AppGeo: Big Changes Coming from the Pandemic-induced Pivot to Broadband

The national response to the Coronavirus pandemic generated a rapid shift to more online activity as a replacement for face-to-face and socially-connected activity, and this shift has made the digital divide (those lacking access to modern broadband connections at home) much more stark and visible.  Congress has recently passed legislation to create more accurate broadband mapping and it is expected that economic recovery action will include an infusion of new funding for broadband expansion to finally close the digital divide. As societal conditions return to a new normal after the pandemic, many of the recent shifts to the online world will become permanent.  All of this constitutes a major new pivot towards broadband with many impacts for state GIS leaders to consider. This webinar will explore the actions that state GIS leaders can take to support a smart and efficient deployment of broadband to the unserved as well as building the institutional infrastructure to conduct the business of government to the online community.  Now is the time to close the divide and deploy smart, locationally-intelligent applications that deliver on the promise of a fully connected community.