Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. Broadband Office

The District of Columbia’s Office of the Chief Information Technology Officer (OCTO) used its Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program Initial Planning Funds and Digital Equity Planning Grant to build capacity in the office. OCTO brought on staff and contract support to conduct stakeholder outreach and to develop its BEAD Five-Year Action Plan, Initial Proposal, and Digital Equity Plan. The Office of Internet Connectivity and Growth (OICG) provided technical assistance on best practices for conducting stakeholder outreach and building a broadband office.

Stakeholder Assistance

The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided targeted technical assistance on plan development at a one-year checkpoint with OCTO, increasing coordination between the BEAD and Digital Equity programs.

Industry Engagement – ISP Summit

OCTO hosted an Internet Service Provider (ISP) summit with NTIA’s BEAD planning funds. OCTO used this summit to inform ISPs about BEAD funding and uses and ways to further engage on the planning and subgranting process. OCTO also used this event to receive input from providers on broadband connectivity and affordability needs in D.C.

Public Outreach – Tech Together

With funding from NTIA's BEAD and Digital Equity Planning awards, OCTO relaunched its TechTogether outreach program. TechTogether helps OCTO engage with stakeholders to best understand the broadband and digital equity needs of the District of Columbia.