About the SHLB Coalition

Mission: “For every anchor institution in the country to have affordable, high-quality broadband that serves the needs of the institution and is open and accessible to the surrounding community.”

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. We strive to close the digital divide by promoting high-quality broadband for anchor institutions and their communities. Our members include hundreds of commercial and nonprofit organizations who support our mission.

Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs) are the heart and soul of every locality across the United States. In the 21st century, high-speed broadband is the essential tool that CAIs need to serve and benefit the public. SHLB works on the E-rate, Rural Health Care, and other funding programs to ensure that CAIs have open, affordable, high-quality bandwidth for the future.

The SHLB Coalition believes in building broadband "to and through" CAIs as a way to provide low-cost connections to the communities surrounding the anchor institutions. Policies that advance broadband deployment should:

• Include CAIs in addition to residential and business consumers.
• Be provider-neutral and commercially-viable.
• Embrace new technologies.
• Fund broadband networks that are open to interconnection and shared use.

The SHLB Coalition is the only organization that represents the interests of all anchors on broadband issues.