News

Paper Examines the "Growing Costs of Network Exclusion"

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 7, 2011

Most of us are familiar either with Metcalfe's law or the general principle of it: networks are more valuable the more people are on it. The common example used to illustrate is a telephone. One person on a telephone network is useless. Two people is an improvement.

Sample Community Fiber Promotional Material from Lafayette

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 6, 2011

Communities with grassroots movements investigating or encouraging community networks should take a look at the many resources the citizens of Lafayette, Louisiana, developed in their referendum fight in establishing LUS Fiber. In order to help educate the community, fiber supporters created a short newsletter (if there was more than one issue, I have not been a

Wisconsin Broadband Stimulus Network Wins Rural Award

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 5, 2011

More good news from the Building Community Capacity through Broadband stimulus-funded project in Wisconsin: it has earned an award from Wisconsin Rural Partners [pdf].

AT&T's Lobbying Power

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 3, 2011

A deep thank you to Public Knowledge for their throwing back the curtain on AT&T's lobbying operation in the attempted takeover of T-Mobile. Whenever the discussion of public v.

Local, Nonprofit Broadband Infrastructure Essential for Sustainability

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 1, 2011

Wally Bowen, of North Carolina's Mountain Area Information Network, recently gave an excellent presentation that explained the importance of broadband and media infrastructure that puts community needs before the profit motive.

Chattanooga Community Fiber Network Profiled on The Southern Way

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 29, 2011

This video is no longer available.

Infographic: Big Cable v. Grassroots in Community Broadband Referendum

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 28, 2011

Learning the lessons of Longmont's recent cable referendum.

DC-Net Provides Access to Community of Hope

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 24, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 23, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 22, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 21, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 21, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 20, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 19, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 18, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 17, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 16, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 15, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 14, 2011

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

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 12, 2011

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