- You will learn about digital broadband mapping here in St. Louis.
- You will learn about current technology; upload and download speeds,
latency, and jitter and why they are important to you!
- You will learn how to run a simple mapping test from your own devices.
Our goal is to inform all St. Louisans on how they utilize Federal stimulus funds to build
a brighter, more inclusive and connected digital future.
Time is of the essence!
The Federal government recently announced a sweeping $ 1.2 trillion stimulus package aimed at investing in and rebuilding America's infrastructure. Within that the “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act” has set aside $65 billion for broadband and historic levels of support for digital inclusion. The legislation will provide $42.5 billion for broadband deployment, $14 billion in subsidies for low-income people to connect to broadband, $1 billion for middle mile investments, and $2.75 billion for Digital Equity. Even though the $65 billion set aside for broadband sounds like a big number, which it is, there will be fierce competition amongst the fifty states and territories for those monies. Funding will likely be obligated soon, and some funds dispersed over the next five years.
For St. Louis to fully benefit from these monies, St. Louis area grant applicants will need a digital broadband map of the entire St. Louis area, and an engagement method that will allow for greater mapping granularity of challenged areas, Promise Zones, neighborhoods, new public spaces, main streets or innovative community solutions, to build stronger grant applications. The digital mapping identifies those areas in which improvements are most acutely needed in broadband access, and assures grant makers that their monies will be most effectively invested.
LETS BUILD THE MAP TOGETHER !
150 people joined us at the Dennis and Judith Jones Visitor & Education Center.
This workshop was our first step in collaboration with ALL St. Louis residents on how the right technology can be utilized all over the City and County to develop new growth and opportunities.
....
We learned that St. Louis residents feel a pent-up demand to succeed, and are ready to participate in building a better and more inclusive digital future for everyone.
We learned that bridging the digital divide has much greater importance here than in other cities.
We learned that Smart City is important, “because building a dumb city just doesn’t cut it”.
The only way this works is by doing this TOGETHER.
Which is why your participation is the KEY to SUCCESS.
Our inaugural event will tell you about the Digital Broadband Mapping initiative and how the iNeighborhoods & blossom team will map Saint Louis, as well as conduct specific mappings with higher granularity such as challenged areas, divides, Promise Zones, districts, new public spaces, main streets or neighborhoods. We will also show you how to participate and get your residence, business or property on the map. Lets watch the map grow together !
