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Connecting AZ-1 | Episode 02 | Jesus Franco Yescas from ASU Next Lab

Connecting AZ-1 is a podcast documenting the people, programs, and partnerships building a more connected Arizona. Each episode, the AZ-1 student storytelling team sits down with the voices shaping digital inclusion, community trust, and real human impact, the stories behind the data, and the people the reports don't capture. New episodes dropping regularly. Subscribe so you never miss one.

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Connecting AZ-1 | Episode 01 | Darrina Bledsoe from New Freedom

In this episode, we sit down with Darrina from New Freedom, a re-entry program built on something most systems skip: peer support. Darrina works directly with justice-impacted individuals, and she's here to talk about what trust actually looks like when it's built from shared experience, what success looks like that never makes it into a report, and where systems, despite good intentions, sometimes get in their own way.

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AZ-1 Original Stories Community Stories Connecting AZ-1 Podcast Digital Skills Incarcerated Individuals
Front view of server racks in a data center, with numerous yellow and blue network cables and green LED indicator lights visible through the perforated metal doors.
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FCC Data Analysis: Data Centers Drive Higher Broadband Speeds

July 14, 2025, - FCC data updates from June 2024 to December 2024 show how data center development drives higher internet speeds.

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Broadband Availability Community Stories Maps Aging Individuals Covered Households Individuals with a language barrier (non-English speakers) Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group Rural Residents Veterans Individuals with a Disability Incarcerated Individuals
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ASU-led effort helps thousands of Arizonans get online and build digital skills for free

July 23, 2025

'It became obvious to us that access to internet wasn’t a nice-to-have — it was a must-have'

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Community Stories Workforce Development Digital Skills Telehealth News Aging Individuals Covered Households Individuals with a language barrier (non-English speakers) Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group Rural Residents Veterans Individuals with a Disability Incarcerated Individuals
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AZ-1 Original: The Power of Social Determinants in Shaping Health Equity

April 14, 2025 - Exploring the Role of Social Determinants in Building a Healthier, More Equitable, and Sustainable Future for All

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AZ-1 Original Stories Community Stories Workforce Development Digital Skills Telehealth Aging Individuals Covered Households Individuals with a language barrier (non-English speakers) Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group Rural Residents Veterans Individuals with a Disability Incarcerated Individuals
Landscape photograph in Arizona showing peaks and valleys of mountains in the background and city in the foreground
Government Officials Support Organizations

FCC Data Analysis: The Peaks and Valleys of Arizona Internet Coverage

Feb 18, 2025, - FCC data updates from December 2023 to June 2024 show where internet speeds are rising...and where they are falling.

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Broadband Availability Community Stories Maps Aging Individuals Covered Households Individuals with a language barrier (non-English speakers) Members of a Racial or Ethnic Minority Group Rural Residents Veterans Individuals with a Disability Incarcerated Individuals