Blog

---

We loved Digital Inclusion Week so much that we couldn’t just celebrate for seven days—so we decided to celebrate for a whole month instead. October was NTIA’s first ever “Digital Inclusion Month.” With the overarching theme of “Connected Communities” we uplifted and highlighted our programs most focused on the communities and people we serve. From our Tribal grant programs to our Internet for All initiatives, we believe everyone needs a connection to be connected. This also means equipping every generation with the technical skills they need to survive in the digital world.

Headquartered in Lenora, Kansas, Nex-Tech has been connecting people and businesses in rural Kansas for more than 70 years. In 1987, they were the first company in Northwest Kansas to offer services over fiber.

The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program will only succeed if every penny is wisely spent. This includes ensuring that subgrantees have the capacity  not just to  build and deploy high-speed Internet networks but to operate those networks for years to come, delivering Internet connectivity to areas that for too long have been left behind.   

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA)'s $2.75 billion Digital Equity Act Programs are critical for communities in need of access to affordable, reliable, high-speed Internet – an essential service in an increasingly digital world.

In August, I had the pleasure of visiting Totelcom’s offices and training facilities in De Leon, Texas. Totelcom is a family-owned, rural telecom provider that serves De Leon—with a population of just over 2,000—and the surrounding communities.