CITY OF TUCSON
“ THE CITY OF TUCSON IS BUILDING INNOVATION BRIDGES WHILE WE ARE STILL WALKING ALONG THEM ”
COLLIN BOYCE , CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER AT CITY OF TUCSON
remotely from his temporary base in New York . “ The pandemic has shown the future of remote working for millions of people who now rely on being connected to a digital world - as does the future safety and security of a smart city .
“ Tucson has a rich history , and the project to connect our citizens and close the digital divide has even included navigating archeologically significant sites ,” said Boyce , who pointed out it was shocking that 32,000 out of the city ’ s 212,000 households lacked reliable internet access at the beginning of the pandemic .
“ We are trying to use the existing infrastructure , including cell towers and hundreds of miles of in-ground fibre for the project , and we are planning to operate the new network beyond COVID-19 as 16.8 % of our 540,000 population function below the poverty line and need our help ,” he said .
Polar vortex shapes response to pandemic Despite only joining the local government administration in 2019 , Boyce had already experienced an unprecedented natural emergency while working as the CIO for the City of Lansing , Michigan , when a polar vortex ripped through the northern state . Citizens were advised to stay at home as the
120 January 2022