Connected Nation

What Connected Nation does

Connected Nation is a national nonprofit organization founded in 2001 in Bowling Green, Kentucky, that works to bridge the digital divide across all 50 US states and three territories. Its mission is organized around three pillars: broadband access (infrastructure mapping and deployment planning), adoption (affordability programs and awareness), and use (digital skills training and device distribution). The organization delivers a portfolio of programs including Digital Skills Training (150,000+ individuals trained), Teens Teach Tech (150 youth teams across 42 states and Puerto Rico), Connected Community Engagement Program (650 technology action plans implemented), Digital Works telework training, and the AI Literacy Resource Hub.

The company's core technology stack combines proprietary data platforms with infrastructure investments. The BEAD Tracker is an interactive Power BI-based platform aggregating data from 54 state/territory BEAD final proposals, tracking 3,949,186 broadband service locations and $19.94B in approved federal deployment funding. Connected Nation also operates the CNIXP (Internet Exchange Points) infrastructure through wholly-owned subsidiary relationships, with 25 sites scaling to 125 across US research university campuses over five years, partnering with Moonshot and QumulusAI to colocate modular AI Pods at network edge locations for low-latency AI applications. Mapping and geospatial services, statewide school technology inventories (e.g., 1,034 schools and 95,000+ data points in Utah with 100% participation), and telehealth research services round out the technology portfolio.

The business model is mission-driven rather than profit-maximizing. Revenue is sourced from federal, state, and local government grants and contracts (BEAD program support, broadband mapping, digital equity planning); corporate public-private partnerships (AT&T's $5B commitment since 2021, Amazon, Compudot); foundation grants (Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for Opportunity Online in 20 states); and fee-for-service research and consulting for healthcare organizations, educational institutions, and government agencies. All programs and services are delivered free of charge to end beneficiaries including communities, individuals, and educational institutions. GTM is hybrid: community-led (virtual town halls with state and Tribal Nation stakeholders), event-driven (digital skills workshops, world record attempts), and sales-led (direct engagement with state broadband offices and federal agencies). Customer segments span state and federal government, underserved communities, K-12 education systems, healthcare organizations, and community anchor institutions, with 350+ implementation partners serving as the primary distribution channel.

Name

Connected Nation

Legal name

Connected Nation

Website

https://connectednation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Connected Nation is a national nonprofit that bridges the digital divide through broadband mapping, digital skills training, device distribution, and policy planning, serving underserved communities and government agencies across all 50 US states and three territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Digital Inclusion Services

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Digital Development & ICT4D / GovTech Technical Assistance (BPADAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Digital Inclusion & Public Tech Access Training (Device/Internet/Basic IT) (EDAAAFAE), Digital Learning, EdTech Enablement & Connectivity for Education (BPADAKAH), Network Backbone & Core IP Transport (Long-Haul/Metro IP) (HDAIAFAG), Rural & Universal Service Fixed Broadband Providers (HDAIABAJ)

Keywords

• Broadband access programs
• Digital inclusion services
• Nonprofit technology consulting
• Broadband mapping services
• Digital skills training

Headquarters

HQ city

Bowling Green

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Contracts: Connected Nation receives federal, state, and local government funding for broadband planning, mapping, and digital equity initiatives. This includes BEAD program related work, federal broadband funding initiatives, and state broadband office partnerships.
2. Public-Private Partnerships: Partnerships with corporations like AT&T for device distribution programs (Tech 4 Training), digital skills training initiatives, and community engagement. Corporate sponsorships and in-kind contributions support programs.
3. Foundation Grants: Funding from foundations including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for initiatives like Opportunity Online project working with public libraries in 20 states.
4. Fee-for-Service Research and Consulting: Connected Nation conducts research, data analysis, and consulting services for state broadband offices, healthcare organizations, and educational institutions on broadband access, telehealth, and digital inclusion topics.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Connected Nation is a national nonprofit that expands broadband internet access, adoption, and digital skills through research, mapping, training programs, Internet Exchange Point infrastructure, and policy advisory services. It operates across all 50 U.S. states and three territories, partnering with federal and state government agencies, foundations, and educational institutions to close the digital divide. Its core deliverables include the BEAD Tracker software platform for managing federal broadband funding deployment, broadband availability mapping, digital skills training programs, IXP operations, and data-driven research and policy consulting.

