Broadband Key to Smart Cities

The Obama Administration in Fall 2015 launched a new “Smart Cities” initiative and called for investing $160 million in federal research to help communities address 21st century challenges and support such initiatives as smart transportation systems that could adjust traffic management in real time or support expanded use of smart grid technology to better monitor peak energy usage.

But in order to enable such innovations, most of these exciting applications depend on access to broadband technology. Expanding broadband access and adoption has been a key goal of the Commerce Department’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA). While we have made great progress in connecting communities in the far corners of the United States, there’s still much work to be done. Our broadband grant program is nearly complete, but NTIA is still working with communities to overcome their broadband challenges. Through our BroadbandUSA initiative, we are providing technical assistance to communities and holding workshops around the country. We’ve also published several resources to assist communities, including a Broadband Funding Guide and an Introduction to Effective Public-Private Partnerships. More tools are on the way in 2016, related to the benefits of broadband, forming partnerships, sustainability, and broadband planning toolkits. And as co-chair of the President’s Broadband Opportunity Council, NTIA is working with two dozen Federal agencies to implement recommendations on ways to eliminate regulatory barriers to broadband deployment and to encourage investment in broadband networks and services. At NTIA, we are working with communities to ensure they have access to broadband so they can take advantage of the benefits presented by many of the Smart Cities initiatives and better serve their citizens.