Next Century Cities

Next Century Cities Advocates for Consumer Protections in ACP Wind-Down Process

On March 20, 2024, Next Century Cities (NCC) met with the Federal Communications Commission's Consumer and Governmental Affairs Bureau (CGB) staff regarding the Affordable Connectivity Program wind-down. NCC said the CGB must work closely with the Wireline Competition Bureau to craft wind-down guidance that ensures customers are protected. NCC also urged the Federal Communications Commission to require providers to disclose how a consumers bill will increase.

Brick by Brick: HBCUs Are Using the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program to Fortify the Communities They Serve

A look at how Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are using Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program funding to impact the students, faculty, staff, and residents in the communities that they serve. According to a 2021 report by McKinsey & Company, 82% of HBCUs are located in broadband deserts. The National Telecommunications and Information Administration’s funding for minority communities intends to elevate community partners and work toward closing deep-rooted digital divides.

Next Century Cities Releases Fifty-Six State and Territory Resource One Pagers

The Federal Communications Commission paused enrollment for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which has reached over 20 million households across the US, who represent only a fraction of residents eligible for the program. Absent additional funding, the program is set to expire in April 2024.

The High Cost if Connectivity Has a Disparate Impact on Public School Students

Access to an equal educational experience is a legal right in the U.S. With the overwhelming dependence of technology in today’s educational system, internet access should also be the legal right of every student.

Wildfires, Natural Disasters & Network Resilience

The United States is no stranger to wildfires. These fires can ignite utility poles, melt aerial fiber optic cables, obscure wireless signals, or damage transmitting or receiving equipment. This kind of damage can cut homes off from key public safety resources, and prevent calls for help in the most dire situations. As states now know their share of the $42.5 billion Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program, they should begin planning new network deployments and upgrades to withstand increasingly severe natural disasters.

Comments on the Current and Future State of the Universal Service Fund

Municipal leaders are on the front lines of the digital divide, responding to the needs and concerns of the communities they serve.

Next Century Cities Hosts a Congressional Briefing for Local Leaders to Share Community-Based Insights on the ACP

Congressional briefings are used to communicate information to policymakers in Washington, DC. Oftentimes, they highlight stakeholder views on government programs and proposals. However, they rarely include local officials who can provide community-based insights. On July 19, 2023, Next Century Cities invited broadband leaders from Texas, Ohio, Maryland, and Massachusetts to Washington, DC. Speakers shared community impact stories and administrative needs for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). Key takeaways include the following: 

Funding for the ACP Means Supporting Mental Health and Wellness for Americans in Need

As many have experienced, either personally or through a friend or loved one, the pandemic has taken a toll on people’s mental health.

Eliminating Language Barriers and Developing Trusted Partnerships in Cuyahoga County, Ohio

The Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) is a critical component of the nationwide effort to bridge the digital divide. Established on a bipartisan basis by Congress, the ACP provides subsidies that enable low-income households to get – and stay connected – with monthly broadband subscriptions. Despite its success in reaching over 35% of eligible households, the ACP faces a funding shortfall by 2024.

Tribes are Connecting Residents With Broadband. Better Data Could Amplify Success Stories.

In 1958, the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe purchased a telephone company, becoming the first network of its kind in the US. Since then, eight other Tribes have purchased telecommunications companies. With unprecedented funding for broadband and the migration of financial, health, educational, and employment services online, more Tribes are leading efforts for better broadband in their communities. Trusted community messengers are essential to helping drive enrollment.

The ACP has Been a Success, but Closing the Digital Divide Requires Future ACP Funding

On June 14, 2023, the White House kicked off a “week of action” devoted to raising awareness and enrollment for the Affordable Connectivity Program (“ACP”). Nationally, only 18.7 million of the eligible 52 million households (35.8%) are enrolled in the program. This is a truly outstanding achievement for a program that is only a year and a half old. Though there are countless examples of how beneficial the ACP is for communities nationwide, there is a danger the ACP may not last much longer.

Resources for Broadband Advocates: Making Digital Equity A Reality in Pennsylvania

The most powerful broadband advocacy starts in communities where residents inform of the connectivity solutions they need.

Next Century Cities Launches Nationwide Leadership Search; Executive Director Francella Ochillo to Depart This Summer

After four years at the helm, Francella Ochillo announced that she will move on from her role as Executive Director of Next Century Cities (NCC), an organization committed to bringing connectivity within reach for every resident in every community. Since joining Next Century Cities in 2019, Ochillo has been recognized as one of the most impactful digital rights advocates in the country.

How Inaccurate Broadband Maps Impact California, the Most Populous State

Not too long ago, the Federal Communications Commission released updates to its national broadband maps. For years, the FCC’s maps have been criticized for inaccuracies. That prompted state entities to collect their own broadband data, including the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).

The Consumer Broadband Nutrition Label: What you Need to Know

The Federal Communications Commission adopted rules outlining how broadband providers must design the label, what information it needs to include, and where it should be displayed. The FCC also adopted a Further Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, seeking public comment on crucial accessibility and including network management statistics. Such requirements include the following:

Broadband Makes US Better: Lessons from the Lone Star State

In Texas, many communities have leveraged creative financing methods for assessing and installing broadband in their communities. If effectively deployed, incoming federal and state broadband funding will create opportunities to bridge longstanding access gaps in low-income and rural communities. The report provides key recommendations for federal, state, local, nonprofit, and community leaders. For federal leaders, the report recommends the following:

Beyond Broadband Access: The Need for Advocacy and Cultural Competency in the K-12 Digital World

This report provides an overview of existing historic inequities among low-income Black, Latinx, and Native American kindergarten through twelfth grade (“K-12”) students which have carried over to digital classroom settings, and have been exacerbated with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Resounding Silence: The Need for Local Insights in Federal Broadband Policymaking

In the past, the Federal Communication Commission has made sweeping changes that have impacted communities without local input. The federal government is now poised to do the same again. This paper examines the public comment process at the FCC and whether municipal filers ultimately influence the Commission’s decisions. This paper suggests that the FCC must improve its community outreach efforts, specifically through the following suggestions: 

Changing Our (Virtual) Reality: Telehealth and the US Maternal Health Crisis

As society works to address the systemic barriers that contribute to the maternal health crisis, it is important to recognize the role that telehealth could play in improving the United States’ maternal health outcomes. Policymakers should take the following into consideration: 

Group Urges FCC to Clarify its Broadband Data Challenge Process

The Federal Communications Commission is revamping its Broadband Data Collection Program. Meanwhile, the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) is working to distribute tens of billions of federal dollars to support state and local broadband initiatives.

Cut Off From the Courthouse: How the Digital Divide Impacts Access to Justice and Civic Engagement

After exploring the connection between broadband policy and access to courts, civic engagement, and government services, this report by Next Century Cities and the Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic at the University of California-Berkeley offers the following conclusions: