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Mississippi Broadband Association (MSBA)

Connect and Literacy Program 501 C(3) Tax Deductible Fund

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Thank you for your interest.

In this presentation you will learn how MSBA plans to remove barriers to Digital Opportunities across MS.

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Getting to know MSBA

Mission Statement

Non-Profit

Focus

Mission Statement:

Assist our members and communities in the expansion, accessibility, utilization and sustainability of fiber based broadband services across Mississippi

501 C(6) non-profit - member driven and community centric association

Membership - advocate for and assist our members collectively navigate fiber based broadband expansion and sustainability while creating a cohesive and synergistic environment in and between the private and public sectors.

Community - resource for city and county leadership while focusing on the household, ensuring access to broadband services by addressing barriers to digital opportunity

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MS Unserved and Underserved Broadband locations…

*268,861+ UNSERVED

*39,444+ UNDERSERVED

**20.42 + % OF HOUSEHOLDS

* BEAM State Broadband Office ** FCC Data

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MSBA’s Vision

A Mississippi where every household and business has access to high-quality affordable fiber-based broadband services and large screen devices, enabling them to fully participate in the digital economy and take advantage of the numerous opportunities it offers.

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Mississippi’s Reality

Historically an impoverished state with vast socioeconomical issues.

  • *52% of MS’s Population at Risk of missing out on Digital opportunities

  • **33% of Population below the ALICE

  • 19% of Population at or Below the poverty line

  • 6.7 % of MS Households do not have a home computer

  • 32% + Working Adults are digitally Illiterate (based on national averages)
    • Higher in the African American and Hispanic Communities – 50% and 57% respectfully

  • 79.3% of MS Counties are rural
    • Creates High Cost of deployment

* 2020 Census Data and digital equality act ** https://spotlightonpoverty.org/states/mississippi/ ***Purdue University – DDI Index

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Mississippi has a plan…

  • The state broadband office, BEAM, is administering 1.365 + billion in federal grants to address broadband expansion and accessibility
  • MSBA has chosen to address barriers to digital opportunities through our Connect and Literacy Fund (C&L Fund)
    • Affordability
    • Digital literacy
    • Device Distribution

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Connect and Literacy (C&L) Fund

Affordable Connectivity

Digital Literacy

Device Distribution

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Fund Objectives

  • Work with local stakeholders and partners to remove barriers to digital opportunity across all demographics represented in MS
    • Affordability
    • Digital Literacy
    • Device Ownership
  • Impact: MS will have a better and brighter future in regards education, telehealth services, our digital economy and quality of life for all residence.

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Working to insure affordable broadband for all Mississippians

Step One: Affordability

  • Broadening the Definition of Affordability
    • Educating End Users of the opportunities Broadband provided
    • Encouraging Reallocation of Entertainment $
      • Migration to Fiber based streaming services

  • Encourage ISP to offer 1 low cost

high speed product offering

Digital Oppurtunity

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Replacement of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)

Expited ACP Federal Program Support

  • $30/$75 Monthly Service Allowance
  • $100 toward a device cost
  • 240,000 Households

Proposed utilization of TANF Funds

  • 135% of Poverty Line
  • Short term subsidy that would allow household invest in themselves to pay for broadband connectivity at the end of the program
  • 360,000 +/- Eligible Households

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A Peak into MS ACP Numbers…

  • 233K or 20.8 % Households are using the program
  • 380K Additional Households Eligible
    • Source: Education Superhighway

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�Advocacy to the Internet Service Provider (ISP)

  • Debt forgiveness programs
  • Minimal upfront equipment cost
  • Pre-paid options
  • Low-cost service option
    • Benchmarked against ACP
    • Recommending 100/20 minimum MBPS to support:
      • Telehealth
      • Educational
      • Entertainment
      • And a new way of life…

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Providing Hands on Digital Literacy classes across MS

Affordability

Community Based Digital Literacy Classes.

Step Two: Digital Literacy

lDigital Oppurtunity

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Digital Literacy Components….

Curriculum

Facilities

Instructors

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Turning the pages on the curriculum

15 hr. program Focusing on 8 areas of Digital literacy

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Proposed Facility Partnership

Plans to partner with:

MS Community Colleges

MSU Extension Offices

Other trusted local anchor Institutions

People look to these groups as trusted resources for training and support in their communities

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Instructors are key

Qualification:

  • Trusted
  • Educated/Trainable
  • Respected
  • Well Organized
  • Community Oriented

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To help provide devices to those that have a genuine desire to join the digital world.

Once the Individual graduates and qualifies for ACP, They are given a device to navigate their digital needs .

Step Three: Device Ownership

Digital Literacy

Affordability

Digital Oppurtunity

177,676 Mississippians do not have

access to an in-house device

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Why is a device so important?

It’s the end user's connection to world and the digital economy

Yet 6% of Mississippi residences lack access to in home computers

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Does an Individual Quality for a Device?

Household Income above the 200% poverty level

They have not completed a digital literacy class hosted or sponsored by MSBA

They already have or have no need for an additional device in the home

Do They Quality for ACP Benefits

https://www.fcc.gov/acp

Have they Completed a Digital Literacy Class hosted or Sponsored by MSBA.

