Civic Technologies Initiative

Joint Venture’s Civic Technologies Initiative works to deepen Silicon Valley’s broadband penetration, and bring it directly to people in the community. The program works primarily in two focus areas: Community Broadband and Wireless Communications.

Community Broadband

The Community Broadband Initiative (CBI) is a coalition made up of people from academia, local governments, businesses, citizens, and the communications industry who are working to improve affordable gigabit broadband infrastructure in underserved Silicon Valley neighborhoods.

Despite massive investment in broadband, many areas of Silicon Valley remain underserved. Even with a booming economy, citizens may not have access to fast and reliable connectivity. Recent developments in hardware and software enable neighborhood and community groups to obtain and deploy their own broadband networks. CBI is pioneering a new partnership-driven model for financing, installing, and operating open source broadband services.

What are we doing?

The Community Broadband Initiative (CBI) works to improve affordable gigabit broadband infrastructure in underserved Silicon Valley neighborhoods. CBI will pioneer a new partnership-driven model for financing, installing, and operating open source broadband networks and services.

Focus areas

The Community Broadband Initiative is working with the community to:

• Provide open source hardware & software
• Empower rural and underserved communities
• Champion digital inclusion, including public wireless, point-to-multipoint, and community-owned broadband

Our strategies

• Expand coalition by encouraging dialog between local governments, businesses, residents, and academia. Create coalitions to help build human-centric, smart city systems that solve problems and create efficiencies. Determine areas where scale can be realized through partnerships. Lead those partnerships in tactical ways.
• Utilize open-source hardware and software to drive down deployment costs by leveraging accessible low-cost solutions via commodity and readily-available hardware
• Facilitate participation and reuse by leveraging efforts of early adopters to learn and teach a wider community.
• Build for sustainability through the encouragement and participation of invested users and customers. Avoid creating systems that result in "digital welfare." Train users to self-support, and encourage small businesses.

Why are we doing it?

Despite massive investment in broadband, many areas of Silicon Valley remain underserved, creating a broadband gap. As the region's economic boom continues, people seeking housing are forced to move away from city centers, but in doing so they often must give up access to fast and reliable connectivity. Recent developments in hardware and software will enable neighborhood and community groups to obtain and deploy their own broadband networks.

Wireless Communications

What are we doing?

Joint Venture’s Wireless Communications Initiative (WCI) is a coalition between the wireless industry, local governments, businesses, and residents. Together, we are working to improve the wireless network infrastructure in Silicon Valley. The coalition builds on existing relationships with technology companies and local government leaders to drive a coordinated public-private sector effort and to mount a highly strategic campaign to transform Silicon Valley’s wireless network infrastructure into a world-class showcase of speed, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness.

Focus areas

• Emerging Technologies – IMT-2020 (5G), CBRS, SON, NFV, IMT-Advanced.
• Carrier Telecommunications – Cellular Voice and Mobile Data, Small Cells, DAS, CPRI/CRAN, HetNets.
• Unlicensed Wireless Networks – Wi-Fi, LTE-U, LAA, LWA, MulteFire, non-traditional carrier models (Wi-Fi First, Wi-Fi Only).
• Backhaul Technologies – Wireless (sub 6 GHz, 60/70/80 GHz, licensed and unlicensed), Gig-E, Point-to-Multipoint Fiber Replacement.
• Public Safety – SAFECOM Interoperability, FirstNet, Wireless E-911.

Our strategies

• Educate Public and Private Sector Stakeholders: Identify key stakeholders in cities and counties and educate them on technology and trends in the wireless industry. Similarly, educate the wireless industry on how to partner and work with cities/counties.
• Locate New Technologies: Identify early-stage companies with compelling technology and bring those companies to the attention of the consortium.
• Promote Model Ordinances and Processes: Work with cities and counties to provide best practices and guidelines for developing wireless deployment ordinances that encourage innovation and deployment.
• Heighten Advocacy in Local Jurisdictions: Provide a strong regional voice speaking to the competitive and economic implications of a robust wireless network infrastructure.
• Expand Coalition: Find common ground and encourage dialog between local governments, businesses, technology companies, and the wireless industry and build coalitions to improve regional wireless networks.

Why are we doing it?

World-class wireless networks are key to robust economic development. Networks are an important component in attracting and retaining the world's best talent, and are increasingly a key tool for ensuring public safety as citizens transition away from landline telephones. Nearly half of U.S. households are now only using wireless. While our economic growth is the envy of the world. Unfortunately our wireless networks are not. Dead zones, slow data, and dropped voice calls are common. Visitors from outside the area are often surprised that Silicon Valley's wireless networks are not more robust. After all, most wireless technology is developed right here. The reasons for this problem are complex, but in general they're rooted in the way that companies interact and partner with local governments. To remain competitive and foster innovation, the Wireless Communications Initiative provides education and works to build public-private partnerships so we can deploy world-class wireless networks. We also host briefings and publish documents to help educate municipal leaders, such as Bridging the Gap: 21st Century Wireless Telecommunications Handbook.

Where do I find out more?

To learn more about the Civic Technologies Initiative, to request a briefing, or to inquire about membership please contact:

David Witkowski