Connect Ohio Initiatives

What Connect Ohio Initiatives does

Connect Ohio Initiatives operates as Connected Nation, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit headquartered in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and founded on February 19, 2001. Originally established as the Center for Information Technology Enterprise (CITE Inc.) by Dr. Linda Ellis Johnson, the organization evolved through state-level initiatives including ConnectKentucky, ConnectOhio, and ConnectedTennessee before consolidating under the Connected Nation brand in 2011. CN addresses the Digital Divide across three integrated dimensions — broadband access (infrastructure mapping and planning), broadband adoption (helping communities understand and subscribe), and broadband use (building digital skills). Its portfolio includes the Connected Community Engagement Program (650+ Technology Action Plans), Digital Skills Training (962 classes delivered in 2025 alone), the BEAD Tracker data platform, Teens Teach Tech (150 youth teams across 42 states), Digital Works telework program, telehealth research services, and Internet Exchange Point (IXP) infrastructure.

The technology platform centers on broadband mapping and geospatial data analysis, anchored by the BEAD Tracker — a Power BI dashboard aggregating data from 54 state BEAD final proposals and tracking $19.94 billion in deployment spend across 3.9 million+ locations served. CN maintains 25 years of historical broadband mapping data, including the first state broadband map published in 2004, and has distributed 60,000 devices while training 150,000+ people in digital skills across all 50 states and three US territories. Revenue is generated primarily through federal and state government grants and contracts (NTIA, BEAD program planning, state broadband offices) and corporate philanthropy, with AT&T serving as the primary corporate partner through its $5 billion commitment since 2021. Pricing for community-facing digital skills training is provided at no cost to host organizations in English and Spanish, while government engagements are structured as grant-funded contracts and public-private partnerships.

The company operates with a small-employer headcount (15-149 per its 2026 Kentucky Best Places to Work recognition, 15th time honored) under Chairman & CEO Tom Ferree and pursues a community-led, event-driven, and sales-led GTM motion targeting state broadband offices, economic development agencies, community organizations, and underserved populations including older adults, rural communities, and tribal groups. Current strategic priorities include scaling IXP infrastructure to 125 facilities in regional hubs, launching AI literacy education, and maintaining federal BEAD program positioning through the BEAD Tracker.

Name

Connect Ohio Initiatives

Legal name

Connected Nation

Website

https://connectednation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Connected Nation is a 25-year-old 501(c)(3) national nonprofit that delivers broadband mapping, community technology planning, digital skills training, and now Internet Exchange Point infrastructure across all 50 US states to close the Digital Divide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Inclusion Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518210)

SIC

Services-Computer Programming, Data Processing, Etc. (7370), Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDAAAFAE

Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT)

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

SECONDARYHDAIABAJ

Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Fixed-Line Telecommunications (Voice & Broadband)

SECONDARYBPADAEAL

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance

Business & Public Services/International Organizations & Development/International Development & Technical Assistance

SECONDARYHDAIACAG

Rural Broadband & Cooperative Fiber Operators

Hardware, Technology & Telecom/Telecommunications & Network Services/Cable & Fiber Network Operators (HFC/FTTx)

Keywords

• Digital inclusion programs
• Broadband mapping services
• Digital skills training
• Community broadband planning
• Digital equity research

Headquarters

HQ city

Columbus

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Connected Nation derives the majority of its revenue from federal and state government grants and contracts, including programs through NTIA, BEAD program planning engagements, and state broadband office partnerships. The organization also receives funding through public-private partnerships with corporations such as AT&T for digital inclusion initiatives.
2. Corporate Philanthropy and Sponsorships: Digital skills training programs are made possible through corporate sponsorships, notably the AT&T Connected Learning initiative. AT&T has committed $5 billion since 2021 to connectivity, digital literacy, and broadband access programs, a portion of which flows through CN's programming.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Connected Nation is a national nonprofit that delivers digital inclusion services through free digital skills training, broadband mapping and geospatial analysis, community broadband planning (Technology Action Plans), and telehealth research. It also operates the BEAD Tracker platform that aggregates state Broadband Equity Access and Deployment (BEAD) proposal data, and runs youth-led training programs (Teens Teach Tech) plus Internet Exchange Point infrastructure initiatives. Programs are funded primarily through government grants and corporate sponsorships and delivered directly through community anchors and state broadband offices.

