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On 22 September 2026, Internet Society Pulse hosted an online workshop ‘Internet Frontiers: Navigating Data to Inform Public Discourse‘. The virtual workshop was a digital companion to an in-person workshop held earlier the same day in Washington DC.
While global conversations often focus on the next generation of satellite constellations and ultra-high-speed fiber, millions of people across North America remain marooned on the wrong side of the digital divide. Achieving universal access is not just a technical challenge; it is a complex puzzle involving regulatory bottlenecks, economic disparities, and data gaps. Together, participants moved past the marketing hype to analyze the empirical successes, systemic limitations, and real-world experiences of underserved Internet users in rural, tribal, and marginalized urban communities.
01 Opening and Welcome
Ryan Polk – Director, Internet Policy, Internet Society
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02 PANEL – Access Stories in North America
Joel Templeman – Executive Director, Internet Society Manitoba Chapter
Stuart Reid – President, Internet Society New York Chapter (ISOC-NY)
Matt Rantanen – Co-Founder, Tribal Broadband Bootcamps
Monique Tate – Co-Director, Community Tech-NY (CTNY)
Raul Enriquez – Co-Director, Community Tech-NY (CTNY)
Moderator: Sharayah Lane – Senior Advisor for Indigenous Community Connectivity, Internet Society
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03 Breakout Session
Jane Ruffino – User Experience (UX) Architect, Internet Society
Steve Song – Senior Director, Infrastructure Mapping and Development, Internet Society
Erica Mesker – Chief Development and Operating Officer, Connect Humanity
Dr. Traci L. Morris – Tribal Nations Policy Institute
Monique Tate – Co-Director, Community Tech-NY (CTNY)
J Stephanie Rose – University of Pittsburgh
Facilitator: Ryan Polk – Director, Internet Policy, Internet Society
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RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS
04 TribalGeo
Sarah Oh Lam – VP Strategic Initiatives, Technology Policy Institute
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05 Internet for All Native Americans
Dr. Traci L. Morris – Tribal Nations Policy Institute
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06 Models for Sustainable Connectivity
Brian Vo – Chief Executive Officer, Connect Humanity
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07 Closing Remarks
Ryan Polk – Director, Internet Policy, Internet Society
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#DigitalDivide #DigitalEquity #InternetMeasurement #IndigenousConnectivity
