News

Video Comparing American vs. European Broadband Networks

on Jul 10, 2011

Rick Karr has produced a "can't miss" 15 minute video that shows what happens when telecommunications is treated more like infrastructure and less like a for-profit morass controlled by massive companies.

Going Big with a Gig at Case Western Reserve University

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 9, 2011

Some still question whether we need FTTH networks, suggesting that modest copper upgrades will be fine for most over the next 5-10 years. When it comes to essential infrastructure, the idea that we should "cut costs" by operating right on the margin usually ends poorly -- and costs more, particularly in lost opportunities.

Lessig Promotes Publicly Owned Broadband at Personal Democracy Forum

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 8, 2011

I have long been a fan of Larry Lessig's work, so I was proud to see him use our work as the foundation for his presentation at the 2011 Personal Democracy Forum.

Understanding User Fees and the Community's Right-of-Way

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 7, 2011

A friend once told me about his battle with the local government over whether it would charge him a fee for inspecting the house he wanted to begin renting out (he had bought another house but didn't want to sell the first in a down market).

Vermont Town First to Get Universal Access to ECFiber Community Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 6, 2011

The East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network has announced it will connect an entire town as its second phase. Barnard, Vermont, will be the first town to have universal access to ECFiber's next-generation network.

New Video: Community Fiber Networks Better than Phone, Cable Networks

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 5, 2011

Update: You can also watch the video over at the Huffington Post, in our first post as a HuffPo blogger. While we were battling Time Warner Cable to preserve local authority in North Carolina, we developed

#KillSwitch MoneyBomb Today - Let's Get it Made!

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 1, 2011

Today, take a moment to learn about a promising documentary and pledge some support to make sure it gets made! A short description:

Louisiana Leg uses Porn Excuse to Target LUS Community Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 30, 2011

We occasionally see big cable and phone companies getting creative in their efforts to shut down community networks. In socially conservative communities, restrictions on providing adult content is a common approach.

Business Interest in Cortez Muni Network Exceeds Expectations

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 29, 2011

Last month, we were excited to write about the open access network in Cortez, Colorado.

Rural Todd County Embarks on Fiberband Feasibility in Minnesota

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 28, 2011

Todd County, a rural community "where the forest meets the prairie" along I-94 in the geographic center of Minnesota, is the latest of many counties to examine local solutions to their lack of affordable, fast, reliable, and certainly universal access to the Internet.

Response to Seattle RFP: More of the Same

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 27, 2011

We have an answer to the question of what a city gets when it commits the bare minimum to improving broadband access: more of the same. We were skeptical of Seattle's approach of using city-owned conduit to spur serious improvements to broadband and, it turns out, correct.

Washington PUD Begins Fiber Network Stimulus Construction

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 26, 2011

Like many Washington Public Utility Districts, Pend Orielle, has connect small portions of its electric territory with an open access fiber-to-the-home. But these projects have been difficult to finance in remote (and often mountainous) areas.

Lafayette's LUS Fiber Creates Videos, YouTube Channel

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 25, 2011

Lafayette's publicly owned FTTH network has created a YouTube channel featuring a commercial aimed at residential subscribers (in 15, 30, and 60 second spots) as well as a longer video aimed at increasing economic development. Both are embedded below.

The Short Story of AT&T's Attack on Schools, Libraries in Wisconsin

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 24, 2011

I wrote the following synopsis of AT&T's attack on schools and libraries in Wisconsin for SaveTheInternet.com. We are still waiting for the Governor to sign the bill, something that may take another week or longer apparently.

Steve Jobs: City's Role is Providing Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 23, 2011

I cannot help but comment on this story that I have seen in multiple places in the tech press. Steve Jobs, when presenting an impressive new headquarters for Apple, is asked by a City Council member if Apple would provide free Wi-Fi for the city.

Greenville: The Texas Muni Cable Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 21, 2011

If you the take a look at our community broadband map, you'll see that Texas has only one citywide wired network owned by the public: Greenville.

AT&T Stumbles in Purchase of "Grassroots" Support

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 20, 2011

Public interest advocates in the telecom arena have long been frustrated with a parade of large, powerful non-profit organizations blindly supporting the positions of powerful telecom companies that just happen to make large donations to those non-profits.

Munis Tell Carriers: Forget You Guys

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 18, 2011

MHT, Mass High Tech -- the Voice of New England Innovation -- recently turned a spotlight on the difficulty of creating Ubiquitous high-speed broadband.

New Broadband Networks Increase Tension in Vermont

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 16, 2011

We have previously covered the East Central Vermont Fiber Network and their local frustrations at receiving little state or federal support in building a next-generation network.

WiscNet Under Continued Attack, Contact Elected Officials

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 15, 2011

As we feared, the compromise may have been compromised by the uncompromising power of AT&T lobbyists. Once again, we learn that they struck at the last hour and may have put local schools and libraries on the chopping block.