May 2020 – Page 2 – Next Century Cities

Local Officials Share Insights on How Broadband Impacts Population Growth, Economic Development, and Education in Illinois

Blog Entry, By Brittany-Rae Gregory, COVID-19 / nextcentury

The University of Illinois Extension Local Government Education Program and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois Office of Broadband partnered with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society to implement the Developing Broadband Leadership Webinar Series. The leadership series is a four-part workshop launched as part of the Connect Illinois initiative, a […]

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Expanding Broadband Access in Hanover, NH: Local Insights from a Town Manager Determined to Connect Every Resident

Blog Entry, By Brittany-Rae Gregory / nextcentury

Aerial view of Hanover, NH Next Century Cities profiles member municipalities in order to capture connectivity challenges and success stories from a local official’s point of view. Julia Griffin serves as the Town Manager in Hanover and has been working to expand broadband access for its residents for the last 15 years. What is

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Next Century Cities Weighs-In on the State of Connectivity in the US

By Francella Ochillo, COVID-19, NCC News / nextcentury

Out of concern about the impact that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on technology and society, Media Democracy Fund and The NetGain Partnership hosted a webinar on the State of Connectivity in the US. The webinar on May 6, 2020, was the first installment of a series designed to explore gaps in broadband access,

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Form 477 Data Undermines Conclusions in the 2020 Broadband Deployment Report

Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston / nextcentury

By Ryan Johnston On April 24, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released their biannual Broadband Deployment Report. Under Section 706 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the FCC is required to “determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.” This year’s report highlights the FCC’s

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Next Century Cities Joined Public Interest Spectrum Coalition Allies in Support for Proposals to Expand Unlicensed WiFi for Public Use

By NCC Staff, NCC News / nextcentury

TV White Space (TVWS) technology helps expand broadband access to hard-to-serve areas. Particularly in rural and Tribal areas, scarce broadband deployment and the high cost of internet access underscore the need for using TVWS to reach unserved and underserved residents. The Federal Communications Commission’s rule changes will also help support the next generation of

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Local Officials Are Tackling Connectivity Solutions But Recognize the Need to Do More

Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak / nextcentury

On April 30, 2020, Next Century Cities members from across the country came together for a video conference call with two advisors for Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Chairman Ajit Pai. Next Century Cities provided a platform for sharing local stories with Commission staff. Eight representatives from local and state governments shared their stories,

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