#United States #Connected Nation #Bowling Green #Digital Empowerment #Broadband Access

Celebrating 25 Years of Connected Nation

In 2026, Connected Nation (CN), a dedicated nonprofit organization, is excited to commemorate a significant milestone—25 years of enhancing broadband access and digital skills across the United States and beyond. Founded on February 19, 2001, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, CN has made tremendous strides in connecting communities with high-speed internet and fostering digital literacy.

For a quarter of a century, Connected Nation has been pivotal in advancing broadband technology planning and implementation, reaching all 50 states and three U.S. territories. The organization's unwavering commitment has empowered countless individuals and communities by enhancing connectivity and promoting effective digital skills through robust training programs and strategic public-private partnerships.

Tom Ferree, CN's Chairman and CEO, passionately states, "Everyone deserves the opportunity to improve their lives, their families, and their communities, regardless of who they are, where they live, or how they begin." This sentiment is more relevant today than ever as the digital divide continues to pose challenges for many communities across the nation.

The year 2026 is not just about celebration; it aligns with the 250th anniversary of America's independence, infusing CN's mission with historical significance. Ferree further emphasizes, "We will continue our work to ensure every community—rural, urban, and everything in between—has the digital opportunity to thrive for the next 250 years."

Highlighting Success and Future Goals

As part of this celebratory year, Connected Nation aims to showcase the milestones achieved over the past 25 years and the significant impact of its initiatives. The organization plans to share inspiring stories and updates about its projects with state broadband offices and digital empowerment organizations, emphasizing the importance of broadband access in driving economic and social progress.

In a groundbreaking move, CN's team, alongside key partners, will attempt to set a world record for the longest digital skills training session—lasting 25 hours—on September 24-25. This event, titled "25 hours. One connected world," will be broadcast live from Louisville, Kentucky. Heather Gate, Executive VP of Digital Empowerment at CN, urges participation, stating, "It demonstrates the collective effort needed to ensure everyone has access to the fundamental digital skills required to thrive in today's world."

The Impact of Connected Nation

Over the years, CN has successfully trained 150,000 individuals in digital skills and reached over 21 million people through various empowerment initiatives. Its work includes:

• - Initiating the first state broadband map in the U.S. in 2004.
• - Launching the "No Child Left Offline" program in 2005 to equip students with personal devices.
• - Partnering with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in 2009 for the Opportunity Online project, focusing on enhancing library resources across 20 states.
• - Introduction of the Digital Works program, facilitating telework training and job placement assistance, which has been particularly beneficial for rural and military communities since 2013.
• - Publishing the first telehealth study,