By Yosef Getachew In so many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown us that broadband is an essential service. We rely on digital connectivity to stay in touch with friends and family, work from home, log on to virtual classrooms, receive medical care through telehealth, and to meet daily needs. But the importance of broadband […]
A Democracy Without Broadband Read More »
By Lukas Pietrzak, Policy Associate Over the last 244 years, our country has worked to form a more perfect union through the greatest right afforded to American citizens: the right to vote. For most of modern history, everyday Americans have shared in the practice of heading to their local polling place on the first
Closing the Digital Divide to #PlanYourVote Read More »
With Holly Hartell, Assistant CIO for Strategic Initiatives at Arlington County Department of Technology How do you communicate with residents in Arlington? To ensure that the communications are clear and consistent, four goals have been defined as guideposts for the County efforts: CONNECTIVITY: Arlington residents are able to connect to affordable broadband internet. ACCESS: All
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Every day, millions of people across the United States log on to attend school, complete their jobs, and consult with medical professionals. While the need for high-quality broadband predates and will persist after the pandemic, COVID-19 has increased internet traffic on home broadband services. In the past several months, employers, educators, and healthcare providers have
On August 12, 2020, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit released its decision in the case City of Portland v. FCC. This decision will have wide reaching effects not just on Next Century Cities’ (NCC) member municipalities, but on municipalities across the nation regardless of size or location. The case centered on Portland,
Next Century Cities Reviews Recent Ninth Circuit Decision City of Portland v. FCC Read More »
The National Telecommunications Information Administration (“NTIA”) in conjunction with the Census Bureau periodically administers, as a supplement to the Current Population Survey, the Internet Use Survey. This survey is an important resource to inform digital inclusion strategies and other internet-related public policy challenges. NTIA has asked for comment as to how it can improve the
View a pdf of this press release here. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Brittany-Rae Gregory brittany-rae@nextcenturycities.org Next Century Cities Advocates for the FCC to Reevaluate Broadband Deployment Data Collection Methods and Reporting Washington D.C. (September 21, 2020) – Next Century Cities (“NCC”) submitted comments with Common Cause and Public Knowledge in response to the Federal
The digital divide has a local impact and often requires local problem-solving. As a result, time and resources are often assigned to immediate challenges. Particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, little time remains for local leaders to brainstorm and imagine new ways to bring broadband within reach for every resident. In Fort Collins, CO, however, thinking
The Lifeline program is an integral part of bringing and keeping low income American’s across the nation online. It is essential that it remains accessible to populations who need it most such as students, veterans, seniors, the disabled, domestic violence victims, and those recovering from natural disasters. On August 14, 2020, Next Century Cities along
Photo Credit: New York State Library The New York State Library and State Education Department announced a series of webinars designed to establish a shared understanding of how digital equity can help close the digital divide. On September 10, 2020, over 200 educators, librarians, and other community leaders participated in the first installment of the
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