Product overview

Connected Nation operates as a national nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of broadband access and digital equity programs and services. The core offering combines research and data services (BEAD Tracker, Research and Data Analysis, Mapping and Geospatial Services) with direct community engagement programs (Digital Skills Training, Teens Teach Tech, Connected Community Engagement Program, Digital Works). Supporting infrastructure includes Internet Exchange Points (CNIXP) for AI compute and telehealth support, while specialized vertical services cover Education Initiatives, Telehealth Research, Policy & Planning, and Grants Strategy. The AI Literacy Resource Hub represents a dedicated educational product for AI skills. All offerings are tied to the organization's mission of expanding broadband access, adoption, and use across all 50 states and three U.S. territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• BEAD Tracker Software platform for managing federal broadband funding deployment programs (such as BEAD), supporting state broadband offices and program administrators with eligibility, mapping, reporting, and grant tracking functionality. Targeted at state and federal agencies responsible for administering broadband expansion funding.
• Broadband Mapping Services Geospatial broadband availability mapping and data services that document where internet service is and is not available across U.S. states and territories. Used by state broadband offices, federal agencies, and policymakers to plan broadband expansion and measure program outcomes.
• Digital Skills Training Curriculum-based digital literacy and internet use training programs delivered to individuals, families, and community organizations. Targeted at populations needing to develop the skills to use broadband effectively, often deployed through schools, libraries, and community-based partners.
• Internet Exchange Points (IXPs) Operational Internet Exchange Point infrastructure deployed across U.S. states to facilitate local network interconnection and traffic exchange. Supports improved broadband performance, reduced latency, and lower transit costs in regions where IXP presence is limited.
• Broadband Research and Data Analysis Research and data analysis services covering broadband adoption, access, and use patterns across the United States. Delivered to federal and state agencies, foundations, and policy stakeholders to inform broadband policy and program design.

