SHLB
The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 2009, the coalition works closely with policymakers and fellow public interest groups to connect America, closing the digital divide by promoting high-quality, affordable broadband for anchor institutions and their communities.
The Federal Communications Commission’s Broadband Progress Report finds that as many as 19 million Americans lack access to fixed broadband service at threshold speeds. The issue is particularly troubling for rural areas where one-fourth of the population – 14.5 million people – lack access. SHLB members include schools, libraries, health providers, nonprofit broadband providers, telehealth networks, and more, to help develop realistic policy recommendations to close the gap.
JDC Events worked with the SHLB Coalition to deliver its AnchorNets 2022 conference, held in October in Alexandria, Va. The conference brought together state and local governments as well as private entities that are involved in connecting communities through affordable broadband.
JDC Events had provided professional knowledge that brought the client back to us for their 2022 event, a high-level conference with senior attendees who had not been together since before the start of the Covid pandemic.
The AnchorNets conference provides a huge networking opportunity where folks on the front lines meet with industry leaders, decision-makers, and others who work behind the scenes to further broadband projects and funding. JDC Events assisted the director of operations with the logistics of the event, working closely with the director on all aspects of event planning and execution.
SHLB has engaged the JDC team to work on their next conference, AnchorNets 2023, set to run Oct. 10-12, 2023, in Arlington, Va. The 2023 conference will have a special focus on the wide variety of federal broadband funding opportunities, including the IIJA Programs, Emergency Connectivity Fund, the Treasury Department Capital Projects Fund, E-rate, Rural Health Care, and digital equity programs.