Ryan Johnston

Amid widely conflicting reports of how many Americans truly lack access to high-speed internet, state broadband officials said that there’s too much funding at stake to rely on the Federal Communications Commission’s unreliable census-block data.

The Digital Equity Act of 2019,  introduced in Sept 2019 by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA), would direct $250 million annually in federal funding toward digital equity efforts in cities and states, complementing a host of broadband infrastructure bills.

North Carolina officials are streamlining a self-reporting tool that allows residents to document their internet speed, in hopes of mounting a challenge against the Federal Communication Commission’s broadband coverage map data. Jeff Sural, director of the NC Department of Technology’s broadband infrastructure office, said the goal is to get federal broadband expansion funding for the parts of his state that remain unserved.

The growth of digital government services and internet-connected devices scattered across urban landscapes is giving city officials access to ever-increasing amounts of data on their constituents. But while that data can be used to drive policy decisions, cities must first develop trust with their residents who are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with the new technologies.

San Jose (CA) and AT&T announced a new project to outfit the city’s streetlights and public parks with public Wi-Fi routers and earthquake sensors. The city plans to outfit 550 streetlights with LED lights, and install 670 smart-lighting controllers, 15 digital infrastructure nodes and 100 Wi-Fi extenders from AT&T. San Jose already offers public Wi-Fi in some parts of its downtown, but the Wi-Fi extenders will improve public safety and expand access to internet in public parks. 

For municipalities looking to start their own broadband services, 2019 hasn’t gotten off to a great start.