A new chapter in connectivity

The pandemic drove rapid and sweeping changes in the way state and local governments operate internally and deliver public-facing services — and almost all this crisis-driven innovation hinged on network connectivity. Now the landscape around how government employees work and how constituents interact with public agencies is permanently altered. This is driving state and local government agencies to reassess network technologies that provide the foundation for increasingly vital digital services.

In late 2021, the Center for Digital Government (CDG) — in partnership with Spectrum Enterprise — surveyed state and local government officials nationwide on how they are approaching this new chapter in connectivity. The survey results show that many state and local government organizations aren't completely satisfied with their current network performance, and they are pursuing a range of technology upgrades.

Multiple factors are driving the need for network enhancements, according to survey respondents. Chief among them are heightened concerns around cybersecurity and resilience. In addition, agencies are feeling connectivity strains around creating permanent hybrid work environments, improving digital experience for constituents and supporting a growing array of cloud-based applications.