For most CIOs at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers
(NASCIO) midyear conference last month in Baltimore,
5G connectivity is too far off to factor into their immediate plans. After all, nearly all are still focused on filling gaps in broadband, especially in rural areas beyond the reach of commercial service providers.
"Right now, we don't have full LTE coverage throughout the commonwealth," said
Kentucky CIO Charles Grindle, who noted that they currently have about 80 percent of the state covered.
In the video above, Alaska Deputy Chief Information Officer Dan DeBartolo, pictured alongside CIO Bill Vajda, describes some specific challenges faced in the state due to its size and topography, as well as plans that are now underway to boost connectivity to enhance their public safety capabilities.
Noelle Knell is the executive editor for e.Republic, responsible for setting the overall direction for e.Republic’s editorial platforms, including Government Technology, Governing, Industry Insider, Emergency Management and the Center for Digital Education. She has been with e.Republic since 2011, and has decades of writing, editing and leadership experience. A California native, Noelle has worked in both state and local government, and is a graduate of the University of California, Davis, with majors in political science and American history.
