Each June, communities around the world come together to recognize LGBTQ+ Pride Month. This month is dedicated to acknowledging the battle for equal rights for Queer communities and honors the legacy of activists of past and current generations. As Next Century Cities celebrates Pride, we recognize the immense power and potential of broadband access […]
Celebrating Pride Online Read More »
In recent years, there has been an increasing amount of bipartisan consensus that broadband is a necessity that households cannot afford to go without. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have come together to agree that access is a required for meaningful participation in modern society. The ongoing challenge is how we determine where
Leaders in Broadband Mapping: A Discussion with the Office of Congressman Robert Latta Read More »
The digital divide has been present since the nationwide rollout of consumer Internet plans in the 1990s, but certain communities entered the Internet age in a position that would disadvantage them for years to come. These communities have fallen victim to a decades-old practice – redlining. In effect, it prevents countless Americans from having access
Finding and Eliminating the Digital Red Line Read More »
In May 2021, Next Century Cities released a report, Broadband Mapping Across the U.S.: Local, State, and Federal Methods & Contradictions, which discusses broadband mapping initiatives across the country. Since the report’s release, several more communities announced that they would investigate their residents’ experience with Internet access, while other local officials made strides with the
The Work is Far From Over: Updates on Local Broadband Data Collection Initiatives Read More »
On June 16, 2021, Next Century Cities’ Communications Director Brittany-Rae Gregory moderated a panel discussion on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program. The event was part of the annual Diversity in Tech Summit hosted by the office of Congresswoman Alma Adams (NC -12), co-founder of the Congressional Historically
State Lawmakers Proposed New Prohibitions on Municipal Networks On June 9, 2021, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee and Senate approved amendments to the state’s annual appropriations legislation which could cut municipalities off from federal funding opportunities and inhibit public broadband providers, including those who are already offering service. Next Century Cities submitted letters to
Since enrollment for the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (“EBBP”) began in May 2021, 2.3 million people have signed up to receive assistance with their broadband bill. However, eligible participants have faced significant challenges to enrollment such as the requiring of a new service plan, mandatory opt-in to continuing services, language barriers, and burdensome identity verification.
The International Economic Development Council (IEDC) is a non-profit, non-partisan membership organization that serves economic development officers nationwide. Its 2021 Future Economic Forum conference focused on fostering regional innovation, economic transformation, and equity in the new economy. Naturally, broadband access, adoption programs, and digital equity strategies are central to those goals. In the age of
Due to the COVID pandemic, the National Digital Inclusion Alliance’s (“NDIA”) annual conference had a different look and feel this year. It is traditionally a production fueled by volunteers where digital inclusion practitioners and other stakeholders gather in cheerful conference rooms to discuss ways to close the digital divide. This year’s conference was split into
On May 18th, NCC joined allied organizations in a letter to the California State Assembly Committee on Budget, supporting Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to invest $7 billion in broadband infrastructure for a publicly-owned open access middle mile fiber network. Along with the network, the Governor’s plan would include long-term financing for local governments. Middle mile
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