Investing In Our Nation’s Digital Infrastructure Must Be a National Priority

In sent a letter to Congressional leadership on behalf of our 200+ member municipalities, Next Century Cities said that since the first case of COVID-19 was reported in the United States, Americans have faced profound disruptions and been inundated with illustrations of why broadband is essential. Aside from schools and businesses having to embrace digital platforms, local governments found a way to stay operable while providing real-time health and safety updates for their residents in the face of a national emergency. Essential employees, on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic, turned to social media to share the seriousness of COVID-19 and need for protective equipment. Religious ceremonies and funerals, once marked with vast communal gatherings, used livestreams to reach congregants. All who were able to adapt shared something in common: the ability to get online.