Broadband Taskforce

The Connective convened the Broadband Taskforce (BT) in late 2021 in response to a widening digital divide between connected and unconnected households during pandemic-era work and school closures. The BT brought together elected officials from 22 cities and towns, Maricopa county, ASU, the Digital Equity Institute (DEI), and the Sun Corridor Network (SCN), along with representatives from other invested parties such as the state broadband office and the Arizona Commerce Authority (ACA). The BT is working to address digital equity in Greater Phoenix through four main aspects: connectivity, affordability, devices, and literacy. In 2023, after securing a $34.5 million grant from Maricopa County for the work of the BT, The Connective passed its roles to the Sun Corridor Network to carry the mission forward.