Product overview

Connected Nation operates as a national nonprofit offering a portfolio of interconnected programs focused on broadband access, digital skills training, and community technology planning. The core offerings include Digital Skills Training (in-person and virtual technology classes) and the Connected Community Engagement Program (customized Technology Action Plans), supported by the BEAD Tracker platform for data aggregation. Additional programs include Teens Teach Tech (youth-led training), Digital Works (telework training), Telehealth Research, Internet Exchange Points infrastructure, AI Literacy Resource Hub, Mapping and Geospatial Services, and Local & Regional Broadband Planning. The portfolio serves government, community organizations, and residents across all 50 states and three US territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Digital Skills Training: Free digital literacy training program available in-person and virtually, covering computer basics, internet basics, internet safety, email basics, mobile device basics, and videoconferencing.
• Teens Teach Tech
• Digital Works
• Connected Community Engagement Program
• BEAD Tracker
• Telehealth Summit
• Internet Exchange Points

Products and services

• Digital Skills Training

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000+ individuals trained in digital skills; 21 million+ people reached nationwide
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Brighton CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Brighton Center in Northern Kentucky partnered with CN and AT&T to provide 50 laptops and free digital skills training to local residents in March 2026. Brighton Center serves as the host organization and community anchor for device distribution and training delivery.
• AT&TcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 26 February 2026AT&T is the primary corporate partner powering Connected Nation's digital skills training through the AT&T Connected Learning initiative and Tech 4 Training program. AT&T has committed $5 billion since 2021 to connectivity, digital literacy, and broadband access programs. CN delivers digital skills training and device distribution as part of this partnership, with programs including Teens Teach Tech powered by AT&T.
• Bowling Green Boys & Girls Club of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026The Bowling Green BGCA is Kentucky's first AT&T Connected Learning Center. CN partnered with AT&T and BGCA in February 2026 to equip parents and guardians with 100 laptops and digital skills training. Local Teens Teach Tech youth mentors supported the training sessions.
• CompudotminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting Partner · 26 February 2026Compudot manages the refurbishment and preparation of laptops distributed through AT&T's Tech 4 Training program and CN's digital inclusion initiatives. Ensures participants receive reliable, high-quality devices.
• Puede NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025Based in Dallas, Texas, Puede Network formed three Teens Teach Tech teams in partnership with CN. Teen trainers delivered digital skills workshops to over 1,200 adults in December 2025, averaging 40 people per day. The partnership demonstrates an intergenerational approach to digital literacy.
• La Hacienda Adult Day CareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLa Hacienda Adult Day Care in Fabens, Texas partnered with CN to host digital skills workshops for seniors on May 26 and 27, 2026. Team member Violet Olivo facilitated the training for rural border community seniors.
• RiseBoro Community PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRiseBoro Community Partnership in Brooklyn, NY hosted CN's digital skills classes on May 19 and 20, 2026, reaching older adult participants including Ofelia Llamozas who shared her experience with diabetes management via technology.
• Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCN Michigan partnered with CUPPAD to conduct a survey of 800 adult heads of households across six counties in Michigan's Central Upper Peninsula, identifying telehealth usage rates, attitudes, and barriers.
• Office of eHealth Innovation (Colorado)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerColorado's Office of eHealth Innovation, located within the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, partnered with CN to release a telehealth report in August 2024 examining rural Coloradans' telehealth usage and barriers in northwest Colorado counties.
• Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa IndiansminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians partnered with CN Michigan on a telehealth equity study to understand how tribal members use telehealth, identify barriers, and assess attitudes toward telehealth services to improve health equity.
• Hunter NewbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterconnection pioneer Hunter Newby partnered with CN to break ground on the organization's first carrier-neutral internet exchange point (IXP) on the campus of Wichita State University in 2025, with plans to deploy 125 facilities in regional hubs.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Market position

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ConnectOH
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnectOhio
• Instagraminstagram.com/connectednation
• TikToktiktok.com/@connected_nation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Connect Ohio Initiatives