As an unfunded initiative, the Hawaii Broadband Initiative stopped and started numerous times since its inception twelve years ago. Burt Lum started in his role as Strategic Officer in 2018, and hopes to implement lasting change. When Lum joined the Hawaii Broadband Initiative, one of his main objectives was to get funding appropriated from the […]
In 2021, the nation’s digital divide presents itself as a serious obstacle to public health and wellness. In order to ensure an effective COVID-19 vaccination roll out and the continuity of routine medical care, local governments must leverage existing federal programs and its own public WiFi access points to help those who are offline to
The Digital Divide Will Make Us Sicker Read More »
About 1,100 miles Southeast of Florida and roughly 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, our fellow Americans live on a cluster of three main islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands – made up of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas – is also surrounded by 50 minor islands. In 2017, Hurricanes Maria and Irma ravaged
New Connectivity Projects in the Wake of Resilience Woes in the U.S. Virgin Islands Read More »
If you drift off of Interstate 45 in East Texas, you’ll find a region of natural resources, rich with national forests, picturesque landscapes, clean air, and freshwater. Communities are linked by a partnership in the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) as well as a shared frustration
Almost 7,000 miles from the nation’s capital is a community of five islands and two coral atolls with a rich Polynesian history. American Samoa, the United States’ southernmost territory, is spread across approximately 76 square land miles and is home to approximately 50,000 Samoans. The island community officially joined the United States in 1900. Officials
From Tuna to Telecommunications in American Samoa Read More »
You can find a pdf of the press release here. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lukas Pietrzak lukas@nextcenturycities.org NEXT CENTURY CITIES PUBLISHES RESEARCH ON THE IMPORTANCE OF BROADBAND NETWORK RESILIENCY PLANNING BEFORE NATURAL DISASTERS STRIKE Washington, D.C. (March 29, 2021) – Today, Next Century Cities’ Ryan Johnston released a paper examining how broadband networked fared
Approximately 2.8 million Americans call Puerto Rico home. Known for its colorful architecture, cobblestone streets, and rich culture, this U.S. territory is also known for a stubborn digital divide. Puerto Ricans struggled with reliable connectivity solutions long before Hurricane Maria ravaged the island. Limited wireline infrastructure forces communities, particularly outside of San Juan, to
Broadband networks are part of the DNA of resilient communities. As evidenced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, reliable and high-speed connections are vital for education, health, safety, and economic development. Natural disasters pose ongoing threats to broadband networks across the country, which only underscores the importance of centering resiliency planning in broadband deployment strategies. In Communities
Report: Communities Responding to Natural Disasters Through Network Resilience Read More »
Even though thousands of Americans are getting vaccinated each day, the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic continues. Families who are still struggling to pay utilities, small businesses still have difficulty keeping their doors open, and students continue to distance learn while parents telework, wherever possible. In order to combat the financial strain the pandemic has
Here’s What the American Rescue Plan Could Do to Support Broadband In Your Community Read More »
Program Resources: FCC outreach partner information and eligibility guidelines Next Century Cities’ explainer for consumers (pdf) Next Century Cities’ explainer for nontraditional providers (pdf) National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s Emergency Broadband Benefit Website What is the Emergency Broadband Benefit? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to necessitate distance learning, telework, and reliance on telehealth, broadband connectivity is
Emergency Broadband Benefit Program: A Quick Look Read More »
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