Digital Opportunity Lab

Baltimore bootcamp

Local communities are eager to solve their own connectivity challenges and ensure that everyone in their city/town has access to the tools necessary to fully participate in an Internet-connected world. But for many, the technology, terminology, and politics involved can be confusing or overly complex.

It doesn’t have to be that way.

That’s why we created our Digital Opportunity Lab initiative – an in-person program held over one or two days that demystifies the technology involved and helps participants build the confidence needed to take full advantage of the digital opportunities Internet connectivity offers.

TBB hard hat and conduit

Built on the success of the ongoing Tribal Broadband Bootcamps – and our many previous community engagements around digital access issues with cities across the nation – the Digital Opportunity Lab is tailored to offer a customizable hands-on program that supports digital inclusion coalitions working on the front lines to bridge the digital divide in their communities.

The formula behind the Digital Opportunity Labs is simple. It leverages the deep knowledge of ILSR’s Community Broadband Networks team – working in collaboration with our community activation partners – to help foster a thriving ecosystem in support of local digital inclusion plans and efforts.

It’s an organic approach that can bring together local broadband champions, elected officials, and community organizations working toward the common goal of connecting everyone, particularly those who have been left on the wrong side of the digital divide.

DeAnne in action

Once formally engaged, we work with local community partners to host the Digital Opportunity Lab at a local venue and help facilitate outreach efforts. On the day(s) of the event, we would also organize, coordinate, and execute the agreed upon lab agenda.

An ideal cohort for the Digital Opportunity Lab is between 20 and 45 registered attendees who will immerse into a hands-on digital deep dive, embark on an exploration of user-friendly digital tools, and be introduced to an array of other capacity-building resources.

Attendees should expect to emerge from these labs with a solid handle on:

  • Common jargon used in broadband
Digital Op Lab Chris holding splicer

 

  • The basics of available Internet network technologies, including the fundamentals of wireless networks and how they can be used to target areas or neighborhoods that have been left behind

 

  • How to identify local broadband challenges and potential solutions

     

  • Overview of funding opportunities available to help implement local digital inclusion plans

     

  • What creative/innovative things other communities have done/are doing to meet similar challenges

     

  • Guidance on creating local coalitions

     

  • Where to find a compendium of useful resources

 

For further inquiries or more information please contact our Associate Director for Outreach, DeAnne Cuellar at [email protected]