The FCC has joined with USAID to support a Broadband Partnership of the Americas (BPA) initiative, which will serve as a voluntary and flexible framework for the governments of the Western Hemisphere, multilateral organizations, the donor community and the private sector to collaborate on expanding broadband access across the Americas. The BPA was announced by President Obama during the VIth Summit of the Americas and it seeks to advance the Summit goal of how to enhance access to broadband connectivity to improve development outcomes, foster economic development and innovation, and increase competitiveness in the region.