For Immediate Release
January 14, 2014
Contact: Deb Socia
Next Century Cities Hails President Obama’s Support for Next-Generation Broadband
White House recognizes Next Century Cities as leading coalition for high-speed, affordable, reliable Internet
Washington, DC. (January 14, 2014) – Next Century Cities welcomes President Obama’s announcement of increased support for communities committed to affordable, high-speed broadband. As part of an announcement in advance of the President’s remarks today in Cedar Falls (IA), the White House recognized Next Century Cities, a bipartisan, city-to-city initiative dedicated to ensuring the availability of next-generation broadband for all communities, with special attention to member cities Chattanooga (TN), Lafayette (LA), Kansas City (MO), and Wilson (NC).
“Next Century Cities exists because cities know they need to be in the driver’s seat if they want to deliver next-generation broadband to residents, businesses, and neighborhoods,” said Deb Socia, Executive Director of Next Century Cities. “The President’s announcement shows the administration is listening – and responding. We welcome these commitments, and look forward to supporting any effort to help cities succeed.”
Next Century Cities is a coalition of 55 cities across the country. The initiative supports communities and their elected leaders, including mayors and other officials, as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet. Since launching on October 20, 2014, with inaugural partners that included Boston, Raleigh, Kansas City, Chattanooga (TN), and Lafayette (LA), other communities such as Los Angeles, Syracuse, Columbus, and Seattle have also joined the initiative.
Next Century Cities’ 55 member cities include (* indicates inaugural partner city):
- Ammon (ID)*
- Arvada (CO)
- Auburn (IN)*
- Austin (TX)*
- Beverly Hills (CA)
- Boston (MA)*
- Bryan (TX)
- Burbank (CA)
- Carbondale (IL)
- Centennial (CO)*
- Centerville (UT)
- Champaign (IL)*
- Chattanooga (TN)*
- Clarksville (TN)*
- Columbus (OH)
- College Station (TX)
- Cortez (CO)
- Culver City (CA)
- Gresham (OR)
- Jackson (TN)*
- Kansas City (KS)*
- Kansas City (MO)*
- Lafayette (LA)*
- Leverett, (MA)*
- Lexington (KY)*
- Los Angeles (CA)
- Louisville (KY)*
- Medina County (OH)
- Montrose (CO)*
- Morristown (TN)*
- Mount Vernon (WA)*
- Opelika (AL)
- Palo Alto (CA)*
- Ponca City (OK)*
- Portland (OR)*
- Raleigh (NC)*
- Rockport (ME)*
- Salisbury (NC)
- San Antonio (TX)*
- Sandy (OR)*
- Santa Cruz County (CA)*
- Santa Monica (CA)*
- Seattle (WA)
- South Portland (ME)*
- South San Francisco (CA)
- Spanish Fork (UT)
- Stamford (CT)
- Syracuse (NY)
- Tucson (AZ)
- Urbana (IL)*
- Vancouver (WA)
- Westminster (MD)*
- Wilson (NC)*
- Winthrop (MN)*
- Yellow Springs (OH)
Next Century Cities is a city-to-city initiative founded to support communities and their elected leaders, including mayors and other officials, as they seek to ensure that all have access to fast, affordable, and reliable Internet. As innovative municipalities across the country recognize the importance of leveraging gigabit level Internet to attract new businesses and create jobs, improve health care and education, and connect residents to new opportunities, Next Century Cities will celebrate these successes, demonstrate their value, and help other cities to realize the full power of truly high-speed, affordable, and accessible broadband. For more information, visit www.nextcenturycities.org.