Quantifiable outcome

• 150,000+ individuals trained in digital skills
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AmazoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 June 2026Amazon partnered with Connected Nation to support community engagement efforts as part of CN's work with the BEAD program. The partnership focuses on coordinating strategies for digital inclusion alongside infrastructure deployment across multiple states and Tribal Nations.
• Utah Education Network (UEN)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 April 2026Partnership for the sixth statewide School Technology Inventory achieving 100% participation from 1,034 schools and collecting more than 95,000 data points on technology usage in Utah's K-12 schools.
• AT&TcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 5 March 2026AT&T partners with CN through multiple initiatives including Tech 4 Training device distribution program, Teens Teach Tech powered by AT&T (150 youth teams across 42 states), and AT&T Connected Learning Centers. Since 2021, AT&T has committed $5 billion to connectivity and digital literacy initiatives.
• Brighton CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 5 March 2026Northern Kentucky partnership to provide 50 laptop devices and critical digital skills training to local residents. The Brighton Center's Newport-area facilities lead ongoing digital inclusion initiatives in partnership with CN.
• Bowling Green Boys & Girls Club of AmericacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 February 2026Partnership to equip parents and guardians with 100 laptops and digital skills training. The Bowling Green BGCA serves as Kentucky's first AT&T Connected Learning Center, launched in 2025.
• MoonshotcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 January 2026Strategic agreement with Connected Nation Internet Exchange Points (IXP.us) to deploy distributed AI compute platform at 25 IXP.us sites, with plans to scale to 125 locations across U.S. research university campuses over five years.
• QumulusAIcoreTechnology or Integration · 15 January 2026Strategic agreement with Connected Nation IXP.us to deploy distributed AI compute platform pairing carrier-neutral internet exchange points with modular AI Pods for low-latency AI applications.
• Dallas Innovation AllianceminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025Collaboration for intergenerational internet safety event in Dallas, promoting cybersecurity awareness and digital skills during Cybersecurity Awareness Month.
• Central Upper Peninsula Planning and Development Regional Commission (CUPPAD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for telehealth research survey of 800 households in the six-county Central Upper Peninsula region of Michigan, examining telehealth usage and attitudes.
• Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa IndianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Connected Nation Michigan and support from Michigan Health Endowment Fund to research tribal members' telehealth usage, barriers, and attitudes toward telehealth services.
• Office of eHealth Innovation (Colorado)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership to examine how rural Coloradans use telehealth services and identify barriers preventing some households from using those services. Survey of 800 adults in rural Colorado counties.
• Hunter NewbycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInterconnection pioneer partnering with CN to break ground on the first carrier-neutral IXP on Wichita State University campus, with plans for 125 facilities in regional hub communities across the U.S.
• Puede NetworkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDallas-based community organization forming three Teens Teach Tech teams to provide digital skills training to adults. In inaugural month, trained over 1,200 adults through youth-led workshops.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA): A national nonprofit dedicated to digital equity and digital inclusion, directly comparable in mission, target populations (digitally excluded households), and provider of digital skills training, device access programs, and broadband adoption advocacy similar to Connected Nation's Digital Empowerment and Teens Teach Tech programs.
• EducationSuperHighway: A nonprofit focused on closing the digital divide for K-12 students, addressing broadband access, Wi-Fi infrastructure, and digital equity in schools — directly comparable to Connected Nation's School Technology Inventory, AI policy assessments, and education-focused broadband planning work for state education networks.
• Digital Promise: A national nonprofit driving digital inclusion and EdTech innovation in education, with similar focus on underserved communities, school technology assessment, and digital skills — overlaps Connected Nation's K-12 initiatives and AI Literacy Resource Hub for underserved learners.
• EveryoneOn: A national nonprofit that connects low-income Americans with affordable internet service, devices, and digital skills training — overlapping mission with Connected Nation's Digital Empowerment, Solutions for At-Home Connectivity, and Broadband Adoption programs targeting the same digitally excluded populations.
• PCs for People: A nonprofit providing refurbished computers and affordable internet to low-income individuals — directly comparable to Connected Nation's 60,000+ device distribution, partnerships with Compudot for refurbishment, and Tech 4 Training laptop programs.
• Internet Society: A global nonprofit advocating for open, globally connected internet and supporting Internet Exchange Points globally — closely comparable to Connected Nation's CNIXP carrier-neutral internet exchange point infrastructure work and broader mission of expanding internet access.
• NetHope: A nonprofit consortium of NGOs deploying technology and connectivity for international development and humanitarian work — overlaps with Connected Nation's international engagement (New Zealand broadband learning exchange) and digital inclusion programs for underserved populations.
• CETYS (formerly Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition - SHLB): A national advocacy organization supporting broadband access for schools, libraries, and health facilities — directly comparable to Connected Nation's work with community anchor institutions, K-12 School Technology Inventory, and Connected Community Engagement Program via libraries.

Emerging players

• CTC Technology & Energy: An independent consulting firm advising municipalities, states, and counties on broadband planning, network design, and digital equity — directly competes with Connected Nation's Broadband Mapping, Policy & Planning, and Local & Regional Broadband Planning services for state and local government contracts.

Broad incumbents

• Booz Allen Hamilton: Large federal integrator that advises federal and state agencies on broadband, BEAD implementation, digital equity, and technology deployment — competes with Connected Nation for state broadband office consulting contracts and offers wider capabilities across GovTech and federal services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/connectednation
• Facebookfacebook.com/ConnectedNation
• Instagraminstagram.com/connectednation
• TikToktiktok.com/@connected_nation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/connected-nation-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Connected Nation