We don’t mean Timbuktu, Mali in Africa, but the proverbial “Timbuktu.” The rural, far away communities; those outside the big cities.
The pandemic made it very clear that the lack of reliable and affordable broadband in our communities is an economic and social crisis. In early 2021, we recognized this rising issue, and joined the National League of Cities to develop and pilot GIS solutions with their member cities that could be used by governments of all sizes to address broadband access. We actually won an award for our work. But that’s not why we did it.
We did it because we recognized that broadband was another location problem. With GIS tools, we knew governments would be able to solve pressing questions such as:
- Where is existing broadband coverage, and how reliable and affordable is it?
- Where should I prioritize my investment?
- How can we address shifting demographics, population growth, and vulnerable populations?
We released the free solutions that we created with NLC that you can download now. We are seeing governments leverage them to better understand their community’s needs, plan broadband expansion, efficiently partner with providers, secure funding, and fast-track future broadband investment.
You’re able to read this because you have access to broadband. So, there’s no excuse – download the solutions to address broadband in your community or print this out and mail it to someone without broadband. Whichever is easier.
