nextcentury – Page 3 – Next Century Cities

The NCC Team Visits Connect(X) to Underscore the Importance of Wireless Connectivity

5G, Blog Entry, Broadband Funding, Broadband Mapping, By Corian Zacher, By Lukas Pietrzak, Conferences, Cybersecurity, Orlando, Privacy, Public-Private Partnerships, RDOF, rural broadband access, Rural Digital Opportunity Fund, Sioux Falls, Small Cells, South Dakota, Wireless / nextcentury

On Tuesday, October 5th, the Next Century Cities team joined the Wireless Infrastructure Association’s 2021 Connect(X) Conference in Orlando, Florida. The gathering featured stories and insights from industry experts, government officials, advocates, and local leaders from across the country. From coast to coast, residents increasingly rely on digital tools to power their lives, making both […]

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As America’s Unhoused Population Continues to Rise, So Does the Need to Develop Targeted Broadband Strategies

Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, COVID-19, Digital Divide, Homelessness, Transient / nextcentury

Americans share a common experience when moving into a new home: searching for and subscribing to home Internet. However, many people in the United States lack a prerequisite for this experience – a home address. Homelessness is on the rise. According to the most recent report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

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Designing New Network Deployments with Security in Mind

Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston, Cybersecurity, Federal Policy, Network Deployment / nextcentury

Credit: IntrustIT October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a time for us to consider why it is crucial for new broadband network deployments to keep security in mind from the outset. The proposed bipartisan infrastructure bill could potentially give communities an unprecedented amount of funding to expand connectivity in cities, towns, and counties nationwide. For many

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Empowering People With Disabilities Through Digital Inclusion

Accessibility for People with Disabilities, Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, California, Carteret County, Chula Vista, Digital Equity, Digital Inclusion, North Carolina, Oregon, Portland, State Policy / nextcentury

An increasing number of jobs, schoolwork, information, and government services have permanently migrated online as a result of the pandemic. While technological advancement makes a wealth of tools available that improve quality of life and enable aging in place, too often people with disabilities lack the requisite Internet service and devices to meet the demand

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Digital Access is Vital: A Conversation with Lydia X.Z. Brown

Blog Entry, By Brittany-Rae Gregory, By Francella Ochillo, Device Access, Digital Divide, Digital Equity, Digital Inclusion / nextcentury

Lydia X. Z. Brown is an advocate who is changing the way that people think about equity for people with disabilities. In several capacities, as Policy Counsel with Center for Democracy & Technology, a Georgetown University lecturer, and an impassioned disability justice advocate, Lydia is working to address the ways in which algorithmic injustice furthers,

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Emergency Broadband Benefit Explainer for Nontraditional Providers

Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston, Federal Policy, News / nextcentury

Providers should visit the FCC’s website for the most updated information. Who is eligible to be a participating provider? Providers who are already designated as Eligible Telecommunications Carriers (“ETCs”) are eligible to participate in the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (“EBBP”). If a provider is not designated as an ETC, it must file an

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The City of Detroit Continues to Set the Bar for Digital Equity and Inclusion

Blog Entry, Broadband Access, Broadband Adoption, By Francella Ochillo, Detroit, Digital Inclusion, Michigan, Workforce Development / nextcentury

Digital Inclusion Week (“DIW”) is a designated time for government officials, public service entities, nonprofits, and others to unite their efforts around closing the digital divide. Using events, media, and public awareness campaigns, participants elevate the need for all individuals and communities – including the most disadvantaged – to have reliable and affordable access to

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Next Century Cities Defends Local Governments’ Decision-Making Authority Over Broadband Expansion Strategies

News, Press Releases / nextcentury

You can find a PDF of this press release here. For Immediate Release Contact: Lukas Pietrzak lukas@nextcenturycities.org October 8, 2021 Washington, D.C. (October 8, 2021) – Yesterday, Next Century Cities submitted comments before the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) in response to a Petition for Declaratory Ruling filed pursuant to Section 253 of the Communications Act.

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“It is Time for the Heavy Lifting to Begin.” SA Digital Connects Hosts Community Presentation Unveiling Digital Equity Plan and Roadmap

Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, By Lukas Pietrzak, Device Access, Digital Equity, Digital Inclusion, Digital Literacy, Public-Private Partnerships, San Antonio, Texas / nextcentury

Local officials, community leaders, and businesses in San Antonio are partnering on a groundbreaking community investment in digital equity. An initial step included developing a Digital Equity Plan and Roadmap to help guide decision-making and take advantage of the wide array of funding for local governments and Internet service providers. SA Digital Connects aims to

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Planning for California’s $6 Billion Broadband Investment is Underway. What Does Your Community Need?

Blog Entry, Broadband Funding, By Corian Zacher, California, California Public Utilities Commission, Last Mile, Middle Mile, State Funding, State Policy / nextcentury

On July 20, 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom signed Senate Bill 156 into law, setting the stage for a $6 billion investment in California’s broadband infrastructure. The legislation includes $3.25 billion for a statewide open-access middle-mile network and $2 billion for counties for last-mile service initiatives. Additionally, the legislation establishes a $750 million broadband loan loss

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