BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
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COMMUNITY BROADBAND Broadband and Citizen Engagement City governments increasingly use broadband to deliver essential services. To be efective, often they must help their citizens access and use broadband. By Julia Pulidindi / National League of Cities A t a February 2013 broadband summit held by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), national experts, academics and community program leaders discussed U.S. progress in providing and taking advantage of broadband access. Te major challenges to broadband adoption have traditionally been access to broadband services, how and why to use that access, and cost. However, communities have made signifcant progress in learning how to increase broadband adoption despite these barriers, and city leaders are guiding eforts to improve quality of life for their constituents through increased access. Access to and adoption of broadband services enhance social and economic development while creating other positive outcomes for communities, such as improved communication and enhanced engagement between elected ofcials and residents. Cities are uniquely poised to support and sustain access and adoption eforts because of their ability to infuence and shape local policies around broadband. Ultimately, the goal of broadband policy is to help people take advantage of broadband's potential to improve their online experiences, whether for business development, improved health care, education or recreation. Te nation is rapidly moving toward widespread broadband access, and ensuring that access is available for all is the responsibility of elected ofcials. When private telecommunications companies fail to provide access, implementing municipal broadband networks can meet the demand for high-speed May/June 2013 Internet. Tough cities face obstacles that range from state preemption to the lack of efective plans and business models to sustain municipal broadband services, building a municipal network is a viable consideration a city can explore. Community involvement is a key component in understanding local needs, educating communities on how broadband access can meet those needs, and ensuring the staying power of municipally owned and operated networks. When Bristol, Va., created a municipal network, city leaders spoke to community groups about the need for broadband access and ways it would afect community development. Chattanooga, Tenn., followed a similar process of engagement by educating people about what a fber network could do for them and asking community leaders to help raise awareness about the network. TARgETED ADOpTION pROgRAMS Once access is in place, strategically developed adoption programs are vital to ensure use. Consider the following examples of targeted programs from around the country that cater to the specifc needs of various segments of communities. Connect.DC, Washington, D.C. Connect.DC was formed as the Washington, D.C., digital inclusion initiative. It provides services to help increase digital literacy, such as mobile technology labs and free Wi-Fi in select locations and public computing centers. Te Digital Inclusion for Returning Citizens | www.broadbandcommunities.com | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | 43