News

Geoff Daily, from App-Rising.com, and I recently did a vidchat about muninetworks.org and its purpose. App-Rising.com pulled some key points from it, but you can view the entire 9 minute segment below.

Reclaim the Media Report: Seattle Needs Public Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on Jul 1, 2009

Reclaim the Media has published a position paper making the case for a publicly owned fiber network in Seattle. Seattle is in a difficult position, being served by Comcast and Qwest's copper networks while the suburbs are being snapped up by Verizon's fiber-powered FiOS and nearby publicly owned Tacoma Click!

Fairpoint May Declare Bankrupty

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 30, 2009

Last year, Verizon sold all of its landline assets in New England to a tiny company named Fairpoint.

UTOPIA's Roller Coaster Ride Continues

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 26, 2009

Anyone who tells you that UTOPIA is a "success" or that it is a "failure" is probably minimizing important problems or victories for the network. The Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency, like so many other things in life, is a mixed bag. For those new to UTOPIA, it is a large multi-community full fiber network that operates by only selling wholesale access to service providers.

Spring Issue of NATOA Journal

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 24, 2009

NATOA, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors, comprises many people who are in, and work on, community broadband networks.

Video on the Economics of Open Access

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 22, 2009

Benoît Felton of Fiber Evolution says that Open Access makes Economic Sense - in four parts:

Short Shots

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 19, 2009

Some shorter news items from this weeks' news:

The Salisbury Post continues it in-depth coverage of Salisbury's FTTH network as it moves from planning to deployment.

Monticello Lawsuit Saga Over; MN Supreme Court Declines Review

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 16, 2009

In a quick followup, the Minnesota Supreme Court has affirmed the obvious by refusing to review the Appeals Court decision in the TDS (acting as "Bridgewater") v. Monticello case. This means the Appeals Court decision stands; Minnesota cities have the authority to bond for broadband networks.

nDanville Network Helps Police, Economic Development

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 16, 2009

Though Danville, Virginia, was hit hard by the simultaneously decline of tobacco and textile industries, the community has responded: Danville Utilities has been building a state of the art all fiber network. Like many communities, they built a backbone and connected the schools and government buildings first. They then started to connect businesses.

Nation's Largest Citywide FTTH Network to be Completed Next Year

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 11, 2009

Chattanooga, Tennessee is predicting it will offer FTTH in its entire service area by next year.

Salisbury Starts Building FTTH Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 8, 2009

Salisbury, a city of nearly 30,000 in North Carolina, has started building its full fiber-to-the-home network. Salisbury had some difficulty in funding the network at first due to the collapsing economy last year. However, they securing financing in November 2008 and have now started building the network.

Community Broadband - High Capacity, Low Cost

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 3, 2009

To celebrate the launching of MuniNetworks.org, we wanted to highlight some of the best broadband available in the United States. If you were looking for the best citywide broadband networks available in the United States, you would almost definitely find publicly owned networks.

Monticello "Wins" Appeal

Christopher Mitchell

on Jun 2, 2009

Monticello, a small town in Minnesota just outside the metro area, once again prevailed in court against frivolous charges from TDS Telecom, the incumbent telephone provider (doing business as Bridgewater in the court case).

Salisbury, NC, Fends Off Comical Attack on Community Broadband

Christopher Mitchell

on May 18, 2009

Cities investigating community fiber networks are used to scurrilous attacks from both incumbents and anti-government "think tanks," which are often directly funded by private service providers.

Welcome

Christopher Mitchell

on May 15, 2009

Welcome to MuniNetworks.org, a site dedicated to fast broadband networks in the United States that are accountable to their communities. We view broadband as the utility of the 21st century. As such, broadband networks must put communities before profits. We will feature news, reports, and case studies that illustrate how communities can ensure they have a fast broadband network.

Tim Nulty Interviewed at 2009 Freedom to Connect Conference

Christopher Mitchell

on Apr 30, 2009

Benoit Felten of FiberEvolution.com interviews Tim Nulty (former GM of Burlington Telecom, currently working on massive rural FTTH network in Vermont) at the Freedom to Connect Conference. Covers many topics, especially the economics of FTTH and why the public sector should invest in these networks.