November 2020

NCC Joins Rainbow Push Coalition Panel Discussion on the Digital Divide & Economic Inclusion

Civil rights icon Reverend Jesse Jackson and Federal Communications Commissioner Geoffrey Starks were two of the headliners in Rainbow Push’s annual symposium on tech and telecom policy. Next Century Cities’ Executive Director, Francella Ochillo, joined former NTIA chief, Larry Irving, and the President & CEO of Public Knowledge, on a panel discussion moderated by Aspen […]

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Getting Broadband to Every American Starts with Accurate Data

By Lukas Pietrzak, Policy Associate   During the first week of November 2020, Next Century Cities highlighted efforts across the United States to accurately map broadband availability data. State and municipal governments are working hard to correct inaccuracies in the federal broadband data collection, gathering information from a variety of stakeholders in order to develop

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A Fireside Chat with Christi Buker of the Pennsylvania Library Association

With Christi Buker, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Library Association   Can you tell me more about the Pennsylvania Library Association?  Part of what we do is represent all types of libraries – school libraries, as well as public libraries, and academic libraries. That’s important, because it is a whole connection point that different libraries are doing

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Examining Policies and Priorities with the American Libraries Association

With Alan Inouye, Senior Director for Public Policy and Government Relations of the American Library Association     Could you tell us about your role and some of the major projects that fall under your responsibility within ALA? I am the Senior Director for Public Policy and Government Relations at the American Library Association. I

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America’s libraries boost broadband access and use—during a pandemic and beyond

By Larra Clark, Deputy Director, Public Library Association and American Library Association Public Policy & Advocacy Office     The Williamsburg (VA) Regional Library put its mobile hotspots on the road at the end of March 2020 when COVID-19 public health restrictions closed the doors to its three physical locations. Working with local schools, the

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Connecting Residents in Oxnard, California

By Raja Bamrungpong, Interim Information Technology Director Please give us a brief overview on the status of broadband connectivity in Oxnard. The City of Oxnard, like many in the U.S., faces challenges while addressing broadband connectivity for residents and businesses. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 80.3% of Oxnard households have a broadband Internet subscription,

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A Law Student’s Perspective on the Many Obstacles to Accessing Broadband

By Nairobi Cratic, a 2L in the Class of 2022 at the University of Wisconsin Law School, who has worked on technology and telecommunications policy issues as a staffer in the U.S. House of Representatives. According to New America’s 2020 Cost of Connectivity Report, the average price of internet in the United States is $68.38/month.

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Next Century Cities Provides Keynote Remarks on Increasing Broadband Access & Adoption for Residents in Southeast Queens, New York

Access to high-speed connectivity helps to support economically viable and resilient communities. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced government, business, and other essential services to migrate almost exclusively online, the need for equal access became impossible to ignore. Residents with broadband were able to comply with remote learning mandates, had economic opportunities, and maintained access to

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NCC Makes Recommendations to Improve Broadband Connectivity for New York Residents

On November 13, 2020, Next Century Cities (NCC) drafted a letter of recommendations for the Reimagine New York Commission. The Commission was created by Governor Cuomo to expand opportunities for New Yorkers by reducing the digital divide, improving healthcare access, and creating new job opportunities. Currently, the Commission is collecting ideas to achieve those goals. 

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