Civic Tech

The controversial surveillance camera technology on public streetlights has raised calls for oversight from privacy and civil rights advocates. A City Council vote could change the rules around how the tech is governed.

The Metropolitan Sewer District of Greater Cincinnati is going to be piloting a technology solution to gain a better understanding of its wastewater network and more advanced sampling methods.

Plus, Ohio announces a cohort of counties for its BroadbandOhio Community Accelerator program; the White House prepares to welcome the 2022 U.S. Digital Corps; seven new communities join U.S. Ignite; and more.

The Seattle Office of Economic Development has announced an expansion of the Digital Sales Access Program, which aims to help small businesses grow through access to technology tools and trainings.

At Digital.gov’s 2022 Government UX Summit, experts shared ways that digital services can be better designed to improve the user experience for users with cognitive impairments and those with low literacy.

Plus, the FCC proposes new rules for broadband funding and transparency; Philadelphia launches a single-phone-call learning campaign for adults; Baltimore establishes an office of infrastructure development; and more.

Nationwide, organizations are grappling with drastic changes to the workforce. But some are taking this as an opportunity to bring people from historically underrepresented backgrounds into the tech sector.

South Florida’s minority small-business owners should get a better shot at government contracts with the South Florida Anchor Alliance, a collaboration between local health-care, educational and government organizations.

Through a project launched during a recent SAS Hackathon, Milwaukee County, Wis., is looking to AI to examine and improve ordinances and policies related to foreclosure that may inadvertently promote racial inequities.

Plus, the FCC has launched a new help center with tutorials for broadband data collection; a new USDR report details experience of applying for child-care benefits; Minnesota to invest $200 million in rural broadband; and more.

The server failed after the county had some recent mechanical issues and power outages that affected older equipment, and also caused temperature changes in a computer room, officials say.

Nexus Louisiana has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Commerce that will be used to strengthen a program that pilots fledgling tech companies and launch a new collaboration to commercialize tech.

Cargo delays at the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles have plagued the nation's goods movement for about two years, with the pandemic bringing concerns about the supply chain's vulnerabilities into the spotlight.

During a session at the 2022 Code for America Summit, experts explored how government agencies can do a better job of centering accessibility during procurement processes and how to overcome obstacles.

Plus, new initiative seeks to bolster digital success among Latinos, several federal agencies enter into a new collaboration on broadband funding, an Oregon coalition is tackling broadband mapping, and more.

The California Department of Public Health recently developed a chatbot to help answer questions and combat misinformation related to COVID-19 vaccinations. What’s more is that the resource was designed with equity in mind.

Four states have committed to partner with Code for America’s recently launched Safety Net Innovation Lab in the first of three cohorts to help transform how such services are delivered to the public.

Kandiyohi County and Charter Communications have symbolically broke ground on an $800,000 project that Charter said will bring broadband Internet service to more than 350 rural, unserved homes and small businesses.