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Connected Nation is a national non-profit focused on the expansion of broadband access, adoption, and use. They work in conjunction with partners at the FCC, local and national broadband providers, and its 11 state subsidiary teams.

Timeline of Connected Nation
The Connected Nation website offers the following timeline for how the organization came into existence, with particular emphasis on how it evolved from the original ConnectKentucky program from the early 2000's.

2001: The Center for Information Technology Enterprise (CITE) was founded at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. to promote technology expansion in Kentucky.

2004: CITE evolved into the ConnectKentucky program, a public-private initiative to conduct mapping and planning to spur broadband expansion in the Commonwealth.

2005: No Child Left Offline (now known as Computers 4 Kids or ECO) was established to provide computer and technology access to disadvantaged families, libraries, schools, and community centers.

2005: he Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) granted $900,000 to ConnectKentucky in support of the statewide broadband initiative, Prescription for Innovation. The funds were used to support ConnectKentucky’s efforts toward the expansion of broadband infrastructure and technology adoption throughout the Appalachian region.

2007: ConnectKentucky completed the grassroots community level project of preparing a Strategic Technology Planning blueprint for all 120 of Kentucky’s counties. Broadband availability increased from 60 percent to 95 percent of households in the state.

2007: Based on the successes of ConnectKentucky, neighboring state officials requested the formation of the Connected Tennessee and Connect Ohio programs under the umbrella of the newly formed Connected Nation parent organization.

2007: Connect Kentucky’s efforts were featured in an article, Wiring Rural America, in The Economist. The article highlighted ConnectKentucky’s public-private partnership model in expanding broadband availability in the state of Kentucky.

2007-2008: The ConnectKentucky model was the basis for national legislation passed by Congress as the "Broadband Data Improvement Act."

2008: ConnectKentucky was honored with the 2008 Susan G. Hadden Pioneer Award presented by the Alliance for Public Technology (APT), which honors individuals and organizations that advocate for widespread public access to advanced telecommunications.

2008: In a Wall Street Journal article recognizing Kentucky as one of the world’s seven outstanding economic development leaders, ConnectKentucky’s efforts to bring high speed Internet (broadband) benefits to every Kentuckian was featured.

2009: Connected Nation was chosen as the designated broadband mapping entity for 12 states and one territory under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded Broadband Data Improvement Act: Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

2009: Connected Nation CEO Brian Mefford was appointed to a two-year term on the MSC Malaysia International Advisory Panel (IAP). Chaired by the Malaysian Prime Minister, the IAP provides advice and counsel to the Malaysian Government to set and prepare the agenda for the way forward in the development and growth of the MSC Malaysia and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Malaysia.

2009-2010: Connected Nation partnered with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to work with public libraries in 20 states in a project called Opportunity Online, which brought together local libraries and community stakeholders to discuss and plan broadband sustainability efforts.

2010: Connect Ohio launched Every Citizen Online, which provides free computer training sessions at public libraries, community colleges, community organizations, and educational centers throughout Ohio.

2010: Connected Tennessee launched the Computers 4 Kids BTOP grant, which is an effort to increase sustainable broadband adoption and provide computers and training to more than 60,000 disadvantaged youth across Tennessee.

2011: Connected Nation state initiatives contributed to the National Broadband Map data that covered approximately 42% of the nation’s landmass; reached 39.5 million households; and included more than 1,200 broadband service providers.

2011: Connected Nation was named a key strategic advisor and partner in a major national public-private broadband adoption initiative called “Connect to Compete” aimed at boosting digital literacy and skills training and job creation.

2012: Connected Nation marked 10 years of connecting the nation.

State Teams
Currently, Connected Nation has active operations in the following states.



Alaska  Iowa  Kansas  Michigan  Minnesota  Nevada  Ohio  Puerto Rico </li> <li>South Carolina </li> <li>Tennessee </li> <li>Texas </li>

</ul>

Partners
American Farm Bureau Federation

The Children's Partnership

Federal Communications Commission

CTIA

iHigh

Intel

TIA

Additional Initiatives
Connect 2 Compete

Every Citizen Online

Computers 4 Kids

Opportunity Online

Timeline of Connected Nation
The Connected Nation website offers the following timeline for how the organization came into existence, with particular emphasis on how it evolved from the original ConnectKentucky program from the early 2000's.

