US Ignite hosted a discussion on how community members are rising to the challenge of COVID-19 by finding ways to bridge broadband gaps in our rapidly evolving world. We assembled a panel of experts and convened participants from the cohort of over 30 communities that are part of our Smart Gigabit Communities project, which was started with funding from the National Science Foundation. Panelists shared real-world experiences and the resources they used to ramp up efforts in dense, urban environments with CBRS-backed public wifi, with a statewide system of school bus hotspots, and with a new network of solar-powered, mobile hotspots built on a network of trailers.

We’re including a list of resources from panelists below, including data sources and tools, and some examples of how communities are expanding coverage to get more people connected.

US Ignite would like to thank the panelists, and everyone who is stepping up during the crisis for their hard work and support.

Resources

• IT DRC.org
• Phila.gov
• coronavirus.dc.gov

Examples

• How parking a wireless school bus can help all students get back to school
• S.C. to Send Wi-Fi Enabled School Buses Around State for Online Learning
• Louisa County Public Schools creating WiFi hot spots for students

Panelists

• Clayton Banks, CEO of Silicon Harlem in New York City
• Ryan Brown, Chief Communications Officers for the South Carolina Department of Education
• Kenneth Bouwens, Director of CTE- STEAM & Innovation for Louisa County Public Schools, VA