The White House Releases a Fact Sheet on the American Jobs Plan, Recognizing Broadband As Essential Infrastructure
President Biden’s recent comment that “broadband is infrastructure” highlights a new federal commitment to treating broadband Internet service in the same way as water or electricity – as a necessity. In many disconnected communities across the nation, broadband...
NCC Discusses Affordability, Broadband Data, Grant Funding, and Digital Equity with Local Officials to Working to Address Persistent Connectivity Gaps
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) is a nonpartisan membership organization, think tank, and publisher that provides resources for government officials, executives, journalists, educators, and community leaders. On April 8, 2021, it hosted a webinar to address a...
Next Century Cities Joins Public Interest Allies in Asking the FCC to Protect Lifeline for TracFone Subscribers
In September, 2020 Verizon announced that it intended to acquire TracFone. Currently, TracFone is the largest prepaid wireless provider in the United States with around 21 Million customers. It is also one of the largest Lifeline providers in the country, accounting...
Next Century Cities Joins the City of Detroit & Connect 313 Advocates For A Community Update on the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program
The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 provided $3.2 billion to create the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program (“EBB”). This program provides eligible households a $50 benefit ($75 on tribal lands) to purchase a broadband internet subscription. On February 25,...
NEXT CENTURY CITIES URGES THE FCC TO DEVELOP EMERGENCY CONNECTIVITY FUNDS RULES THAT ALLOWS EACH COMMUNITY TO RESPOND TO UNIQUE CHALLENGES
You can find a pdf of the press release here. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lukas Pietrzak lukas@nextcenturycities.org Washington, D.C. (April 6, 2021) – Today, Next Century Cities (“NCC”) filed comments before the Federal Communications Commission (“Commission”) on...
Next Century Cities Encourages FCC to Dream Big, Use American Rescue Plan Funding to Address the Digital Divide
Through American Rescue Plan, Congress appropriated $7 billion for the Emergency Connectivity Fund for schools and libraries. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency tasked with developing rules for distributing the funds, sought public comment on its...
Next Century Cities Hosts March Member Briefing on the Emergency Broadband Benefit and Upcoming NTIA Grant Programs
On March 31, 2021, NCC hosted a member briefing to discuss the Emergency Broadband Benefit (“EBB”) and upcoming funding opportunities for communities. NCC Highlights. Lukas Pietrzak summarized NCC’s recent publications: Next Century Cities March 2021 Newsletter...
“Access, Literacy, and Livelihood:” Broadband Hui Leverages Public and Private Collaborations to Support Digital Equity for All Hawaii Residents
As an unfunded initiative, the Hawaii Broadband Initiative stopped and started numerous times since its inception twelve years ago. Burt Lum started in his role as Strategic Officer in 2018, and hopes to implement lasting change. When Lum joined the Hawaii Broadband...
The Digital Divide Will Make Us Sicker
In 2021, the nation’s digital divide presents itself as a serious obstacle to public health and wellness. In order to ensure an effective COVID-19 vaccination roll out and the continuity of routine medical care, local governments must leverage existing federal...
New Connectivity Projects in the Wake of Resilience Woes in the U.S. Virgin Islands
About 1,100 miles Southeast of Florida and roughly 40 miles east of Puerto Rico, our fellow Americans live on a cluster of three main islands. The U.S. Virgin Islands – made up of Saint Croix, Saint John, and Saint Thomas – is also surrounded by 50 minor islands. In...
Getting Broadband to the “Friendliest People in the Country” Could Transform Deep East Texas
If you drift off of Interstate 45 in East Texas, you’ll find a region of natural resources, rich with national forests, picturesque landscapes, clean air, and freshwater. Communities are linked by a partnership in the Deep East Texas Council of Governments (DETCOG) as...
From Tuna to Telecommunications in American Samoa
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...
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