That sentence, offered plainly, contains the argument at the heart of a recent analysis of municipal priorities: economic growth for towns, cities, and counties in the United States increasingly runs on the quality of local network infrastructure. The piece frames the network not as plumbing or an afterthought but as the digital foundation that determines the speed at which data moves, how reliably services run, and how securely information is shared — and it urges local governments to treat it accordingly.
Dave Lovelace: networks, AI, and citizen expectations
Dave Lovelace, Senior Director, SLED Technology Strategy at Lumen, is cited throughout the piece to explain why networks matter. He warns that attempts to “accomplish AI implementations or other High-Performance Computing goals using yesteryear’s telephony network” will produce “failures and frustrations” that slow economic growth. He stresses citizens want “the same kind of exceptional digital experiences they are familiar with in the private sector” — such as a single sign-on environment that lets them get a dog license, set up a business, or apply for a building permit, and access support services after events like Hurricane Helene.
Whole of State versus municipal autonomy on networks
The article identifies two broad approaches to network delivery. Some municipalities “buy services including networks from state governments,” a model the piece names as the Whole of State approach. That option can solve scale and procurement problems for some jurisdictions, but the analysis cautions it “isn’t accessible for all.” Data governance concerns are highlighted as a reason some municipalities avoid Whole of State arrangements, because local leaders may want to protect the autonomy of their operations and their citizen information.
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End the scrambleTechnical realities: policy-based routing, fiber construction, and right of way
Upgrading networks is presented as a complex, multi-dimensional project: it is more than connecting offices. The piece notes concrete operational tasks — fiber construction and delivery, securing right of way — and warns that if “the network is an afterthought” those realities will delay or derail projects that depend on data. Modernized network solutions are described as delivering “agility and a higher level of security with policy-based routing and secure connections to prevent vulnerabilities and exposure.” At the same time, the article warns of “costly traps of technical debt” when localities take on private networks without suitable planning.
Cost profile and procurement choices
The analysis acknowledges an upfront cost to deploying a mission-aligned network, but it frames that investment as one that can produce longer-term savings: “while the outlay for a mission-aligned network brings up front costs, municipalities can accrue cost savings as innovation drives down the cost of delivering services.” It also recommends a model in which cities and counties treat the network as “a continuous improvement, continuous development service; something which cities and counties can provision from a trusted partner, rather than taking ownership of a private network.”
What this means for technologists, policymakers, and citizens
- Technologists and security teams: watch for network upgrades that include policy-based routing and secure connections so increased data flows do not translate into increased exposure.
- Policymakers and procurement leaders: weigh the Whole of State option’s scale and cost benefits against data governance and autonomy concerns, and plan for fiber construction, right of way, and ongoing network development instead of one-off projects.
- Citizens and service users: expect—and demand—single sign-on, auto-populated forms, and resilient access to services, including in emergencies such as those caused by Hurricane Helene.
The central prescription in the piece is straightforward: treat the network as a strategic asset rather than an operational afterthought. Whether a municipality consolidates services with a state partner or provisions a continuously managed network from a trusted private partner, the analysis argues doing so will speed data-driven services, reduce technical debt, and create conditions for economic growth. The practical questions that follow are specific — who will provision the network, how will data governance be preserved, and how will municipalities fund upfront costs while capturing long-term savings — but the article’s core point is unambiguous: modern, resilient network infrastructure is the foundation for municipal service delivery and local economic development.
