Collaborate with Federal, State, Tribal, and Anchor Institution Stakeholders
Office of MinorityBroadband Initiatives
OMBI leads efforts to collaborate with:
- federal agencies that carry out broadband Internet access service support programs;
- state, local and Tribal governments;
- historically Black colleges or universities, Tribal Colleges or Universities, and Minority Serving Institutions; and,
- stakeholders in the communications, education, business, and technology fields.
Under the Internet for All umbrella, an essential purpose of OMBI is to collaborate with federal agencies to determine how to expand access to broadband Internet access services and other digital opportunities to anchor communities. OMBI engaged with a variety of federal partners through speaking opportunities that inform federal agencies of the needs of OMBI stakeholders.
At the time of this report, OMBI staff participated in or led over a dozen federal engagements with diverse departments including the Department of Education, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and more. OMBI staff serve on the White House Initiative on HBCUs Inter-Agency Working Group and lead the Initiative’s Smart HBCUs Cluster.
OMBI works closely with programs funded through the Infrastructure and Investment Jobs Act (IIJA) and focused on increasing broadband access in communities served by OMBI stakeholders to make connections and maximize infrastructure investments.
- Collaborating with the BEAD Program
The Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program, provides $42.45 billion to expand high-speed Internet access by funding planning, infrastructure deployment and adoption programs in all 50 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. OMBI engages with the BEAD Program to explore how to leverage investment in infrastructure and broadband Internet access service. - Making Connections in the DE Program
The State Digital Equity (DE) Planning Grant Program supports the creation of community-centric solutions. It provides resources to community organizations to help scale digital literacy programs. These programs give people the skills they need to effectively use the Internet. - Supporting the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program
The Tribal Broadband Connectivity (TBC) Program is a $3 billion program directed to Tribal governments to be used for broadband deployment on Tribal lands, as well as for telehealth, distance learning, broadband affordability, and digital inclusion.
OMBI engages with these federal programs to explore how to leverage investment in infrastructure and broadband Internet access service. OMBI then leverages its relationships with HBCUs, TCUs, and MSIs to share additional funding opportunities under these programs. In January 2023 OMBI hosted a webinar entitled Internet For All: How Minority Serving Institutions Can Help Shape State Broadband and Digital Equity Plans and Initiatives to provide an overview of OMBI, the BEAD Program, and the DE Programs for OMBI stakeholders. OMBI Federal Program Officers provide regional representation in Internet for All broadband funding programs and OMBI staff participate in Access Broadband Initiative Federal Funding workstream meetings.