Graham Richard, President, Graham Richard Assoc. LLC and former mayor, Fort Wayne, Ind.

This interview is part of the Digital Revolution and Democracy series, which offers idea-inspiring interviews with thought leaders who are shaping the future of media and democracy. More at knightfoundation.org/focas.

Innovative use of the Internet can help local governments provide quick, agile, smart services – and not just to a limited part of the population, says former Fort Wayne Mayor Graham Richard. He spoke with Knight Foundation Vice President Dennis Scholl about opportunities for using technology to better serve communities while attending the Aspen Institute Forum on Communications and Society (FOCAS).

Richard says citizens are used to going online and getting customer service from institutions, and as a result local governments must become more responsive. He thinks citizens today are more able to fully engage with the local government officials, and demand change by using the power of social media.

He foresees financing for some infrastructure projects as an impediment to making government more accessible, and offered some vision for how broadband might be funded publicly.

“In many parts of the world, fiber optic systems are being built like interstate highway systems were in this country. They’re built by the government. That’s not the model that’s taking place in this country.” He said, “we’re creating a concept called a smart city bond, where municipal bonding – in partnership with local, private-sector companies – provides the financing to install fiber optic systems that help make smart technology that runs your city better and faster.”