Do they plan to keep the device in the home for a period of 12 months

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Digital Oppurtunity

Once the individual has conquered the 3 Barriers to Digital Oppurtunity

Step One: Affordable Connectivity

Step Two: Digital Literacy

Step Three: Device Distribution

They are afforded all the opportunities connectivity has to offer! .

“If we want to include everyone, we have to help everyone develop their talents and use their gifts for the good of the community. That’s what Oppurtunity means– everyone contributes.”

–Melinda Gates

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Connect and Literacy Fund

Impact to Mississippi

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A Connected MS is a Better MS!

  • Better Access to Education

  • Better HealthCare

  • Stronger Economy

  • Better way of life!

Mississippi’s expanding broadband to every corner of our state. We’re attracting the jobs of tomorrow by improving our connectivity today. We’ll continue working to ensure that every Mississippian has access to broadband regardless of their zip code - Honorable Governor Tate Reeves

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How does Connectivity Influence the Individual

Socially

Financially

Phycological

  • Socially
    • Connected Local, nationally and globally to digital opportunities
    • Exposure to other cultures and ways of life
    • Human adaptation
  • Financially
    • Chance at a better life
    • Hire paying job opportunities
    • Remote access to jobs based in other markets
  • Psychologically
    • Peace of mind
    • Ability to provide for family
    • Able to give a better way of life for future generations

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How the fund will impact MS Economy

We are only as strong as our most under equipped and challenged demographics

  • Lower unemployment in historic higher demographics

  • Skilled labor for industry recruitment

  • Reducing the demand of social dependence

  • Workforce development improvement

  • Higher tax base

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Impact on Internet Adoption Rates and Utilization

#1 concern for the ISPs, MSBA and the State Broadband Offices is network sustainability

  • Drives higher internet adoption rates by:
    • Make it affordable
    • Help people understand it
    • Putting a device in the home
  • Increase customer retention
    • Educating and showcasing the importance of broadband connectivity

Thus, helping to ensure the sustainability of 1.365 Billion in network expansion

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C&L Fund Recap

Focusing on:

Affordable Connectivity

Digital Skills

Device Distribution

  • Affordable Connectivity

  • Digital Literacy

  • Device Distribution

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C&L Fund Questions and Constructive Feedback

MSBA values your input:

Email: Quinn Jordan

quinnjordan@msba.info

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Once in a Generational Investment Opportunity

Mississippi’s Chance to Shine

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Current C&L Fund Partnerships

Non- Profit and Philanthropy

Industry

Higher Education

  • Non-Profits and Philanthropy
    • Education Superhighway
    • MS Non-Profits and Philanthropy
    • Digitunity
    • Communities Unlimited
    • The Enterprise – Chattanooga
    • Community Foundation For MS
    • Connect Humanity
    • Mega Pop (North MS)
  • Industry
    • 8 - MS Internet Service Providers
    • 2- National Construction Companies
  • K12 and Higher Education
    • Hinds Community College
    • Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College
    • Coahoma Community College
    • Ole Miss ( ACP Outreach grant)

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C&L Financial Summary Overview

    • Affordable Connectivity
      • $2.4 M
      • 150,000 Households
      • 3Y Push/10 Yr. Commitment

    • Digital Literacy
      • $4.750 M
      • 36,000 households impacted
      • Free for ACP recipient
      • $25 Fee Non-ACP participants (pd to MSBA)
      • 1 Classes per month in each of the 15-community college ecosystem
        • With any anchor institution rotated by County

    • Device Distribution
      • ACP recipients only
      • 6.118 Million
      • 20,000 Households
      • $25 Co-Pay (pd to MSBA)

    • Plus % annual investment management fee –
      • Community Foundation of MS - 501 C3

10 Year - $13.268 M Investment

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Investor ROI

Socioeconomic Impact

Better Workforce

Economic Growth

Socioeconomic Impact

    • Your company's chance to help change a state by investing in its #1 asset – Its People
      • MS only gets better when our population is better equipment for the future

Workforce Development

    • Access to a better equipped and trained workforce for skilled labor will be key to business and industry considering expansion into MS

Economic Impact

    • Comes on the heals of individual success! If our people can be shown that they can, THEY WILL!
    • Skilled labor = higher paying jobs = expendable income

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How can you invest in the C&L Fund

In-Kind

Financial Contributions

In-kind Contributions

    • Host ACP and Literacy Events
    • Donation of new or refurbished devices and tech support
    • Donate trainer time
    • Volunteer coordination and services

Financial Contributions through our 501 C(3) Partner

Community Foundation of MS

MSBA Connect and Literacy Fund

119 South President Street, 1st Floor�Jackson, MS 39201

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Together we can…

With…

Honesty

Trust

And Transparency

Make a difference in MS!

One Person

One Community

One Ecosystem

And one State

At a time!

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Quinn Jordan

Mississippi Broadband Association

Executive Director

  • Contact Number: 6017578400
  • Email: quinnjordan@msba.info
  • Physical and Mailing Address:

1121 North Jefferson St, Jackson, Mississippi 39202, United States