1.0PhoneLive Bloghttps://phonelive.io/blogHugh Plapperthttps://phonelive.io/blog/author/hughphonelive-io/rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="vMP1DfxYIQ"><a href="https://phonelive.io/blog/gfg_ep1/">Why 20% of Americans Still Can’t Access City Meetings | Ground Floor Government Ep. 1</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://phonelive.io/blog/gfg_ep1/embed/#?secret=vMP1DfxYIQ" width="600" height="338" title="“Why 20% of Americans Still Can’t Access City Meetings | Ground Floor Government Ep. 1” — PhoneLive Blog" data-secret="vMP1DfxYIQ" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script> /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://phonelive.io/blog/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js </script> Local government meetings shape communities, but for one in five Americans, participation is out of reach. In this first episode of Ground Floor Government, producer Joseph Lewin hosts a conversation with David Plappert about why access to city meetings matters and who is being left out. They uncover overlooked groups struggling to connect, including households without broadband, elderly residents, blue collar workers, and families living below the poverty line. The discussion highlights barriers such as resource limitations, technology gaps, and time constraints that keep people disconnected. David shares stories of residents whose lives changed when access became possible, why cities need to address accessibility, and how upcoming regulations will drive change.https://phonelive.io/blog/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/PL_Site.png1200630