Next Century Cities joined the National League of Cities’ (NLC) call for federal aid and economic relief for municipalities grappling with coronavirus (COVID-19) response. Like Next Century Cities, NLC elevates the voices of local officials in cities, towns, and villages across the US. On May 20, 2020, NLC led this letter to Congress on behalf […]
On May 13, 2020, the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a virtual hearing to discuss the nation’s broadband infrastructure amidst the COVID-19 outbreak. The importance of broadband access was the topic du jour for the Senator’s and their constituents at home. While a number of Senators and witnesses joined the hearing from
The University of Illinois Extension Local Government Education Program and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity Illinois Office of Broadband partnered with the Benton Institute for Broadband & Society to implement the Developing Broadband Leadership Webinar Series. The leadership series is a four-part workshop launched as part of the Connect Illinois initiative, a
Aerial view of Hanover, NH Next Century Cities profiles member municipalities in order to capture connectivity challenges and success stories from a local official’s point of view. Julia Griffin serves as the Town Manager in Hanover and has been working to expand broadband access for its residents for the last 15 years. What is
Out of concern about the impact that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has had on technology and society, Media Democracy Fund and The NetGain Partnership hosted a webinar on the State of Connectivity in the US. The webinar on May 6, 2020, was the first installment of a series designed to explore gaps in broadband access,
Next Century Cities Weighs-In on the State of Connectivity in the US Read More »
By Ryan Johnston On April 24, 2020, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released their biannual Broadband Deployment Report. Under Section 706 of the 1996 Telecommunications Act, the FCC is required to “determine whether advanced telecommunications capability is being deployed to all Americans in a reasonable and timely fashion.” This year’s report highlights the FCC’s
Form 477 Data Undermines Conclusions in the 2020 Broadband Deployment Report Read More »
TV White Space (TVWS) technology helps expand broadband access to hard-to-serve areas. Particularly in rural and Tribal areas, scarce broadband deployment and the high cost of internet access underscore the need for using TVWS to reach unserved and underserved residents. The Federal Communications Commission’s rule changes will also help support the next generation of
On April 30, 2020, Next Century Cities members from across the country came together for a video conference call with two advisors for Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Chairman Ajit Pai. Next Century Cities provided a platform for sharing local stories with Commission staff. Eight representatives from local and state governments shared their stories,
Local Officials Are Tackling Connectivity Solutions But Recognize the Need to Do More Read More »
What’s the problem? It is well-documented that millions of Americans still do not have access to broadband. While the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) estimates that 18 million people do not have access to 25/3 Mbps minimum speeds, the underlying data is notoriously flawed. Independent research indicates that the number of Americans who lack reliable access
The Congressional Research Service recently released a report titled “State Broadband Initiatives: Selected State and Local Approaches as Potential Models for Federal Initiatives to Address the Digital Divide.” The study highlights state and local examples of broadband access and deployment programs developed to narrow the digital divide. The Congressional report warns against employing
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