Longmont, Colo., Addresses Student Broadband Lack With Grant
A $1.3 million grant from a state program is helping the city of Longmont, Colo., expand broadband Internet service to K-12 students who are currently enrolled in the National School Lunch Program. In 2017, the town of Longmont became Colorado s first Gig City, providing citywide gigabit internet service. (Flickr/City of Longmont)
A $1.3 million state grant is helping Longmont, Colo., expand broadband service to K-12 students enrolled in the National School Lunch Program.
The project involves a partnership between NextLight, Longmont’s fiber-optic broadband system, and the St. Vrain Valley School District (SVVSD). NextLight Executive Director Valerie Dodd said the money will be used to do three things: stand up a Wi-Fi network in areas with low Internet penetration and income challenges; revive a decommissioned wireless network in and around the city; and expand NextLight�
Chattanooga, Tenn., Makes Economic Case for Municipal Broadband [Government Technology]
Feb. 5 The economic impact of broadband has been debated by researchers, who haven’t always confirmed the conventional wisdom that high-speed Internet access leads to a significant return on investment. A key lesson from recent evidence is that broadband can have differential effects on the economy depending on the local or state context.
But for Chattanooga, Tenn., the relationship between its broadband utility and the economy is clearer than ever. According to a 10-year study conducted by economist Bento Lobo, Chattanooga’s fiber system has led to $2.69 billion in economic benefits and accounts for about 40 percent of all jobs created in Hamilton County over the last decade.