Jul 12, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, California, California Public Utilities Commission, Digital Equity, Inglewood, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Rafael, State Filing, State Policy
On Friday, July 2, 2021, Next Century Cities submitted comments with the California Public Utilities Commission (“CPUC”) elevating the importance of using local digital equity strategies to address historic and ongoing discriminatory practices. The CPUC sought...
Jun 21, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, State Policy
State Lawmakers Proposed New Prohibitions on Municipal Networks On June 9, 2021, the Ohio Senate Finance Committee and Senate approved amendments to the state’s annual appropriations legislation which could cut municipalities off from federal funding...
Jun 2, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Filing, Last Mile, Middle Mile, Open Access, State Policy
On May 18th, NCC joined allied organizations in a letter to the California State Assembly Committee on Budget, supporting Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposal to invest $7 billion in broadband infrastructure for a publicly-owned open access middle mile fiber network....
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston, Maryland, State Policy
States play a critical role in bolstering local efforts to expand affordable and reliable broadband. All 50 states have taken steps to respond to increased demand and have prioritized expanding access. As of 2018, 25 states had already explored the utility of...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Digital Divide, State Policy
In 2017, the West Virginia legislature created the West Virginia Broadband Enhancement Council within the West Virginia Department of Commerce. The Council has since released its Broadband Strategic Plan for 2020-2025 and a companion Broadband Development Guide, which...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Digital Divide, Digital Inclusion, State Policy
Since 2013, E2D (“Eliminate the Digital Divide”) has worked to refurbish devices, promote digital literacy, and work toward the goal of ensuring that everyone in Charlotte, North Carolina, has equitable access to the digital tools and training they need to succeed in...
May 25, 2021 | Blog Entry, Broadband Mapping, By Ryan Johnston, Digital Divide, State Policy
It’s no mystery that the quality of the Federal Communications Commission’s (“FCC”) mapping data leaves something to be desired. The FCC’s 14th Broadband Deployment Report estimated that 96% of Americans have access to broadband. However, organizations such as...
May 19, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Emergency Broadband Benefit, State Policy
On May 10, 2021, Next Century Cities’ Francella Ochillo, Ryan Johnston, and Corian Zacher met with California Public Utilities Commissioner Martha Guzman Aceves and members of her staff to discuss state promotion strategies for the Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”)...
May 18, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Federal Policy, State Policy
Disparities between those who have reliable broadband access and those who do not have never been more apparent. The transition of countless services online has united people living in all corners of the country toward a common goal — ensuring ubiquitous broadband for...
May 13, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Local Policy, Pole Attachments, State Policy
On April 28, 2021, the Schools, Health, and Libraries Broadband (SHLB) Coalition hosted a webinar to discuss the ways that state and federal oversight of pole attachments impact broadband deployment. NCC’s Corian Zacher, Policy Counsel for State & Local...
Apr 30, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Ryan Johnston, Local Policy, News, Pole Attachments, Spotlight City, State Policy
When people think of New Hampshire, they often think of the first state in the presidential primary cycle. What they don’t think about is how the state is the 23rd most connected state in the country. For some communities, this means that access to a robust broadband...
Apr 30, 2021 | Blog Entry, By Corian Zacher, Federal Policy, News, Spotlight City, State Policy
In March 2021, an anonymous Newport resident with a stable internet connection described Rhode Island’s digital divide as a major issue. In the author’s words, I see the effects of Newport’s digital divide every day in my work since the inequity especially affects...
