The Miami County Connectivity Council (MCCC) is an open, collaborative group of organizations committed to ensuring access to the internet and the ability to engage the digital world throughout Miami County, Kansas.

The MCCC was formed in response to a landmark commitment by federal and Kansas state governments to expand broadband access and invest in digital outreach and education through the BEAD and DEA components of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). As a mostly rural county on the outskirts of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Miami County leaders and residents have been working for many years to get access to essential internet infrastructure. The dollars afforded through BEAD and DEA offer a generational opportunity to build new infrastructure and community programming that will benefit the county for years to come. Community engagement and voice are essential requirements in how BEAD and DEA money is likely to be distributed.

While most of the dollars are allocated to broadband infrastructure, the digital transformation of our world and the impact on local communities go beyond a single technology solution. The MCCC sees this near-term government investment as an opportunity to build long-term capacity to advocate for digital connectivity in the County. 

We take a holistic view of the digital ecosystem that includes:

• Network Capacity
• Access to the Network
• Service Quality
• Participation in Digital Life
• Excellence, Innovation, and Growth

The short-term priorities of the MCCC are to identify opportunities for state and federal funding to improve community access and provide a vehicle for collective action or community input as needed. Longer term, the MCCC can serve as a collaborative mechanism for diverse stakeholders to share information, identify gaps and needs in the community, and create new opportunities for action and impact. The MCCC meets regularly in an online or hybrid format, and is free to participate.

Member organizations that join the MCCC commit to:

• Designating an organizational representative or point of contact
• Sending an organization representative to at least four of the six meetings in 2024
• Keeping the council members informed of program activities and projects of shared interest
• Sharing resources and being open to collaboration as appropriate

Contact Leah Henriksen if you’re interested in becoming a member of MCCC: lhenriksen at kcdigitaldrive dot org.