Technology & Society
Connectivity, automation, and everyday technology are changing how cities run, how people work, and how communities live. This section looks at the programs, policies, and tools putting technology to work for real people, and what those changes mean for daily life.
We cover topics such as broadband access, digital equity grants, public-sector AI tools, and community technology projects. Each article explains who is affected and what changes for them, and links to official sources so you can check the details and find help or funding where it is available.
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Lee County, NC Parks Launch Online Registration System
Lee County, North Carolina Parks and Recreation now takes program sign-ups and facility reservations online through CivicPlus software. Residents must create new accounts, and no results are available yet.
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Pima County Breaks Ground on $30.3M Middle-Mile Fiber Ring
Pima County broke ground on September 24 for a 134-mile open-access fiber ring funded by a $30.3 million federal grant. It is a middle-mile network, so homes connect only if local providers build to it.
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OpenAI-GSA Deal Extends ChatGPT Discounts to Local Governments
A GSA agreement effective October 1, 2026 offers state, local, and tribal governments ChatGPT at 50% off token-based usage with no platform fee or minimums. Actual savings depend on how much a government uses it.
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Whatcom County Picks AidKit to Run Kids First Childcare Aid
Whatcom County, Washington approved a $7.05 million contract with AidKit to run a childcare subsidy for families above state aid limits. Payments are expected to start in early 2027.
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Ocala’s AI City Assistant: What We Know So Far
Ocala, Florida’s IT department runs an AI assistant that answers resident questions on bills, permits, and rentals. Public details are thin, and no results have been published.
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Micro:bit Coding Program Expands to Schools in 49 States
Google.org is funding an expansion of the micro:bit coding program to schools in 49 states, D.C., and two territories after a Los Angeles pilot. The reported results are mostly teacher surveys.
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West Haven Adds Noise Sensors to License-Plate Cameras
West Haven, Connecticut bought four noise sensors that link to its existing license-plate cameras to flag loud cars on the shoreline. One is installed but not yet active, and the noise threshold is not set.
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Columbia, Missouri Approves $41.8 Million Smart Meter Upgrade
Columbia’s council approved $41.8 million to replace about 106,700 electric and water meters. City officials project $71.3 million in savings over 15 years, but residents’ bills are not promised to fall.
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Penobscot County, Maine Tests AI on Its Non-Emergency Line
Penobscot County’s dispatch center uses an AWS-built phone tree on its non-emergency line only. The director says it has diverted some calls, not a large share.
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Peel Region Starts Medical Drone Pilot in Bolton, Ontario
Peel Regional Paramedic Services is piloting drones that carry defibrillators, naloxone and other supplies to 911 callers in Bolton, Ontario. The pilot runs three years, and no results are published yet.