Oregon Institute for a Better Way and National Grange partner, capture FCC grants funds to spread Affordable Connectivity message

Oregon Institute for a Better Way (OIBW) was selected as one of about 200 entities to receive grant funds from the FCC for an outreach campaign designed to inform communities, especially in rural areas across the country, about the agency’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Oregon Institute for a Better Way partnered with the National Grange and the Community Navigator network on a solution to increase awareness and enrollment in the largest broadband affordability effort in the nation’s history.

Members of the Oregon Institue for a Better Way and the Community Navigators network stand in front of the Community System Navigators office in Redding, California

Photo by Amanda Brozana Rios

“Our passion is to serve our communities and ensure everyone is aware of and making good use of programs and monies provided to enhance the quality of life of individuals and communities. This program does just that, and we are honored to be entrusted with funds to provide this outreach in often overlooked communities,” OIBW Founder and Director Misty Burris said.

Burris said the partnership is essential to the campaign’s success.

“Working with an organization like the Grange provides validity to the information and builds on the Grange’s long history of leading the efforts to decrease the digital divide.”

The National Grange, with its nearly 1,500 local chapters throughout the United States and more than 130,000 members, will serve as a primary vehicle to deliver the message about the ACP.

“Since very close to our founding in 1867, equitable access for rural individuals has been the signature issue for the Grange. The 21st century version of that, which we have been leading not just with rural individuals in mind, is the digital divide,” said Amanda Brozana Rios, who serves as the grant coordinator for the National Grange.

National Grange President Betsy Huber has served on the FCC’s Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee and Precision Ag working group since 2017. She said she is happy to see the commission’s investment in broadband access be multi-pronged.

“The Grange has worked for expansion of the broadband infrastructure for more than twenty years. Now it is time to take the next step to bridge the digital divide by supporting affordability. We’re proud to take part in this program that we see as a benefit for qualified individuals to afford service and potentially improve their own education, health, job potential and more,” Huber said. “We will never lose focus, though, on advocating for the infrastructure that will allow broadband service to be available in every home.”

Community Navigators will assist in planning, compliance and activating their partner network to further promote awareness of the program that provides subsidies for internet access and devices to those living at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Households with an individual who is already enrolled in benefits such as Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, SNAP, Public Housing or the Free and Reduced-Price School Lunch Program, WIC, Lifeline and others or those living on qualified tribal lands and taking part in tribal-specific assistance programs automatically qualify for the ACP benefit.

“For many households, the cost of groceries, gas and rent can eat up the monthly budget, putting internet access out of reach,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel in the agency’s press release announcing the awards.

Rosenworcel said the affordability effort currently supports internet connections in more than 16 million households.

“That’s progress, but we want to do more to get out the word about this powerful program and reach families that may not know about this benefit,” Rosenworcel said. “These outreach grants will help us expand awareness in more communities, so we can continue the work to close the digital divide.”

ACP, which was created through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households and up to $75 per month for qualifying households on qualifying Tribal lands. The benefit also provides up to a $100 per household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop, or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider. A list of broadband providers taking part in the program can be found at www.fcc.gov/affordable-connectivityprogram-providers.

Eligible households can enroll by going to AffordableConnectivity.gov to submit an online application or print a mail-in application. They can also contact their preferred participating broadband provider to select an internet service plan.

“Thanks to the FCC’s grant funding, Granges will also soon have physical sign-up materials they can provide individuals whose lack of access does not allow them to simply go online to take part in the program,” Brozana Rios said.

How Your Grange Can Be Involved

To make this outreach successful, we’re encouraging every Grange to take part. It’s easy.

We highly encourage you to send a representative for your Grange to attend one of our informational Zoom meetings, held at least once a week through October, which are announced in the Patrons Chain and on the National Grange Facebook Page.

If you or someone in your Grange is unable to attend, you can reach out to Amanda Brozana Rios at membership@nationalgrange.org or 301-943-1090. She will provide you a basic overview of the program.

After you learn more about the program, you must sign up to become an outreach partner using the link http://grange.biz/signupgrange (or scan the QR code above). If you are unable to get online, you may be signed up after your phone call with Amanda.

Once enrolled as an outreach partner, you will be connected with the community navigator for your state who will work with you to identify ways your Grange can implement outreach in your community with your already planned events and discuss other opportunities available to you. They may also offer to attend ACP sign-up events held at your Grange to assist with community questions and provide devices for sign-ups, and discuss with you potential incentives for taking part in outreach.

Some free items that your Grange may receive to promote awareness of the ACP include letter-sized posters to hang in community spaces; large folded business cards explaining the program and eligibility criteria; a banner that can be hung on the outside of your hall; yard signs that may be placed in members’ yards on well-traveled roads or on community property with appropriate permission; and more. We also have materials such as digital ads that may be placed in church bulletins, local newspapers, and more - all free to request and use.

Navigators will remain in contact with your Grange to gather details about the distribution and use of the items to help determine the reach of our Granges in the communities, which will show the impact the Grange can make through information campaigns.