It is an honor to be part of the Next Century Cities team. I have traveled to and worked with too many towns that are struggling with broadband, including my hometown in Lost Hills, California. It is clear, communities have to be at the center of broadband policy in order to thrive. At NCC, I hope to make that the case by ensuring that local leadership has the broadband resources they need and finding new ways to elevate their voices.
Prior to joining NCC, I was at NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association where I led and organized the execution of cybersecurity, emergency preparedness and digital inclusion efforts. Through projects like the Cybersecurity Series and Digital Inclusion Series, I developed resources to help independent, family-owned and community-based telecommunications companies evaluate cyber readiness and to develop broadband adoption strategies to complement deployment efforts.
As a new member of the NCC team, I am excited to assist our membership with best practices, and develop relationships with other stakeholders that are also working to expand broadband access and increase adoption. I hope my experience working with broadband providers and government agencies will allow me to better serve our member municipalities in ways that enhance collaboration.
I have worked at the United States Department of Agriculture supporting their ReConnect Loan and Grant Program, Wireless Internet Service Providers Association, National Hispanic Media Coalition, and Federal Communications Commission. Through work at these organizations, I have a greater understanding of how federal policymakers work and can collaborate with NCC members by empowering them to participate in policy processes.
NCC reaches over 200 municipalities nationwide and continues to grow. I want to learn about your community and how we can better support our members. Reach out to me at roxanna@nextcenturycities.org (or on social media at @RoxyBarboza_NCC) with questions and recommendations. I cannot wait to meet you all in person in future meetings and events.
Let’s work together to amplify local community voices!