Latency is the time delay between sending data and receiving a response, commonly experienced as 'lag' in video calls, online gaming, or slow-loading websites. Measured in milliseconds, low latency means fast response times while high latency causes noticeable delays. For municipal services, latency affects video conferencing quality for remote council meetings, responsiveness of online permit systems, and real-time monitoring of infrastructure like traffic signals. Rural and remote communities often experience higher latency due to longer distances to internet infrastructure. Improving connectivity through broadband expansion helps reduce latency and improves access to digital government services.