What is the relevance of "sense making" capability to both rural electrification 90 years ago and BEAD? Co-Author Chat GPT

 The "sense-making" capability is highly relevant to both rural electrification and the Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) program. Sense-making refers to the ability to understand and make sense of complex situations, identify patterns, and derive meaning from information and experiences. Here's why it is relevant to both initiatives:

Center for Public Impact defines: sensemaking is about creating space for listening, reflection and the exploration of meaning beyond the usual boundaries, allowing different framings, stories and viewpoints to be shared and collectively explored.

The purpose of sensemaking is to develop a set of insights with explanatory possibilities rather than a body of knowledge or plan of action. It requires a leap of faith coupled with an openness to all that can be seen, heard, felt, and intuited. It challenges the notion that one way of thinking can ever be enough to understand the complexities of the world and helps us to break out of narrow or simplistic framings.

1. Understanding Stakeholder Needs: Sense-making is crucial for understanding the needs and priorities of various stakeholders involved in rural electrification and broadband access initiatives. In both cases, there are diverse stakeholders, including local communities, government agencies, private sector entities, and civil society organizations. Sense-making helps in comprehending the unique requirements, challenges, and aspirations of these stakeholders, allowing the programs to be tailored to meet their specific needs effectively.

2. Decision-making and Strategy Development: Sense-making capability plays a vital role in decision-making processes and strategy development for both rural electrification and BEAD programs. These initiatives involve complex systems with multiple variables, such as geographical terrain, population density, technological options, and financial considerations. Sense-making helps policymakers and program implementers make informed decisions by analyzing available data, assessing potential risks and benefits, and considering contextual factors to develop effective strategies for infrastructure deployment and service delivery.

3. Adapting to Local Context: Rural electrification and broadband access programs need to be adapted to the local context to ensure their relevance and effectiveness. Sense-making enables program implementers to understand the socio-cultural, economic, and geographical factors specific to each region or community. By gaining insights into local context, including cultural practices, education levels, and economic activities, sense-making helps design and implement solutions that are appropriate and aligned with the unique characteristics of the target areas.

4. Identifying Barriers and Opportunities: Sense-making capability allows program implementers to identify barriers and opportunities that may impact the success of rural electrification and broadband access initiatives. It helps in analyzing factors such as infrastructure gaps, regulatory constraints, affordability issues, or lack of digital literacy. By recognizing these barriers, program stakeholders can develop targeted interventions and address the challenges effectively. Additionally, sense-making helps identify opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and leveraging existing resources, thereby optimizing the outcomes of the initiatives.

5. Monitoring and Evaluation: Sense-making is essential for monitoring and evaluating the progress and impact of rural electrification and BEAD programs. It involves continuously collecting and analyzing data on key performance indicators, such as the number of households connected, electricity consumption patterns, broadband adoption rates, and socio-economic outcomes. Sense-making allows program managers to make sense of the data, identify trends, and derive insights to assess the effectiveness of the initiatives. This information helps in making necessary adjustments, measuring the impact, and ensuring the programs' continuous improvement.

So, Sense-making capability is relevant to both rural electrification and the BEAD program as it supports understanding stakeholder needs, informing decision-making, adapting to local context, identifying barriers and opportunities, and facilitating monitoring and evaluation. By utilizing this capability, program stakeholders can enhance the design, implementation, and impact of these initiatives, ultimately leading to improved access to essential services and bridging the digital divide.

We have made tremendous progress in mapping and GIS since the rural electrification act in the 1930s. In the BEAD program, funding criteria for unserved and underserved locations are shown on FCC's hexanal mesh fabric and each state is in the process of validating, challenging and developing their own state specific maps. How could be leverage this granular data of serviceable locations and download/upload speeds, can help NTIA and State Broadband Offices (SBO) to modernize their sense making capabilities to govern the programs better to achieve desired outcomes and impact?

Leveraging granular data of serviceable locations and download/upload speeds can significantly enhance the sense-making capabilities of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and State Broadband Offices (SBOs) to govern the BEAD program more effectively. Here are some ways in which this data can be utilized:

1. Targeted Resource Allocation: The granular data on serviceable locations and broadband speeds can help NTIA and SBOs make informed decisions about resource allocation. By identifying unserved and underserved areas with low download/upload speeds, these agencies can prioritize funding and resources to areas where broadband access is most urgently needed. This data-driven approach ensures that investments are directed to areas with the greatest impact, effectively maximizing the reach and benefits of the BEAD program.

2. Identifying Coverage Gaps: The granular data can be used to identify coverage gaps and areas where existing service providers are not meeting the required standards. By analyzing the data on serviceable locations and speeds, NTIA and SBOs can identify specific areas where broadband service is lacking or inadequate. This information enables targeted interventions, such as encouraging new providers to enter underserved areas or providing incentives for existing providers to upgrade their infrastructure and improve service quality.

3. Strategic Planning: The granular data can inform strategic planning processes by providing insights into areas that require different approaches or technologies. For example, if certain regions have limited wired broadband infrastructure but good mobile network coverage, policymakers can consider deploying mobile broadband solutions or exploring innovative technologies like fixed wireless access. This data helps NTIA and SBOs understand the specific needs and characteristics of different areas, enabling them to develop tailored strategies and deployment models for maximizing broadband access and adoption.

4. Performance Monitoring: The availability of granular data allows for continuous monitoring of broadband performance and progress. NTIA and SBOs can regularly assess the impact of the BEAD program by analyzing the changes in download/upload speeds and the expansion of serviceable locations over time. This monitoring helps track the effectiveness of interventions, identify areas that require further attention, and make data-driven adjustments to optimize the program's outcomes.

5. Transparency and Accountability: Utilizing granular data promotes transparency and accountability in the governance of the BEAD program. By making the data publicly available and regularly updating it, NTIA and SBOs can ensure transparency in the allocation of funds, decision-making processes, and outcomes of the program. This transparency enhances public trust and enables stakeholders, including communities, researchers, and advocacy groups, to evaluate the progress and hold the agencies accountable for achieving desired outcomes and impact.

6. Collaboration and Partnerships: The availability of detailed data on serviceable locations and speeds facilitates collaboration and partnerships among stakeholders. Researchers, service providers, local communities, and other interested parties can access the data to conduct their own analyses, identify areas for collaboration, and contribute to the overall success of the program. This collaboration fosters knowledge sharing, innovation, and collective problem-solving, leading to more effective governance and improved broadband access outcomes.

In summary, leveraging granular data on serviceable locations and download/upload speeds empowers NTIA and SBOs to make data-driven decisions, target resources effectively, identify coverage gaps, plan strategically, monitor performance, ensure transparency and accountability, and foster collaboration. By incorporating this data into their sense-making processes, these agencies can better govern the BEAD program, optimize outcomes, and achieve the desired impact of bridging the digital divide and ensuring equitable broadband access for all.