Press Releases

Gonzales, Calif. – The City of Gonzales and the National Resource Network (NRN) announced the launch of Access and Inclusion in the Digital Age, the first broadband resource guide developed by and for local governments to address the digital divide in their communities.  Harold Wolgamott, Director of Public Works for the City of Gonzales collaborated on the project with municipal managers from five other NRN cities, including Chattanooga, Tennessee; Greensboro, North Carolina; New Orleans, Louisiana; Springfield, Missouri; and Youngstown, Ohio; and other partners, including the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

In coordination with the guide's release, NRN hosted a broadband access webinar on January 12, 2017, to engage communities across the country that seek guidance in partnership and training.

"Gonzales has been working to provide broadband access for our area for many years. An important partner is the Central Coast Broadband Consortium (CCBC). Working with others toward a common goal is the Gonzales Way of doing business.  The CCBC has been promoting broadband access and literacy for many years.  We are fortunate to have this body of knowledge available and Gonzales is glad to participate in this effort to improve broadband access and literacy to assist our communities progress in the 21^st century," said Wolgamott.

As reported by the Federal Communications Commission "2016 Broadband Progress Report", one in 10 Americans does not have access to high-speed Internet. In 2016, to address this issue, the NRN brought together representatives from six of the more than 32 current Network cities to transform their own experiences with broadband access into strategic guidance for other communities.

"Just as access to highways, ports, airports and rail were key to economic competitiveness in the last century, access to broadband is critical for cities and their residents in this century," said NRN Executive Director David Eichenthal. "In working with cities across the nation, the Network identified broadband access as an area where cities working with each other could share best practices and achieve real results."

Through Access and Inclusion in the Digital Age, NRN and its partners have created an online community where local leaders can draw upon the work of those who have gone before them, tapping into peer-pioneering cities and global supports from nonprofit organizations. The resource guide outlines key steps for local governments to take in enhancing broadband access, and provides useful information to support communities in engaging with potential partners, finding funding, and measuring and managing the performance of new or existing programs and initiatives. As a living document, it is a dynamic repository of best practices, and will be updated regularly with new information from the original six cities, as well as any other communities in the process of expanding broadband access and digital inclusion.

The guide outlines the following key strategies for success in expanding community access to reliable high-speed Internet service:

• Seek partners and resources: Getting the right individuals and groups to the table and working together on the complex social and technical issues involved in expanding access, is an important first step. 
• Understand barriers and limitations: Identifying the issues helps communities understand what's possible and what needs to be done. 
• Engage the community: Public engagement informs/inspires prioritization and ensures the initiative meets the community's needs. 
• Select the best model: After assessing the landscape and engaging the community, local governments should assess the viability of possible models, including municipal broadband or private internet service providers. 
• Identify a manager: Communities need a lead organization to drive the implementation and make sure the realities of the new network live up to its promise.
• Measure outcomes and share successful practices: Information sharing is critical for communities to understand lessons learned and best practices.

More information about Access and Inclusion in the Digital Age and to download a copy of the guide visit:  http://www.nationalresourcenetwork.org/en/ideas/untitled