News

DC-Net Expands with Multiple Stimulus Grants

on Oct 19, 2010

DC-Net, the muni-owned and operated fiber network connecting hundreds of community institutions (schools, libraries, local government buildings), is expanding in scope and mission following three broadband stimulus awards.

Salisbury's Fibrant Deals with Incumbent B.S. Before Launch

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 18, 2010

As Salisbury prepares to officially launch its publicly owned FTTH network offering triple-play services, it offers lessons for other communities that want to follow in its footsteps. As we wrote a month ago, Fibrant has candidly admitted it cannot win a price war with incumbents.

In Broadband Networks, Private Ownership Leads to Consolidation

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 15, 2010

In all the talk of the need for competition in broadband (or in the mobile space), there is remarkably little attention paid to the difficulties in actually creating competition.

Do we Really Need Faster Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 7, 2010

Advocates for community broadband networks in urban areas that already have cable and DSL options are often asked why the community needs something better. Aside from the many benefits in terms of reliability and symmetrical offers, we do need faster connections.

Danville City Council Nixes Expansion of nDanville Fiber Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 6, 2010

In Virginia, Danville's open access all-fiber network, nDanville, currently serves only businesses and large clients. In the early summer, Danville Utilities decided to recommend expanding the network to between 2,000 and 3,000 residential homes with a 10 year, $2.5 million loan.

Tim Wu on Importance of Getting Broadband Policy Right

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 5, 2010

Tim Wu, a professor and long time champion of network neutrality, discusses why getting these policies right is so important. Perhaps more interesting is the reaction from David Isenberg and Tim Wu's comment to that reaction. The take-home lesson?

Scientific American Editorial: Why Broadband in the US "is so Awful."

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 4, 2010

In an editorial for the October, 2010 issue, Scientific American explains "Why broadband service in the U.S. is so awful, and one step that could change it." This is an excellent shorthand explanation for the poor decisions of the FCC during the Bush Administration.

In Missouri, Cass County To Build FTTH Network with Broadband Stimulus Award

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 2, 2010

Missouri's Cass County, has received both a loan and grant from the broadband stimulus program run by the RUS in the Department of Agriculture.

Community Broadband Network in Braintree Massachusetts Voted Best Internet Provider

Christopher Mitchell

on Oct 1, 2010

Back in 1998, the Braintree Electric Light Department (Massachusetts) built an HFC network for remote monitoring of their electrical services. In 1999, they extended the network to become the first broadband provider in town.

Scottsboro Reports Increased Interest in Fiber Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 30, 2010

Sounds like the Scottsboro Electric Power Board is doing well. They offer fiber-optic services to businesses in addition to the cable services they offer to the general public.

Our Cable employees have also had a busy summer.

Christopher Mitchell Tells FCC To Regulate in the Public Interest

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 29, 2010

On August 19, 2010, I was one of hundreds of people telling the Federal Communications Commission to do its job and regulate in the public interest.

Lafayette Offers 100Mbps Residential Tier ... And Ruminations on Bandwidth Caps

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 28, 2010

Lafayette's LUS Fiber network, after recently kicking off its ad campaign, has decided to offer 100Mbps residential connections after a number of requests from subscribers.

Connected States of America

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 27, 2010

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In Ohio, OneCommunity Network Expands with Stimulus Grant

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 26, 2010

Almost $45 million from the broadband stimulus is heading to OneCommunity, a nonprofit organization in Northeast Ohio (originally named OneCleveland), in order to expand their network across 27 counties.

More Details Emerging about Fibrant in Salisbury

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 24, 2010

The nation's newest community fiber network (FTTH) is launching in Salisbury, North Carolina, in the next month. Fibrant, a $29 million project financing by general obligation bonds, is slightly behind schedule but way ahead of the cable and DSL competition.

Herald Tribune Series on County and Community Networks

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 23, 2010

A few weeks ago, the Herald Tribune ran a number of articles about broadband by Michael Pollick and Doug Sword that discussed some community fiber networks and efforts by Counties in Florida to build their own fiber-optic networks.

Community Fiber: An Update From Seattle

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 22, 2010

If Seattle moves forward on the Community Fiber Network it has been considering, it will be the largest such network in the nation. However, as we recently noted, progress has been slow.

Happy One Web Day!

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 22, 2010

Folks around the world, including New York City, are celebrating the open Internet.

Solving Middle Mile Availability Does NOT Solve Last Mile Problems

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 21, 2010

Perhaps the biggest disappointment from the broadband stimulus program was its focus on middle mile investments in a bid to avoid overly upsetting powerful incumbent providers who do not look kindly upon competition (something we discussed here).

Carroll County, Maryland, Partners with Coop To Bring Fiber to Area Businesses

Christopher Mitchell

on Sep 20, 2010

Carroll County, Maryland, has announced a partnership with the Maryland Broadband Cooperative to bring fiber-optic broadband to area businesses that have been neglected by incumbent providers.

The county br