Online Permitting

Many cities throughout the U.S. are adopting online permitting technology to streamline the process of acquiring a wide range permits. The traditional permitting process is typically a time-consuming, paper-based system that requires multiple visits to city offices. Online permitting not only enables homeowners and contractors to apply for permits from anywhere they have Internet access, but also makes the entire process of applying, evaluating, approving and collecting permits much more efficient.

Online permitting is part of a transition to digital government and smart city solutions that aim to improve the quality of city services through data, analytics and technology. By making more government services available online, online permitting and digital government solutions are able to better serve the needs of citizens and businesses while reducing the cost of providing services and improving the productivity of city workers.

Benefits of online permitting and other digital government services

Online permitting is typically offered through a website where residents and contractors can apply for permits for electrical, building, gas, plumbing and mechanical permits, as well as fire permits and requests for fire inspections. These online permitting sites are usually part of a wider effort by cities to make as many services as possible available online.

The benefits of online permitting to cities and their citizens include:

• A faster, more streamlined permitting process. By allowing residents and contractors to apply for permits via the web, rather than at city offices, cities can accelerate the permitting process, saving time and frustration for residents and enabling contractors to be more productive.
• Greater transparency. With information about the online permitting process and the status of permits easily available online – rather than hidden behind labyrinthian, paper-based routines – cities can build greater trust with their constituents.
• Higher reputation. Cities that seek to better serve their residence with services like online permitting tend to have a more favorable reputation among residents, businesses and visitors. This goodwill translates to greater economic vitality and growth.
• Better planning. Online permitting enables far more information to be digitized, making it easier to share, aggregate and analyze data. Consequently, cities have easier access to the data they need to plan more effectively for serving the needs of their citizens.

Spectrum Enterprise: connectivity for online permitting and smart city solutions

Smart city solutions like online permitting, smart kiosks, intelligent traffic management, smart grids and drone monitoring to ensure critical infrastructure security are dependent on several layers of technology.

Sensors and cameras with Internet of Things functionality help to gather data from a myriad of sources throughout the city, providing continuous monitoring and a real-time view of city services and local conditions. Data analytics platforms transform this ocean of data into actionable intelligence that can be used to automate processes, trigger alerts and make better decisions. User interfaces like websites, mobile apps, vehicle information systems and digital signage make it easy for users to find and access the information and insight they’re looking for. And a highly reliable, secure and high-speed network connects it all, allowing data to flow throughout the city in real time. That’s where Spectrum Enterprise can help.

As a leading provider of connectivity solutions to the country’s largest companies and institutions, Spectrum Enterprise manages a wholly owned network of fiber infrastructure that spans more than 840,000 miles across multiple states and municipalities. Spectrum is investing an additional $25 billion in expanded capacity by 2021, bringing high-speed connectivity to even more cities and local communities.

To enable cities to offer online permitting as well as other digital government services and smart city programs, Spectrum Enterprise provides:

• High-speed connectivity for local governments and institutions, delivering symmetrical connection speeds up to 100 Gbps on a two-way, fully interactive digital network.
• Gigabit connectivity for local homes and businesses, enabling them to easily participate in online permitting and other digital government services.
• WiFi connectivity provided through more than 350,000 WiFi hotspots nationwide, which will soon offer wireless connection speeds of up to 1 Gbps.
• Cellular connectivity provided through Spectrum Mobile, one of the nation’s largest LTE cellular networks.

Learn more about Spectrum Smart Cities at www.spectrumsmartcities.com.