How Do Municipalities of Different Sizes Use the Internet?

How are municipalities using the Internet today? Can current uses help predict which are more likely to embrace the Internet of Everything? An online survey conducted in partnership with the National League of Cities -- emailed to city clerks in three waves during the fall of 2014 -- received 121 valid responses.The results of this survey have made three things clear:

First, more education is needed for public officials and residents in general on what broadband is and the type of connections available. This basic knowledge can help with advocacy and broadband availability efforts.

Second, a clear relationship exists between a municipality's size and the availability of online services for its residents and businesses, as well as its social media presence. The reasons for these are mainly two: being unable to afford an online services platform, and/or hiring additional staff to manage social media presence. More importantly, however, is a lack of perceived need for these services. But the need is clear -- certain age groups, specifically millennials, see these services as a quality of life issue -- not as a luxury or passing fad. And today, citizens expect to communicate with government, as they do with private businesses, using social media and other Internet-based applications.

Third, the relationship seen with online services, social media presence and municipal size may also, unfortunately, apply to IOE and big data strategies. Lack of resources and perceived need (or lack thereof) could be the main reasons, but because these are becoming quality of life components, municipalities -- regardless of size -- must make them a priority.

Responsive cities -- as defined and discussed in the book with the same title -- are benefiting from big data and IOE. Smaller municipalities also need to join this bandwagon as they transition to the digital age.

[Dr. Roberto Gallardo is a faculty member of the Extension Center for Technology Outreach
Dr. William Hatcher is an Associate Professor in the Department of Government at Eastern Kentucky University]