A Look Back at 2023 (in no particular order)

Hosting a Broadband Breakfast with Philadelphia’s Technology Learning Collaborative

In January, Next Century Cities and the Technology Learning Collaborative partnered to host a broadband breakfast with one outcome in mind: to equip local leaders with the information needed to take steps toward their digital equity goals.

Highlighting the Importance of Promoting Local Leadership In Universal Broadband Strategies at Silicon Flatirons

In February, the Next Century Cities team headed to Boulder, CO where past Executive Director Francella Ochillo spoke on the panel discussion called “The Aches and Pains of Broadband Deployment and Adoption.”

Voicing Support for California Broadband Infrastructure Fund Deployment Projects

Next Century Cities joined local government, non-profit, educational allies, and others to express support for California’s broadband infrastructure fund.

Partnering with the National Digital Inclusion Alliance for Workshop on Influencing Public Policy at Net Inclusion in San Antonio

Next Century Cities joined NDIA Research Director Amy Huffman and other national leaders to lead a workshop that equipped community broadband leaders with tools and techniques on broadband advocacy. Local officials and community leaders who are able to advocate for themselves have more opportunities to improve access and adoption.

Testifying on Digital Equity and California’s Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program

In May, NCC’s Ryan Johnston testified in an informational hearing entitled “Digital Equity and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program.” The hearing was called to provide oversight of the California Public Utilities Commission and examine the barriers to deploying State broadband funding.

Chronicling the Historic Launch and Implementation of the Affordable Care Act Through the NCC ACP Outreach Series

In July, Next Century Cities invited broadband leaders from Texas, Ohio, Maryland, and Massachusetts to Washington, DC. Speakers shared community impact stories and administrative needs for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). In addition, NCC’s ACP Outreach Series highlighted the work done in Cuyahoga County, OH to spread the word about the ACP, the role that the ACP had in supporting access to much-needed mental healthcare resources, and why it was important to continue funding the historic ACP to help close the digital divide.

Hosting Local Leaders at Broadband Summer Camp

Next Century Cities’ first Broadband Communicators Summer Camp was held on July 18, 2023, in Washington, DC. The event brought together elected and appointed officials, as well as public servants, broadband advocates, and academics from Indiana, Maryland, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and other states. Each joined in hopes of upskilling their communications skills and left with new advocacy tools.

Inviting Local Officials to Articulate What Broadband Data Communities Need from Government, Industry, and Academic Partners

In June, professors, nonprofits, government, and industry leaders helped eliminate barriers that prevent research from informing policy in a workshop called “Bridging the Divide: Answering Internet Policy Questions with Cutting-Edge Network Measurement Algorithms, Datasets, and Platforms.”

Highlighting Digital Divide Solutions in New Mexico

In September, the New Mexico Tech Council hosted its annual Tech Summit at the Albuquerque Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Corian Zacher, Next Century Cities’ Senior Policy Counsel for State & Local Affairs, moderated a panel of local leaders discussing innovative strategies they are using to bridge the digital divide.

Presenting Research Findings on Broadband Strategies in Texas and Emphasizing the Need for Resilient Networks at the 51st Annual Tech Policy Research Conference

Senior Policy Counsels, Corian Zacher and Ryan Johnston, presented findings from Broadband Makes US Better: Lessons From the Lone Star State and research on resilience and broadband policy.

Learn more about what happened in membership and policy in 2023 by clicking on the Next Century Cities staff photos.