FFB Week 13 – Breaking Barriers: Using AI to Develop Stronger Connected Collaboration in Today’s Fiber Industry

According to the Michigan High Speed Internet Office, as of 2023, 730,000 Michigan households face barriers related to affordability, adoption, device access, digital literacy, or a combination thereof. Taken together, this means that approximately 30 percent of Michigan households struggle with some form of the digital divide.  Michigan’s digital equity strategy recognizes a fundamental complexity: no single organization can comprehensively address regional digital empowerment needs, and that success can only be achieved through collaboration. Jon Willow, co-founder of the Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN) has closely observed these challenges faced by diverse Michigan community-based entities.  She has applied her deep expertise in coalition research and project management and obtained a fellowship at Michigan State University (MSU) to investigate AI’s role in enhancing community-based coalition effectiveness in solving Michigan’s digital divide. During this episode of Fiber for Breakfast, Jon joins FBA CEO Gary Bolton to discuss the methodologies and insights of her newly released research report and how the use of AI tools can offer a stronger, connected collaboration across multiple agencies and organizations.

With Special Guest:

Jon Willow Co-Founder, Board Chair, Digital Equity Practice Leader Community Broadband Action Network (CBAN)