The Connected Communities 2024 State of Broadband Project
At Connected Communities, we know that it is critical to capture and amplify the many ways that local government leaders are leveraging available broadband connectivity to improve the standard of living for residents in their communities and at Community Anchor Institutions (CAIs). Powering our efforts will be a year-long outreach to local government leaders and civic broadband champions to build a database of success stories that will be valuable and replicable in other communities.
Why a 2024 State of Broadband Project?
Across the United States, broadband connectivity is slated for a big year in 2024. BEAD funding will kickstart hundreds — perhaps thousands — of projects deploying wired broadband networks to unserved communities across the country. At the same time, communities which already have broadband are using the networks — and innovative applications that require broadband — to advance an array of goals and objectives.
Indeed, thinking about the state of broadband connectivity in 2024, it feels as if the ground is shifting underneath our feet. The dynamism is exciting and much preferred to a stubbornly entrenched status quo. But this dynamism creates a challenge for local government leaders and civic broadband champions who face tough decisions how best to leverage available technology. The 2024 State of Broadband Project will help identify projects that illustrate where and how local community leaders are investing time, energy and financial resources and enhancing the standard living in their community.
Goals of the 2024 State of Broadband Project
The 2024 State of Broadband Project will be one-part Wayback Machine, capturing a snapshot of how local communities are leveraging broadband at this moment in time. The project is also one-part citizen journalism initiative. Using social media, Connected Communities expects to identify and interview dozens of local leaders and civic broadband champions about their goals and how access to broadband networks helps them meet these goals.
By the end of the year, Connected Communities will have investigated projects that are using broadband to accomplish diverse goals such as:
· Addressing the Homework Gap,
· Making quality healthcare more accessible,
· Keeping seniors in their homes,
· Supporting veterans and their families,
· Improving pedestrian safety,
· Enhancing energy efficiency efforts,
· Offering high-quality educational and vocation opportunities,
· Enhancing community gathering areas such as parks and downtown retail corridors and
· Many, many others
A successful 2024 State of Broadband Project will lift up new voices and perspectives and highlight replicable Smart and Connected Community projects that are having a positive impact.
Get Involved with the 2024 State of Broadband
Are you a part of a project that relies on broadband networks to enhance the livability of your community? If so, we would be thrilled to learn more. Connect with us on LinkedIn or via email bill@connected-communities.consulting. Thanks in advance for your interest and for any information you can share with us!
About this Medium Site
On this Medium site, I explore an array of topics related to the transformative power of smart and connected communities. A central question for this observer of the so-called smart community movement: how will municipalities, real estate developers, universities and other leading organizations develop, deploy and support smart and connected community projects at scale?
I welcome feedback and comments from readers.
