By Domenick Lasorsa, Community Innovation Manager, US Ignite
In June 2022, Commissioner Adrian Garcia from Harris County, TX, reached out to US Ignite to discuss broadband challenges facing the county. After reading the “Broadband Models for Unserved and Underserved Communities,” co-developed with Altman Solon, county leaders initiated a more in-depth conversation about local needs. That initial exchange sparked a multi-year partnership and led to the creation of the Harris County Broadband Roadmap.
The Roadmap reflects a process shaped by our role as a nonprofit and a neutral convener. We build insights and recommended actions through stakeholder and executive-level workshops, individual interviews, peer community scans, and internal expertise. We do not follow a fixed playbook; instead, we develop solutions that match each community’s specific priorities.
- US Ignite serves the public mission, not a product roadmap.
We do not sell software, implementation packages, or predefined toolkits. The recommendations outlined in the Harris County Broadband Roadmap reflect the actions the county identified for long-term success. They reflect local county priorities and position the county for long-term success. - We listen across the landscape.
Our team met with more than 30 representatives from over a dozen departments to understand how digital access affects programs, operations, and resident needs. That insight informed a roadmap built for execution, not shelf life. - We build in the open.
We open the process to partners. We share our research materials and drafts, adjust to shifting local priorities, and maintain steady engagement throughout the process. That transparency fosters ownership, trust, and momentum. - We strengthen leadership.
We do not follow a closed process. We focus on building local capacity. We support in-community leadership, improve cross-sector coordination, and provide technical assistance that aligns actions, roles, and accountability.
This work supports more than broadband. It models how governments, residents, and private sector partners work together to move forward. It’s the kind of support that defines our work across cities, counties, and regions nationwide.
If this approach aligns with your community goals, reach out to [email protected]. Let’s find time to talk about how US Ignite can support your next project.
