, and the webinars on March 24, 2016, and April 12, 2016, 
at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-connectivity-workshop-tickets-22458391654. NTIA asks registrants to provide their first and 
last names and email addresses for both registration purposes and to 
receive any updates on the Community Connectivity Initiative. If 
capacity for the workshop is reached, NTIA will maintain a waiting list 
and will inform those on the waiting list if space becomes available. 
Additional information about these events as well as meeting updates, 
changes in the agenda, if any, and relevant documents will be available 
on NTIA's Web site at https://www.ntia.doc.gov/other-publication/2016/nwcommunityinitiativeworkshop.
    The workshop and webinars are accessible to people with 
disabilities. Individuals requiring accommodations, such as language 
interpretation or other ancillary aids, are asked to notify Barbara 
Brown at the contact information listed above at least five (5) 
business days before the meeting.

    Dated: March 4, 2016.
Kathy D. Smith,
Chief Counsel, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-05261 Filed 3-8-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3510-60-P