Local Government

The city of Reno has announced the appointment of Craig Franden, who has more than 20 years of public IT experience, to the Department of Information Technology director position. Franden replaces Kannaiah Vadlakunta in the role.

From “cloud first” to “cloud smart,” public-sector agencies have been moving systems off-premises for years. CIOs reflect on what is in the cloud, what can be and what it takes to make the leap.

The U.S. Department of Commerce announced that the city was awarded $1.8 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the expansion of its municipal network. Voters recently approved $20 million in bonds for the work.

Plus, the NTIA has updated its guide for federal broadband funding; New York City is offering free municipal broadband to housing authority residents; a new paper explores telehealth’s impact on maternal health; and more.

The city has started to impound EZRide scooters after officials say the company failed to reach a franchise agreement to use the public right of way. Officials say another company will be bringing scooters to the downtown area.

City officials in Wheat Ridge, Colo., have decided not to pay the $5 million ransom demanded by the cyber criminals that breached city systems Aug. 29. The attack forced the closure of City Hall for more than a week.

Aldridge, who has served as the city’s chief information officer since May 2021, will join the business development consulting firm Gartner, the city announced Tuesday. His last day in city service will be Oct. 4.

As broadband expansion efforts increase nationwide, digital equity advocates are working to ensure that urban communities are included. New federal funding opportunities are adding fuel to these efforts.

After being put on hold in May 2022, the Internet Master Plan has been in a state of limbo as officials map the next steps. Another newly announced undertaking, however, promises to put a dent in the digital divide in the meantime.

The new platform will provide access to training mandated by the state as well as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and other required training. It will also allow the department to track its training compliance.

The new radios include next-generation technology that would give the department improved coverage and may play a role in future school safety plans, according to Albany County, N.Y., Sheriff Craig Apple.

A City Council committee has recommended two contracts to run a fiber-optic network and extend Wi-Fi service in the RiverEdge Park. Officials are hoping the service will be ready for a major holiday event later this year.

City staff are drafting an ordinance that seeks to regulate where 5G and other types of wireless telecommunications facilities can be installed, including restrictions near neighborhoods and schools where possible.

The Department of Homeland Security released the long-anticipated Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for the State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program. A separate NOFO for the Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program will follow.

Butte County, Calif., officials have approved the purchase of a new land management tracking system with money from the $146.7 million Camp Fire settlement with Pacific Gas and Electric.

As CIO in Asheville, he moved the city to the cloud, expanded free high-speed Wi-Fi, boosted cybersecurity and built better relationships with residents. He joins a county that has recently won praise for its tech efforts.

Greenup is the third county in the area to announce Internet expansion plans recently. Internet provider Kinetic will connect approximately 7,400 homes and businesses with high-speed fiber Internet by the end of the year.

The Fremont County Board of Commissioners voted to extend the emergency declaration that followed an Aug. 27 cyber attack against government systems. This is the second time commissioners have voted to extend the declaration.