Infographic: Big Cable v. Grassroots in Community Broadband Referendum
Learning the lessons of Longmont's recent cable referendum.
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
DC-Net Provides Access to Community of Hope
A story from Washington, DC, seems appropriate for Thanksgiving. DC's Community of Hope provides healthcare and housing to people in difficult situations. It needs Internet access for its medical work but also for computer labs where people can search for jobs and students can do homework.
Reedsburg Finally Launches Rural Expansion
Reedsburg Utilites, the owner and operator of a muni FTTH network north of Madison, Wisconsin, is finally moving forward on a project to connect rural areas of Sauk County.
Monticello FiberNet Attempts to Adapt Business Plan
Monticello, a small community of 13,000 about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis, built one of the most advanced broadband networks in the midwest and delivers some of the fastest connections available in the state at incredibly competitive rates.
NC Labeled a "Tech Turkey" For Bill Killing Community Broadband
In a nod to Thanksgiving, Government Technology has collected 11 "Tech Turkeys - "Half-baked lowlights from the year gone by" (2011).
AT&T Defunds 9-11 To Undercut Competitors
There are definitely times when you learn of a business practice where you think, "Wow, my opinion of AT&T could not go any lower." And then, BOOM. You find out that AT&T was intentionally underfunding a 9-11 call center in order to undercut its competitors in bids.
Yikes.
Did we mention that this is not an isolated case?
Commercials from Longmont Astroturf Group
If your community considers building its own broadband network, don't be surprised to see ads like these two from the recent Longmont referendum in Colorado.
When Chattanooga was starting to build its network, Comcast bought 2600 ads, similar in substance to these, to scare people into opposing the project.
Kill Network Neutrality, Get Slower Networks
If you want to predict the future, it helps to understand the incentives that guide action. Unsurprisingly, if a corporation has the option of being more profitable by investing less, it will do so.
LUS Fiber Testimonials and a Radio Ad
Scott Olivier is one of several people originally from Lafayette to return to Lafayette to take advantage of the their incredible community fiber network. He has done a series of short testimonials about LUS Fifber (embedded below).
We have covered similar testimonial from other community broadband networks and I think they are an easy way any community can begin marketing itself.
Despite Delays, Dunnellon Builds Muni Fiber in Florida
Dunnellon, a small town in Marion County south of Gainesville, decided to invest in a community fiber network to spur growth and diversify its income stream. Though citizens did not want to cut government services, they have not been pleased at property tax increases.
Burlington Telecom Partners to Increase Digital Inclusion
On its facebook page, Burlington Telecom has announced a partnership with ReSOURCE, a local nonprofit, that will make refurbished computers available to qualified Burlington families.
Longmont Astroturf Opposition Gone in Puff of Smoke
Any hint that the Comcast-funded effort in Longmont to oppose authorizing the City to provide broadband services was anything but an astroturf campaign of lies has evaporated in the wake of its o
AT&T Group's Lawsuit in Wisconsin Fails
Yet another court has ruled against an incumbent telephone or cable company that filed a lawsuit to block any threat to their continued monopoly in America's communities.
How the FCC Killed Broadband Competition
Dane Jasper, the CEO of Sonic.net, one of the few ISPs to survive the death of broadband competition over the past ten years, wrote about "America's Intentional Broadband Duopoly." It is a short history of how the FCC's flawed analysis (helped along by incredible
Senate to Vote on Giving Internet Governance to Comcast, AT&T
Update: The Senate voted against turning the Internet over to Comcast, AT&T, and other major carriers.
Someone in Longmont Kicks Comcast While Down
Shortly after Longmont voters chose self-reliance despite Comcast's $300,000 campaign of lies to sway the referendum, some anonymous citizen placed the following ad in the local paper.
Border to Border Broadband in Minnesota
Minnesota's Governor Dayton has already done more for expanding broadband access in Minnesota than predecessor Pawlenty who took the "stay quiet and hope for the best" approach to expanding access in our state.
Resource: 2005 Lafayette Referendum Flyer
One of the goals for this site is to help communities that are organizing to build their own community-owned broadband networks.
Connecticut Power Outage Shows Superiority of Community Ownership
Rob Cox, a writer for Reuters, has delved into the disappointing response of some investor-owned utilities in Connecticut following the recent blizzard, noting the better performance of muni power companies.
A Survey of National Private Sector Broadband Providers
When it comes to expanding access to the Internet across the US, the federal government has long looked first to the private sector, ignoring hundreds of years of experience showing that unaccountable private companies cannot be trusted to sufficiently invest in or govern essential infrastructure.
Inevitably, they price access to high and invest too little as they maxmize their profits -- thereby