In light of the billions of dollars that are being invested into digital infrastructure programs, it is critical for federal officials to conduct outreach to and solicit input from potentially affected communities. One of the largest barriers to municipal engagement is that local officials and community leaders often do not know where to begin the […]
Surveys are not a novel tool for facilitating communication between residents and local officials, but broadband studies have increasingly become a forum of public opinion for residents and their local elected officials. Oftentimes, municipalities work with broadband experts, who conduct the surveys and help interpret the results. The insights gleaned from broadband surveys enable local
In order to promote meaningful broadband deployment and adoption programs, policymakers and experts must first know where service is strong, weak, or nonexistent. Currently broadband maps are created using provider reported Form 477 data. However, the Broadband DATA Act tasks the Federal Communications Commission with collecting large scale crowdsourced data to supplement the creation of
On November 15th, 2021, President Biden signed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (“Infrastructure Bill”), a historic $65 billion investment in broadband programs. At a time when a home broadband subscription equates to reliable healthcare, quality education, boundless economic opportunity, channels for civic engagement, and so much more, connecting every corner of the United States
What Could the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act Mean for NCC Members? Read More »
Next Century Cities is committed to providing a platform for members to connect with federal leaders about their on-the-ground experiences in towns, cities, counties, and villages nationwide. Municipal administrators and advocates are experts on how federal policies impact broadband access and adoption in their communities, insights that are needed to inform federal policymaking. On November
Next Century Cities Connects Local Leaders to FCC Geoffrey Commissioner Starks Read More »
Next Century Cities works to ensure that residents in every community – regardless of geography or zip code have reliable and affordable access to high-speed connectivity. On November 4th, Next Century Cities Executive Director, Francella Ochilo, spoke at LULAC’s National Innovation, Technology, and Education Summit to discuss the importance of digital inclusion. LULAC CEO Sindy
NCC Emphasizes the Importance of Digital Inclusion Among Hispanic and Latinx Households Read More »
In June 2021, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued Executive Directive 2021-2, which established the Michigan High-Speed Internet Office (“MIHI”). The office is responsible for coordinating all state, federal, philanthropic, and private investments made into broadband infrastructure and its utilization. Fueling MIHI’s mandate are conclusions by the state’s Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity that quantify the
You can find a PDF of this press release here. For Immediate Release Contact: Brittany-Rae Gregory brittany-rae@nextcenturycities.org November 15, 2021 Washington, D.C. (November 15, 2021) – On November 5th, the U. S. House of Representatives passed the historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, which President Biden will sign into law today. The bipartisan
On October 29, 2021, Next Century Cities joined comments led by the National Digital Inclusion Alliance (NDIA) regarding the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) proposal to rescind its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) rule issued in June 2020. In essence, the letter urges the OCC to recommit to its position that “loans, investments
The California State Capitol As states nationwide are determining whether to allocate American Rescue Plan State and Local Fiscal Recovery funds for broadband, California is in the process of designing grant programs to distribute funding. Governor Gavin Newsom signed SB 156 into law in July 2021, marking a $6 billion investment in broadband infrastructure. $2
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