2001: The Center for Information Technology Enterprise (CITE) was founded at Western Kentucky University in Bowling Green, Ky. to promote technology expansion in Kentucky.

2004: CITE evolved into the ConnectKentucky program, a public-private initiative to conduct mapping and planning to spur broadband expansion in the Commonwealth.

2005: No Child Left Offline (now known as Computers 4 Kids or ECO) was established to provide computer and technology access to disadvantaged families, libraries, schools, and community centers.

2005: he Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) granted $900,000 to ConnectKentucky in support of the statewide broadband initiative, Prescription for Innovation. The funds were used to support ConnectKentucky’s efforts toward the expansion of broadband infrastructure and technology adoption throughout the Appalachian region.

2007: ConnectKentucky completed the grassroots community level project of preparing a Strategic Technology Planning blueprint for all 120 of Kentucky’s counties. Broadband availability increased from 60 percent to 95 percent of households in the state.

2007: Based on the successes of ConnectKentucky, neighboring state officials requested the formation of the Connected Tennessee and Connect Ohio programs under the umbrella of the newly formed Connected Nation parent organization.

2007: Connect Kentucky’s efforts were featured in an article, Wiring Rural America, in The Economist. The article highlighted ConnectKentucky’s public-private partnership model in expanding broadband availability in the state of Kentucky.

2007-2008: The ConnectKentucky model was the basis for national legislation passed by Congress as the "Broadband Data Improvement Act."

2008: ConnectKentucky was honored with the 2008 Susan G. Hadden Pioneer Award presented by the Alliance for Public Technology (APT), which honors individuals and organizations that advocate for widespread public access to advanced telecommunications.

2008: In a Wall Street Journal article recognizing Kentucky as one of the world’s seven outstanding economic development leaders, ConnectKentucky’s efforts to bring high speed Internet (broadband) benefits to every Kentuckian was featured.

2009: Connected Nation was chosen as the designated broadband mapping entity for 12 states and one territory under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act-funded Broadband Data Improvement Act: Alaska, Florida, Iowa, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, Ohio, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.

2009: Connected Nation CEO Brian Mefford was appointed to a two-year term on the MSC Malaysia International Advisory Panel (IAP). Chaired by the Malaysian Prime Minister, the IAP provides advice and counsel to the Malaysian Government to set and prepare the agenda for the way forward in the development and growth of the MSC Malaysia and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry in Malaysia.

2009-2010: Connected Nation partnered with Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to work with public libraries in 20 states in a project called Opportunity Online, which brought together local libraries and community stakeholders to discuss and plan broadband sustainability efforts.

2010: Connect Ohio launched Every Citizen Online, which provides free computer training sessions at public libraries, community colleges, community organizations, and educational centers throughout Ohio.

2010: Connected Tennessee launched the Computers 4 Kids BTOP grant, which is an effort to increase sustainable broadband adoption and provide computers and training to more than 60,000 disadvantaged youth across Tennessee.

2011: Connected Nation state initiatives contributed to the National Broadband Map data that covered approximately 42% of the nation’s landmass; reached 39.5 million households; and included more than 1,200 broadband service providers.

2011: Connected Nation was named a key strategic advisor and partner in a major national public-private broadband adoption initiative called “Connect to Compete” aimed at boosting digital literacy and skills training and job creation.

2012: Connected Nation marked 10 years of connecting the nation.

State Teams
Currently, Connected Nation has active operations in the following states.

<ul>

<li>Alaska </li> <li>Iowa </li> <li>Kansas </li> <li>Michigan </li> <li>Minnesota </li> <li>Nevada </li> <li>Ohio </li> <li>Puerto Rico </li> <li>South Carolina </li> <li>Tennessee </li> <li>Texas </li>

</ul>

Partners
American Farm Bureau Federation

The Children's Partnership

Federal Communications Commission

CTIA

iHigh

Intel

TIA

Additional Initiatives
Connect 2 Compete

Every Citizen Online

Computers 4 Kids

Opportunity Online