Mar 30, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
Almost 7,000 miles from the nation’s capital is a community of five islands and two coral atolls with a rich Polynesian history. American Samoa, the United States’ southernmost territory, is spread across approximately 76 square land miles and is home to approximately...
Nov 18, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
By Lukas Pietrzak, Policy Associate During the first week of November 2020, Next Century Cities highlighted efforts across the United States to accurately map broadband availability data. State and municipal governments are working hard to correct inaccuracies...
Nov 6, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
In October 2020, the Siegel Family Endowment (“Siegel”) released a white-paper, Rebuilding America: The Road Ahead, highlighting how infrastructure can support a more resilient, equitable, and prosperous society. As stated in the paper, “broadband … and new...
Nov 1, 2020 | Blog Entry, Broadband Data, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
Learn more on NCC’s mapping homepage. Across the country, Montana is known for its sprawling wilderness and rich mineral deposits, capturing the nickname of the “Treasure State.” While Montana is rich in beauty, it lacks connectivity for its residents, where...
Sep 23, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, COVID-19, News
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...
Sep 9, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
In Illinois, communities are coming together with the assistance of Governor J.B. Pritzker and the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society to close the digital divide. The Illinois Connected Communities grant program, announced in August of 2020, is supporting 28...
Aug 20, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, COVID-19, News
On August 3rd, the U.S. Census Bureau (“Bureau”) announced major changes to their operational timeline for the 2020 Decennial Census. Since March, the Bureau has been working to ensure an accurate and complete count amidst unprecedented challenges posed by the...
Jul 27, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
When November 3, 2020 arrives, 16 million Americans will be voting in their first presidential election. For the first time, these newly minted voters will take part in a bedrock practice of our country, one that ensures a government reflects its citizenry. ...
Jul 27, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
On July 23, 2020, Public Knowledge convened a group of technology policy advocates to discuss an issue plaguing cities and towns nationwide – digital redlining. Across the country, internet service providers make strategic business decisions when allocating...
Jun 30, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak, News
On July 4, 1776, our country’s founders came together, under the cover of darkness, to vote on the Declaration of Independence. This letter, which outlined the British Colonies’ grievances against King George III, was the first test of the new American information...
May 19, 2020 | By Lukas Pietrzak, COVID-19, NCC News
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...
May 4, 2020 | Blog Entry, By Lukas Pietrzak
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...