https://www.americancityandcounty.com/wp-content/themes/acc_child/assets/images/logo/footer-logo.png
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcast
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Resources
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • Municipal Cost Index – Archive
    • Equipment Watch Page
    • American City & County Awards
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Privacy Statement
    • Terms of Service
American City and County
  • NEWSLETTER
  • Home
  • Co-op Solutions
  • Commentaries
  • News
  • In-Depth
  • Multimedia
    • Back
    • Podcasts
  • Resources
    • Back
    • Webinars
    • White Papers
    • Events
    • How to Contribute
    • American City & County Awards
    • Municipal Cost Index
    • Equipment Watch Page
  • Magazine
    • Back
    • Digital Editions
    • Reprints & Reuse
    • Subscribe to GovPro
    • Manage GovPro Subscription
    • Advertise
  • About Us
    • Back
    • About Us
    • Contact Us
    • Cookie Policy
    • Privacy Stament
    • Terms of Service
  • newsletter
  • Administration
  • Economy & Finance
  • Procurement
  • Public Safety
  • Public Works & Utilities
  • Smart Cities & Technology
acc.com

Commentaries


Sponsored

How slow Internet is holding your city back

How slow Internet is holding your city back

Smart Cities Council Publications Editor Kevin Ebi explains why broadband is necessary for everyone and why it's important to act now.
  • Written by American City & County Administrator
  • 12th October 2016

By Kevin Ebi, Smart Cities Council
 

Until there’s broadband for everyone, your city is falling short of its potential. At Smart Cities Week in Washington, D.C., a panel of technology experts from Boston, Pittsburgh and San Antonio shared their progress toward ubiquitous broadband — and why you need to get started today in your city.
 

Why you need broadband for everyone
In Boston, more than 100,000 households don’t have broadband. But even people who have broadband on their smartphones aren’t getting the full benefits. Tiny data caps prevent them from taking full advantage of online learning programs, for instance. And many others can’t even get smartphones because of low income or poor credit history.

“Broadband is the same as power and water,” said Hugh Miller, chief technology officer for San Antonio. “If you don’t have it, you’re not going to advance families and communities.”

But even if you have broadband yourself, you can be impacted by those who don’t have it.

Debra Lam, Pittsburgh’s director of innovation, related a story of trying to buy a hot dog from a street vendor. She didn’t have cash. While he had a credit card processing app on his phone, he couldn’t use it, because he couldn’t get adequate wireless service.

“The technology was there, but the infrastructure wasn’t,” Lam said. “As a result, he probably lost out on a lot of customers.”

Lam said Pittsburgh is working hard to bridge the access gap and is focused on inclusiveness. The city’s broadband motto: “If it’s not for all, it’s not for us.”
 

So how do you get broadband for all?
There is no one approach. San Antonio has been laying its own fiber for more than a decade now and is exploring some small cell agreements to provide more options.

Pittsburgh, meantime, has been exploring Wi-Fi in parts and recreation centers, but hasn’t gotten the return on investment that it hoped. Usage has been surprisingly low, demonstrating that a data-driven approach is critical.

“One day, broadband will be the expectation for everybody,” Miller said. “You have to get creative in your own government to find ways to make this feasible. There are avenues. You have to get creative.”
 

Why you have to act now
The need for faster access is growing — everywhere. Miller says cities have to pay attention to rural areas as well as their downtown cores. Broadband benefits everyone, among other things, enabling applications like remote medicine and education in hard to reach areas.

We need broadband even more than we needed it last year. And next year, the needs will grow even more. Fail to keep up — or, better yet, get ahead — and there could be serious consequences.

“At some point, it is going to change the economy,” Miller said.

Boston created a new position to help ensure everyone gets the access they need. Anne Schwieger, the city’s first broadband and digital equity advocate, says it’s really about having the digital pipeline available to bring all the great ideas in the community to life.

“Until we get to ubiquitous gigabit, do we have the capacity to do the great ideas we have today?” she asked. “In order to try new things, we need more capacity than we have now.”
 

