Michael Baskin

[Commentary] The value of a broadband network goes beyond speed and is maximized when it is built to meet a community’s specific needs, match its values, and bridge its divides. Local government leaders can draw upon the work of those who have gone before, tapping into peer-pioneering cities and global supports from nonprofit organizations. As people increasingly rely on the Internet not only for their work and education but also for everyday activities, it is easy to take this invaluable resource for granted. One in 10 Americans, however, does not have access to high-speed Internet, as reported in 2016 by the Federal Communications Commission. In rural communities, 39 percent of the population lacks high-speed Internet access.

Understanding the significant impact that Internet access has on education, economic opportunity, and quality of life, stakeholders at all levels of government and across private and nonprofit sectors have been working to close the gaps in access. In the movement to expand reliable high-speed Internet access to all, managers and local governments have an important role to play in assessing and addressing the unique needs of their communities. This role can include providing network access where the private market does not, convening public and private stakeholders to create or expand networks, and removing barriers to access by offering subsidies and digital literacy training.

[Lindsey Frost is program director, Mozilla's Gigabit Hive Initiative, Mountain View, California. Michael Baskin is chief policy officer, Chattanooga, Tennessee. Jelani Newton is director of survey research, ICMA, Washington, D.C.]