State Policy Resources

Across the 50 states, Washington, D.C., and the Territories, the Next Century Cities team is working to connect our members with leaders and decision makers in legislatures and executive agencies.

Keeping You Connected

These databases are provided courtesy of the National Conference of State Legislatures

Broadband Agencies, Taskforces, and Commissions

State Policy Headlines

Local Leaders Discuss How New York’s Broadband Commission Could Bring Connectivity Within Reach for Unserved and Underserved Populations

On August 3, 2020, community leaders from across the Next Century Cities network shared local connectivity stories in a virtual hearing before the Commission tasked with reimagining broadband connectivity in New York.

City offices, private sector partners, educational institutions, and local nonprofits are coming together to tackle the digital divide in Texas’ state capitol.

The most recent Austin Digital Assessment conducted in 2017 by the City in collaboration with the University of Texas at Austin indicates that 95% of respondents have a home broadband Internet connection. This is higher than comparable national statistics of 65% and the previous 2014 Assessment’s 92% respectively. However, that still leaves 5% of the City’s population (over 48,000 residents) without access to home Internet services which can affect daily life.

Next Century Cities Discusses Digital Equity & Inclusion with School Administrators

Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO), an organization of public officials who lead elementary and secondary education departments across the country, invited Next Century Cities to participate in a webinar on incorporating digital equity and inclusion strategies into K-12 restart and recovery plans.

Next Century Cities Leads Ask for Idaho to Expand Grant Funding Opportunities

On June 19, 2020, Next Century Cities (NCC) submitted comments on behalf of our member municipalities in Emmett, Ammon, and Boise to the Idaho Department of Commerce. The letter urges the agency to reassess grant funding eligibility requirements for CARES Act funding allotted for broadband projects in Idaho.

Ten Minutes with Washington State’s Broadband Office on the Need to Invest in Digital Infrastructure

In each Ten Minutes with a Changemaker segment, members of the Next Century Cities team sit down with a local, state, or federal representative to explore broadband access in their respective communities. On June 8, 2020, we invited Washington’s Broadband Officer and resident cowboy, Russ Elliott.