Back in October we noted that thirty-two cities had joined forces to form the “Next Century Cities” coalition, tasked with improving local broadband services. “The leaders whose communities participate in Next Century Cities know that reliable, affordable, and fast Internet is no longer a luxury,” states the organization. “Like electricity and plumbing, it is now essential infrastructure.” The Washington Post notes that the coalition topped 50 members this week, and has been funded by numerous foundations — and Google…