Schools Health And Libraries Broadband Coalition

THE SHLB COALITION IS A MISSION-DRIVEN, MEMBERSHIP-SUPPORTED ORGANIZATION. SHLB'S STATED MISSION IS "FOR EVERY ANCHOR INSTITUTION IN THE COUNTRY TO HAVE AFFORDABLE, HIGH-QUALITY BROADBAND THAT IS OPEN AND ACCESSIBLE TO THE SURROUNDING COMMUNITY."

THE SHLB COALITION WAS ABLE TO RENEW ITS IN-PERSON EVENTS IN 2022 AFTER THE COVID PANDEMIC ENDED. WE HELD AN IN-PERSON SYMPOSIUM IN APRIL 2022 AT THE HAMILTON RESTAURANT IN DOWNTOWN DC. THE PROGRAM FEATURED A POLICY DISCUSSION WITH NTIA (DOUG KINKOPH) AND TWO SHLB BOARD MEMBERS (RACHELLE CHONG AND LARRY IRVING). WE RAISED SPONSORSHIP FUNDING OF $205,503 AND ABOUT 150 PEOPLE ATTENDED AT NO CHARGE. AFTER CANCELING OUR ANNUAL CONFERENCE ("ANCHORNETS") IN 2020 AND 2021, WE RENEWED THE CONFERENCE IN 2022 WITH GREAT SUCCESS. ALMOST 400 PEOPLE ATTENDED THE EVENT FROM OCT. 12-14, 2022 AT THE SHERATON CRYSTAL CITY HOTEL IN THE DC REGION. THE CONFERENCE INCLUDED WORKSHOPS, PLENARY ADDRESSES, AND BREAK-OUT SESSIONS WITH PRESENTATIONS FROM GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS, PUBLIC INTEREST GROUPS AND PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES.

THE SHLB COALITION MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW AND PROVIDED THE LARGEST AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR THE ORGANIZATION. MEMBERSHIP GREW TO APPROXIMATELY 325 ORGANIZATIONS BY THE END OF 2022 AND REFLECTED A DIVERSITY OF ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS, BROADBAND PROVIDERS, CONSULTANTS, AND OTHER PUBLIC INTEREST ORGANIZATIONS. WE CONTINUED TO HOLD POLICY CALLS FOR THE FULL MEMBERSHIP EVERY TWO WEEKS (USUALLY ATTENDED BY 120-130 PEOPLE) ALONG WITH 7 MONTHLY POLICY GROUP CALLS (ON SPECTRUM, INFRASTRUCTURE, POLE ATTACHMENTS, E-RATE, RHC, HIGHER EDUCATION AND BROADBAND MAPPING). OUR ANNUAL REPORT SUMMARIZED OUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS AND LISTED THE 54 NEW MEMBERS THAT JOINED IN 2022

THE SHLB COALITION CONTINUES TO ENGAGE IN WIDE-RANGING POLICY ADVOCACY TO SOLVE THE "DIGITAL DIVIDE" BY PROMOTING OPEN, AFFORDABLE BROADBAND FOR ANCHOR INSTITUTIONS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES. WE FILED COMMENTS AND MET WITH OFFICIALS IN CONGRESS, AT THE FCC AND NTIA ON UNIVERSAL SERVICE REFORM, ON POLE ATTACHMENT POLICIES, ON E-RATE AND RURAL HEALTHCARE REFORM, AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BROADBAND EQUITY ACCESS AND DEPLOYMENT (BEAD) PROGRAM, THE DIGITAL EQUITY ACT, AND THE CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND. WE ALSO SUPPORTED CONTINUED FUNDING FOR THE AFFORDABLE CONNECTIVITY PROGRAM AND THE EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUND (ECF). WE HAD SEVERAL SUCCESSES, INCLUDING CONVINCING THE FCC TO EXTEND THE SERVICE DELIVERY DEADLINE FOR THE ECF PROGRAM, AND PERSUADING THE FCC TO OPEN A RULEMAKING PROCEEDING ON POLE ATTACHMENTS. WE ALSO INITIATED A COALITION (WITH INCOMPAS AND NTCA) TO PROMOTE REFORM OF THE USF CONTRIBUTION MECHANISM, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE FCC ISSUED A REPORT IN AUGUST THAT DISAGREED WITH OUR POLICY RECOMMENDATION ON THIS TOPIC. WE ALSO INCREASED OUR CONTACTS AND ADVOCACY WITH STATE BROADBAND OFFICIALS WHO HAVE THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY FOR DISTRIBUTING BEAD AND DIGITAL EQUITY ACT FUNDING. WE ALSO SECURED FUNDING AND PUBLISHED AN ECONOMIC STUDY BY DR. RAUL KATZ (WITH THE OPEN TECHNOLOGY INSTITUTE OF NEW AMERICA) DEMONSTRATING THE ECONOMIC BENEFITS OF ALLOWING SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES TO DEPLOY WIRELESS BROADBAND SERVICE TO COMMUNITIES IN NEED.