Kevin Ebi is editor of the Smart Cities Council’s publications. The Council works to help cities use technology to become more livable, workable and sustainable, and has announced challenge grants with the White House challenge to help five U.S. cities in that journey. Learn how to win one for your city at http://grants.smartcitiescouncil.com.

 

_____________

To get connected and stay up-to-date with similar content from American City & County:
Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter
Watch us on YouTube

Tags: Expert Insights Smart Cities & Technology Smart Cities Solutions Commentaries Smart Cities Council Sponsored

Related


  • Florida county announces successful test of Motorola Solutions’ cloud-based P25 core technology
    A Florida county recently announced the completion of a successful test of Motorola Solutions’ CirrusCentral Core, the cloud-based secondary core for ASTRO 25 P25 systems that is designed to provide redundant reliability to the land-mobile-radio (LMR) network without the costs associated with a physical secondary core site. In Sumter County, Fla., the absence of a […]
  • Person working on laptop computer
    Embracing digital within local government in 2021
    While COVID-19 has brought on a litany of challenges, it has also shown government leaders the need to employ the right digital solutions for their constituents
  • FirstNet Authority releases new details about impact of Nashville explosion on broadband system
    Public-safety subscribers to FirstNet responding to the Dec. 25 massive explosion near the AT&T network hub in Nashville experienced a four-hour outage when some services were not rerouted prior to deployable cell sites becoming operational at the scene, according to a FirstNet Authority blog. Released Friday evening, the FirstNet Authority blog reiterated several facts previously […]
  • In challenging year, working with public safety to move FirstNet forward
    It has been a challenging year for the nation, especially for the first responders who are on the front lines of wildfires, hurricanes, and the COVID-19 pandemic. During this historic year, the First Responder Network Authority (FirstNet Authority) remained committed as ever to helping first responders save lives and protect communities. As part of our […]

Related Content

  • Modernizing state and local IT to meet new demands and drive long-term financial efficiency
  • Despite budget squeeze, state and local governments must shore up cyber posture
  • Responding to ransomware: Questions government business and tech leaders should ask
  • Public safety transitioning to LTE-based solutions, but PTT timetable still unclear, speakers say

Twitter


AmerCityCounty

The latest episode The Young Leaders Podcast focuses on Cyril Jefferson. Cyril is the youngest African American to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Hillsboro, Oregon is pioneering a new #renewableenergy generation technology through a partnership with… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

27th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

The impact of the #COVID19 pandemic on #telework was swift and profound. Now, the big question is whether – and to… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Get ready for the can't-miss webinar on how to kickstart your efficiency improvement plan with Luke Anderson of… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

Among all states headed into the 2020 general election, which ones have voting populations that are the most demogr… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

26th October 2020
AmerCityCounty

We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in our readership survey to help us shape future content so that we c… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

See how cities different approaches to distribute masks in their communities >> spr.ly/6010GAPLa

23rd October 2020
AmerCityCounty

While #facialrecognition is a powerful tool that can improve law enforcement efficiency, that doesn’t necessarily t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

23rd October 2020

Newsletters

Sign up for American City & County’s newsletters to receive regular news and information updates about local governments.

Resale Insights Dashboard

The Resale Insights Dashboard provides model-level data for the entire used equipment market to help you save time and money.

Municipal Cost Index

Updated monthly since 1978, our exclusive Municipal Cost Index shows the effects of inflation on the cost of providing municipal services

Media Kit and Advertising

Want to reach our digital audience? Learn more here.

DISCOVER MORE FROM INFORMA TECH

  • IWCE’s Urgent Communications
  • IWCE Expo

WORKING WITH US

  • About Us
  • Contact Us

FOLLOW American City and County ON SOCIAL

  • Privacy
  • CCPA: “Do Not Sell My Data”
  • Cookies Policy
  • Terms
Copyright © 2021 Informa PLC. Informa PLC is registered in England and Wales with company number 8860726 whose registered and Head office is 5 Howick Place, London, SW1P 1WG.
This website uses cookies, including third party ones, to allow for analysis of how people use our website in order to improve your experience and our services. By continuing to use our website, you agree to the use of such cookies. Click here for more information on our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy.
X