This month, we’re highlighting three communities where the Knight Center of Digital Excellence Connected Communities (CCT) team has been making great strides: Philadelphia; Lexington, Ky.; and Akron, Ohio.

Visit our blog for more details on each of these communities.

Philadelphia: The city of Philadelphia recently launched its “Digital Philadelphia” initiative, with a goal of bringing broadband networks to the entire city over the next decade. The first step will be the development of a proposal for federal stimulus funding.

The city currently is assembling work groups to help with the planning. Initial goals will focus on improved public safety, job creation and public access to Internet service through schools, libraries and community centers.

City leaders recognize this as a long-term initiative to fundamentally shift the playing field in Philadelphia by turning the tide of poverty and unemployment – while keeping Philadelphia from falling behind in economic competitiveness. View article.

Lexington: Over the past seven months, the Knight Center of Digital Excellence has facilitated the formation and on-going support of two technology project committees (Lexington Broadband Coalition and YouthTech) in Lexington, Ky., to address the technology needs and priorities in the community and develop plans that align with the city and surrounding county’s vision.

The Lexington Broadband Coalition has developed plans to extend the existing four square mile, downtown wireless network to cover a 10-square-mile area and extend a fiber connection from University of Kentucky’s Coldstream Research Park to the Kentucky Horse Park, site of the upcoming 2010 Alltech World Equestrian Games.

Lexington expects over 600,000 visitors during the event, and plans to utilize the expanded wireless network to allow downtown visitors access up-to-the-minute event results and information on area transportation, parking, traffic, airports and hotels/restaurants/clubs. In addition, the high-speed fiber run from the Horse Park will enable the Games to be broadcast downtown for those who can’t attend, and will serve as a regional attractor for tourism during the Games and for future events.

As the expansion occurs, organizers hope YouthTech participants will be able to build on valuable skills they’ve been learning while also fulfilling a community service requirement of the program.

YouthTech is an innovative, IT workforce development program that allows 18 to 24 years old students to take part in training programs that include technology classes, mentoring, personal development and workforce training. In addition, all participants receive case management and referral services as appropriate.

To complete certain industry-standard certification programs, students will have to demonstrate skills through service learning projects. As participants progress through the program, projects will be identified comparable with their skill levels. View article.

Akron: The city recently launched the first phase of its Connect Akron Wireless Network. The city demonstrated its new wireless capability to the public by hosting a small Internet cafe at Lock 3 Park. The first phase of the network covers one mile of the city along Main Street and brings wireless coverage to neighboring museums, the downtown library, as well as three hospitals.

The Connect Akron Wireless Network is scheduled to be built out and live by October. When completed, the 10-square-mile network will serve between 80,000 and 90,000 Akron residents and over 30,000 downtown workers. All 10 of Akron’s wards are able to participate in the network over the next year. Residents and businesses have open Internet access with a robust download speed of five to 10 Mbps. View article.

Read a Q&A with Kimberlee McKee, of the Downtown Akron Partnership, on how the new network will advance initiatives downtown.