Finance

During the 2023 State of the Net Conference, digital equity experts discussed the importance of seizing the current financial opportunity to bridge the digital divide, and why collaboration is essential.

Recent financials paint a picture of how gov tech suppliers will move past COVID and embrace rising concerns about public safety. A “moonshot” goal and the labor market will also play roles in the months to come.

Plus, the Net Inclusion 2023 event brought together digital equity stakeholders; the final awards were announced for the Connecting Minority Communities Pilot Program; and Missouri launched a survey to guide broadband efforts.

Election reform advocates and Democratic lawmakers are mounting pressure in the Legislature to use federal Help America Vote Act funds for cities and towns to replace aging ballot-counting machines.

A collection of 85 organizations has submitted a proposal to the Department of Defense's Microelectronics Commons program, to create a regional hub bolstering tech development and growing workforce talent.

A set of eight license plate cameras will give police additional help locating wanted vehicles, officials say. Surrounding cities have also implemented the technology, which can share intelligence between departments.

Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar is asking state lawmakers for approximately $30 million to help aid in establishing a statewide voter registration database that would modernize the way elections are administered.

The Center for Digital Government’s Beyond the Beltway event returned in person to the Washington, D.C., area, where industry members gathered for a forecast on 2023 state and local government technology spending.

Plus, Colorado launches a statewide program to get more people signed up for the Affordable Connectivity Program; Georgia is announcing expanded broadband funding; Connecticut suffers an Internet outage; and more.

The USDA grant will cover about 75 percent of the expansion costs with the provider investing the remainder to expand its all-fiber optic to approximately 3,500 locations across three underserved counties.

The Georgetown University-based program plans to use the money to support its ongoing work, specifically around helping government boost access to public safety net benefits.

CARES. ARPA. IIJA. These bills and more have put billions into the state and local government market. We break down the major federal funding packages and how they’re being put to use.

The new offering, NeoSMRT 2.0, is designed to help suppliers to public agencies better secure their data and meet cybersecurity standards. The move comes amid other digital changes to government supply chains.

The private equity-backed deal brings in native payment processing capabilities for Avenu Insights & Analytics, whose software portfolio revolves around revenue-based activities in public-sector administration.

In his proposed budget last week, Gov. Ron DeSantis outlined millions of dollars for the state’s Department of Management Services. The money would fund modernization and cybersecurity efforts among other initiatives.

Lawmakers from both parties are supporting a bill that would help law enforcement agencies in the state afford body cameras and the necessary storage technology. Smaller agencies have struggled with these costs.

The California Public Utilities Commission has bestowed the city with a $493 million grant to further establish broadband access for unserved and underserved residents and businesses within Vacaville.

Under the terms of a newly approved franchising policy in Hanceville, Ala., Internet service providers that use city right of way will pay 5 percent of their annual gross income to the city for maintenance.