Shutesbury and Wendell Residents Ready to Vote on WiredWest
Five months ago volunteers in Shutesbury gathered to inventory local poles to prepare for a possible fiber deployment.
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 17
This week, Christopher traveled to Austin, Texas for the Broadband Communities Conference. It was great to connect with so many people doing great work and build on the energy we are seeing across the country. Onward!
Mesh Networks: They Are Out There
There are probably more mesh Wi-Fi networks operating in the U.S. than most of us realize. They require only one hard-wired connection to the Internet and there are many industrious, tech minded people out there who have the skills to set up this self-healing technology, though they are still working out the kinks.
Leverett Starts to Light Up in Massachusetts
The celebrated municipal network in Leverett, Massachusetts, is starting to serve select areas of the community. Customers' properties on the north side of town are now receiving 1 gigabit Internet service from the town's partner Crocker Communications. These early subscribers are considered "beta sites." Telephone service will become available when the network has been fully tested.
Our Totally Not Ironic Letter of Support for the Comcast/TWC Merger
Last week, the New York Times reported that the “outpouring of thoughtful and positive comments” Comcast has received for their Time Warner Cable proposed merger is much more than it’s cracked up to be.
Gigabit Cities Live in Atlanta on May 13th and 14th
On May 13th and 14th get y'allselves to Altanta to attend Gigabit Cities Live 2015. The event will bring together members from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to explore how gigabit networks are changing local communities.
Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 12
Community Broadband News Around the Nation:
Colorado
Community and candidates react to Grand Junction election results by Lindsey Pallares, KJCT-TV
What Does It Mean to Be A Gigabit City? Sharing Positive Outcomes Together (SPOT)
In North Carolina, Wilson’s Greenlight gigabit fiber network is doing everything it can to ensure everyone benefits from this important municipal investment.
Comcast's Contradictory Conundrum: Title II Tightrope
Comcast must continue to prove growth is a breeze to satisfy stockholders while simultaneously arguing that, gadzooks FCC! how do you expect us to grow under Title II?! As DSL Reports points out, contradicting itself just doesn't work:
Minnesota House Proposal to Kill Broadband is the Wrong Move for Economic Development
Representative Pat Garofalo’s (R-53B) proposal to cut funding for broadband grants is the wrong move for Minnesota. The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) is absolutely opposed to any suggestion Minnesota should have two-tiered Internet access
Tennessee Bill to Strike Anti-Muni Laws Tabled Until Next Session
Senator Janice Bowling and Representative Kevin Brooks have decided to table their legislative efforts to remove state restrictions in Tennessee. While backing for SB 1134 and HB 1303 was growing beyond the walls of the state Capitol, the sponsors decided to shore up stronger legislative support rather than risk derailing the bill entirely.
Seeking Internet Policy Intern at ILSR
Municipal network news and policy are hot topics; we need help spreading the word. The Community Broadband Networks Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance is hiring an Internet Policy Intern.
Here is our official job posting, which is also on Idealist.org:
Gilberts Voters Say No to Tax Increase for Muni
On April 7th, voters in Glberts, Illinois, chose not to raise taxes to deploy a municipal fiber network, reports the Daily Herald. According to the article, 81 percent of ballots cast voted against the proposal. Voter turnout was low, with only 682 ballots cast out of 4,002 registered voters in town.
Grand Junction Voters: "We Want Local Authority!"
Grand Junction is the latest Colorado community to vote to restore local telecommunications authority.
Longmonters Loving NextLight in Colorado
Longmont's NextLight municipal broadband service is surpassing projected take rates, reports the Longmont Compass. The business plan called for 34 percent but as LPC builds out the FTTH network, the first phase of the project has achieved 45 percent.
Seth's Tale of Comcast Woe Perfectly Illustrates Many Internet Policy Problems
Ideally, working from home allows one to choose the environment where he or she can be most productive. In the case of Seth that was Kitsap County in Washington State. Unfortunately, incompetence on the part of Comcast, CenturyLink, and official broadband maps led Seth down a road of frustration that will ultimately require him to sell his house in order to work from home.
Grand Junction Will Vote to Reclaim Municipal Telecommunications Authority
Grand Junction will join a number of other Colorado communities who asked voters for an exemption to SB 152 reports KKCO 11 News.
Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 3
Even after the FCC’s approval of broadband expansion, state lawmakers refuse to acknowledge that EPB should be able to deliver faster, affordable Internet to nearby communities.
Tennessee legislation to expand broadband coverage on hold for now, WDEF
Click! Network Rates Set to Increase to Cover Retrans Fees
Tacoma's Click! network raised prices in 2010 in order to cover increases in retransmission fees for its television feeds. Fees have continually risen for Click! and other networks and, according to Tacoma's News Tribune, will continue to rise.
Cooperative Lights Up $88 Gigabit in Northeast Alabama
Farmers Telecommunications Cooperative (FTC) is now bringing gigabit service to its Alabama members.