Please join Sierra Business Council at an upcoming workshop designed to collect important community feedback on broadband access and digital equity in the Sierra Nevada on May 12 from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

By attending and sharing your experiences, you can help the Sierra Nevada get the resources we need to improve our access to high-speed internet and continue to thrive. State, federal, and local officials will be traveling to our backyard to hear from you and your neighbors on internet connectivity and digital equity needs. Your input will help determine how future federal dollars will be allocated to Sierra Nevada communities and address broadband access issues in rural California. 

On behalf of El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, and Sierra Counties, our partners at the California Department of Technology (CDT) and the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) are hosting a workshop in the Sierra foothills to seek input for the development of the State Digital Equity Plan (SDEP) and the Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Five-Year Action Plan.

This event will be held at:

Grass Valley Veterans Memorial Building
255 S Auburn Street
Grass Valley, CA 95945
May 12, 10:00 am to 2:30 pm

Doors will open at 9:30 for all attendees to help themselves to coffee and light refreshments before the meeting. Lunch will be provided to all attendees.

You and your community deserve the resources and skills necessary to fully participate in our digital world. The state needs your feedback on how broadband challenges affect the following impacted populations in the Sierra Nevada: 

• Households with incomes at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level
• Aging individuals 60 and over
• Incarcerated individuals (other than individuals who are incarcerated in a Federal correctional facility
• Veterans
• Individuals with disabilities
• Individuals with language barriers (including English language learners)
• Individuals who are members of a racial or ethnic minority group
• Individuals who primarily reside in a rural area

To ensure the unique needs of various community perspectives are addressed in the state-wide planning process, leaders who represent the following sectors are strongly encouraged to join: 

• Education
• Health care
• Digital inclusion
• Economic workforce and development
• Civic engagement and essential services
• Community based organizations 
• Tribal groups

Attendees will have the opportunity to learn more about the digital equity plan, provide feedback on how to make it more effective, and connect with others who are passionate about digital equity in California. 

The agenda will include speakers from the state, Nevada County, and several opportunities for the public to engage via breakout sessions and small group discussions. 

*If you need any accessibility accommodations in order to participate, please let us know in the registration.

Thank you to Nevada County for providing the venue, audio/visual equipment, and support staff!