2024

Collaboration is Central at Connected Oklahoma

On October 8th and 9th, community leaders and broadband experts convened in Oklahoma City for the second annual Connected Oklahoma rural broadband summit, hosted by the Cooperative Broadband Coalition.  The event kicked off with an announcement from Sac and Fox Nation and Centranet, a fiber subsidiary of Central Rural Electric Cooperative that provides high-speed internet

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What a team up between NTIA and the Census Bureau means for local leaders bridging connectivity gaps

By Corian Zacher Community leaders nationwide rely on accurate local data about Internet access and adoption. Detailed information about where infrastructure is and which residents lack access is invaluable for improving government service delivery, applying for broadband and digital equity funding, and highlighting local needs for elected officials. Next Century Cities has long called on

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Next Century Cities Joins Congressional Briefing on the Importance of Unlicensed Spectrum

By Ryan Johnston Unlicensed spectrum powers an incredible number of the devices we all use every day. For example, in 2023 it was estimated that the average U.S. household with Internet access had 17 connected devices. However, spectrum is a finite resource and finding more for unlicensed often means repurposing bands from one use to

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Hurricane Helene Directly Hits Broadband Access

By: Stacey Baxter Hurricane Helene hit the east coast of the United States and created devastation in its path. Latest reports indicate that death tolls have reached over 130 people, with entire towns being wiped out in its wake.  For the individuals and communities who survived the storm, the aftermath of Hurricane Helene has created

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Next Century Cities Explores Diversity and Connectivity in Chattanooga

By Andy Stutzman NCC at the Digital Opportunity Summit Pre-Conference  After an incredible drive down through Appalachia, I was excited to visit Chattanooga, Tennessee for the first time. On Monday, July 22, the Enterprise Center held their Digital Opportunity Summit pre-conference titled The Chattanooga Story: A Decade of Digital Opportunity Partnerships at the Bessie Smith

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Community Leaders Agree that Forward Looking Planning Promotes Programmatic Success.

By Ryan Johnston From August 5-7, vendors, broadband deployment specialists, digital equity experts and community leaders from all over the nation came together in Denver, Colorado for the Mountain Connect Conference. Senior Policy Counsel for Federal Affairs, Ryan Johnston, moderated a panel of local officials, industry professionals, and nonprofit service providers. Panelists included Joshua Edmonds,

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The Future of Broadband Affordability

By Corian Zacher From August 5-7, 2024, broadband and digital equity advocates across the country convened in Denver, Colorado for the annual Mountain Connect conference. Next Century Cities’ Senior Policy Counsel for State and Local Initiatives, Corian Zacher, moderated a discussion with Bo Ford, Digital Equity Program Manager for New Mexico State Library, and Shannon

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Broadband Affordability: The Metrics that Drive and Divide Us

The connection between poverty and lack of access to broadband service has been researched many times over the past decade, particularly in the last four years since the onset of the global pandemic. In the latest report by Next Century Cities, The Metrics that Drive and Divide Us, additional data from the American Community Survey

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