News

The Short Memory of Network Neutrality Sell-Outs

on Dec 21, 2010

Today, the FCC is poised to pass a half-ass attempt to preserve the open Internet against the interests of massive gatekeepers like AT&T and Comcast.

Did BT Subsidize Burlington with Cheap Internet Access?

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 21, 2010

There is so much to say about Burlington Telecom and its struggles that it cannot be covered in a single post. This is one of several posts that will discuss pieces of the situation.

Nulty Discusses EC Fiber and Burlington Telecom

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 20, 2010

While the bad news about Burlington Telecom (BT) has traveled far and wide, it has been marked with errors, misinformation, and inaccurate comparisons to other projects. MuniNetworks.org will weigh in on this issue with a series of posts to explain what happened, what did not happen, and what lessons we can learn from it.

Sean McLaughlin Discusses Community Wireless in Eureka, California

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 20, 2010

On TelecomTV, Sean McLaughlin discusses their local efforts to improve broadband access and the impediments they face from big national carriers.

Op-Ed - Imperative of Community Owned Telecom Infrastructure

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 18, 2010

Fred Pilot, founder of the Camino Fiber Network Cooperative, recently wrote about the importance of community ownership in California's oldest newspaper.

Burlingon Telecom Audit and Nulty Response

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 17, 2010

Vermont's Department of Public Service has released its audit of Burlington Telecom. The audit is highly flawed and a disappointment in terms of actually illuminating what went wrong with Burlington.

Jim Baller Discusses Muni Broadband on TelecomTV

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 17, 2010

Jim Baller offers a good national overview of community broadband networks in a 7 minute interview on TelecomTV.

Broadband Mapping Done Better - North Carolina

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 16, 2010

E-NC has released the map they built with the stimulus mapping grant.

Salisbury Discusses Motivation Behind Fibrant on TelecomTV

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 15, 2010

Michael Crowell, Fibrant's Director of Broadband Services, discusses the motivation behind their community fiber network (Fibrant), as well as some of the technology behind their GPON network. This is one of several similar interviews from TelecomTV.

FCC on Net Neutrality: More Bush than Obama

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 14, 2010

Whenever the discussion of Network Neutrality comes up, we like to remind everyone that when the network is locally owned and accountable to the community, anti-subscriber discrimination is not a problem. That said, we are strong supporters of proper safeguards to ensure massive companies like AT&T cannot abuse their market power and discourage innovation.

Interview With Jay Ovittore of Communities United for Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 13, 2010

In another TelecomTV segment, Jay Ovittore speaks with Guy Daniels discussing Communities United for Broadband. This video is no longer available. <

Sarasota, Florida, Recognizes Need for Better Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 11, 2010

Another community in Florida is considering a community broadband network as a solution to its need for faster, more reliable broadband than incumbents offer.

Another Telecom Exec Calls for Less Competition

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 10, 2010

As part of our continuing effort to shed light on the tendency of privately owned telcos and cablecos to consolidate rather than compete, we would like to note comments from Qwest's Chief Financial Officer.

Interview with Wilson's Greenlight Community Fiber Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 9, 2010

This is a good 5 minute interview discussing what Wilson has done to build the first citywide FTTH network in North Carolina.

Bristol Virginia Utilities Refinances Debt

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 8, 2010

BVU, which operates OptiNet (the nation's first triple-play muni FTTH network), has transitioned from being owned by the City to being an independent authority. In its last fiscal year (2010-11), the public power utility finished with net income. OptiNet finished ahead of projections.

Associated Press Ignores Muni Broadband Successes

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 7, 2010

The AP says Burlington Telecom may be a cautionary tale for cities around the the country that contemplate building their own networks.

Using Faster Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 6, 2010

Chattanooga's Times Free Press explained how locals are using the nation's fastest broadband network.

To communities that seize broadband initiative, benefits flow fast

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 4, 2010

On November 29, 2010, MPR published our commentary about community broadband. The Twin Cities has slower and more expensive broadband Internet than the nearby town of Monticello. The Twin Cities metro area has a population of 2.8 million and the highest density of people and businesses in the state.

Rural Washington Network, Chelan PUD, Increases Speeds and Expands

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 3, 2010

The Chelan Public Utility District in Washington state is upgrading network capacity as it starts expanding the network following its broadband stimulus award.

Barbara Van Schewick on Innovation and Architecture

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 1, 2010

Barbara Van Schewick, author of Internet Architecture and Innovation, describes the important role of openness on the Internet, what that means, and how to preserve it. Thanks to the New York Chapter of Internet Society for hosting her.