Next Century Cities supports mayors and community leaders across the country as they seek to ensure that everyone has fast, affordable and reliable internet access.

In my role as Executive Director of Next Century Cities, I have had the amazing opportunity to travel across the country, talking to difference makers, innovative leaders, and creative problem solvers. Local communities are used to, and good at, finding ways to provide residents with what is needed to ensure a good quality of life. And this includes broadband access.

At the Boulder County Fair, a little girl proudly donned a green cape any superhero would be proud of, proclaiming a speed worthy of the Flash. “Fastest internet in the nation!” read the cape, along with the logo of the superspeed service – the community-owned NextLight™ network of Longmont, Colo., provided by Longmont Power & Communications (LPC). Over the last few years, all of Longmont has been feeling pretty super.