This is Episode 184 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Catharine Rice from The Coalition for Local Internet Choice joins the show again to discuss North Carolina's restrictive laws and the lack of broadband connectivity throughout the state. Listen to this episode here.

Catharine Rice: All options need to be on the table and that's what local net choice is all about. 

Lisa Gonzalez: Hello. You are listening to episode 184 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast from The Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. Rural areas across the US struggle with adequate internet access, and North Carolina is no exception. Unfortunately, North Carolina is also one of the states with state barriers in place, making it nearly impossible for rural communities to serve themselves. If you're one of our regular listeners, you know that the SEC overturned that barrier and that the state is challenging that decision in court. 

In this interview, Chris talks with Catharine Rice, project director for The Coalition for Local Internet Choice, also known as CLIC. Catharine was also instrumental in organizing the first local chapter of CLIC which is located in North Carolina. CLIC-NC. Catharine provides some close up perspective on how the lack of broadband affects the people of North Carolina and how CLIC-NC is attacking this problem. Now here are Chris and Catharine Rice, project director for The Coalition of Local Internet Choice, talking about the situation in North Carolina.

Chris Mitchell: Welcome to another edition of The Community Broadband Bits podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell. Today I'm speaking with Catharine Rice, the project director for CLIC, The Coalition for Local Internet Choice. Welcome to the show.

Catharine Rice: Hi, Chris. Always a pleasure to be on your podcast.

This is Episode 183 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Rebecca Toews and Nick Stumo-Langer join Chris on the show for a rapid-fire discussion of the past year and future predictions. Listen to this episode here.

Chris: Welcome to another edition of the community Broadband Bits podcast's year in review/predictions for the next year. Once again from last year we brought in Rebecca. Once again, we've brought her back in. This is Rebecca Toews of our communications side of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Welcome back.

Rebecca: Hello everyone. I'm happy to be here. 

Chris: We're glad to have you back. We have a new face on the show, a new voice on the show as well, his face is new. Nick, welcome to the show.

Nick: Thank you. I'm really happy to be here. 

Chris: Nick Stumo-Langer.

Nick: Yep.

Chris: Am I saying that right?

Nick: Yes, you're saying that just correct.

Chris: I've only ever had to really read it. Unfortunately Lisa cannot be here today. We miss her greatly, but we hope that she's having a great time with her family right now over the holidays. We had to record this show without her alas. That also means if it's edited a little bit more roughly it's because either Chris or Rebecca did it. We were lacking Lisa's talent.

Rebecca: It also means that if we have no voice of reason and wisdom, that's why.

Chris: Yes, that's a distinct possibility. We thought we would start by doing a little recap of last year's show. Let's talk about some of the predictions we made last year. After we do that we can talk about how 2015 actually went.

Rebecca: 2015 was a huge year. We had the merger between Comcast and AT&T that was voted down. That was ...

Chris: Something that both Lisa and I predicted.

Rebecca: Yes it was.

This is the transcript for Episode 182 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Chris interviews Mike Lang, David Young, and Steve Huggenberger from Lincoln, Nebraska, on conduit policy as a way to encourage competition. Listen to this episode here.

David: Providing the conduit system allowed the private carrier who was building fiber to the home to economically build to all the neighborhoods.

Chris: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell, and today I'm speaking with three fine gentlemen from Lincoln, Nebraska. We're going to start off introducing them. I'm just going to tell you their names and they're going to tell you their title so we can get a sense of their voice. Since we have four male guests today we're going to try and make it as easy as possible on you, gentle listener. 

Mike Lang, please tell us what your position is and the last time you had a Runza.

Mike: As Chris mentioned, my name is Michael Lang. I'm an Economic Development Aide and I work in the Mayor's Office. To be quite honest, you asked me the question about the last time I had a Runza, actually not my favorite, but I love their burgers.

Chris: Yes. Actually, I'll  be honest. This is a local chain, for people who aren't familiar, throughout Nebraska. It's just amazing burgers, and they have this famous Runza dish that I myself have not had as well. 

Our second guest, Steve Huggenberger, please tell us what your position is.

Steve: I'm one of the Assistant City Attorneys in the City Law Department. I've been here for 31 years. Probably the last Runza I had was the last hundred I made for myself.

Chris: Wonderful. Local self-reliance at its best. Our final guest is David Young. David, please let us know what your position is and the last time you had a Runza.

David: Hi, Chris. This is David Young. I am the Fiber Infrastructure and Right of Way Manager for the City of Lincoln Public Works Department. The last time I had a Runza was probably a year ago. 

This is Episode 181 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Hudson, Ohio, City Manager Jane Howington joins the show, describing how the community took matters into its own hands after incumbents refused to build a next-generation network there. Listen to this episode here.

Jane: Many of our businesses were either not expanding here or looking at expanding elsewhere or moving elsewhere because they were getting that frustrated.

Lisa: Hello and welcome to episode 181 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. This fall Hudson, Ohio launched its publicly owned Velocity Broadband service for local businesses. In this episode, Chris interviews City Manager, Jane Howington. Jane describes the sorry state of the community's connectivity and how they had approached incumbents but could not convince them to invest. According to Jane, city leaders were concerned Hudson would lose its ability to attract and retain employers. Jane describes the city's business plan and strategy. 

As you will hear, Velocity Broadband is already having significant success. For information on municipal networks and telecommunications, the Community Broadband Bits Podcast is the place to go. We offer a unique perspective with no annoying commercials. Please consider making a contribution at muninetworks.org or ILSR.org. Any amount helps out. Now here's Chris and Jane Howington, City Manager from Hudson, Ohio, talking about the city's new Velocity Broadband.

Chris: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell. Today I'm speaking with Jane Howington, Hudson City Manager in Ohio. Welcome to the show.

Jane: Hi. Thank you very much.

Chris: Jane, I'm excited to have you on the show. We started talking about doing this interview, and since then you've actually launched the service. Before we get into that, why don't you tell us a little bit about the city of Hudson?

This is Episode 180 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Chris interviews Norm Higgins who is the representative of District 120 in Maine's House of Representatives. They discuss rural connectivity and statewide legislation. Listen to this episode here.

Norm Higgins: It's not about making that little circle go faster so your Netflix will come in faster. Do people in your community have the ability to compete on an international marketplace in terms of providing products and services? If the answer is no then we need to do something about it and I think people get that.

Lisa Gonzalez: Hello there, you are listening to Episode 180 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast from the Institute of for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. Man has struggles with some of the worst connectivity in the country. Much of the state is rural and lack of investment from large private providers have left communities in a lurch. In the past two years local leaders have stepped up to raise awareness and in places like Rockport and Sanford Municipalities are developing municipal fiber networks on their own. In Episode 180 Chris talks with State Representative Norm Higgins. 

Rep Higgins has been working on the connectivity issue and describes why and how he came to focus on broadband for his constituent. In this interview learn a little about the progress and the process begin Maine's role in improving connectivity. Here's Chris speaking with State Representative Norm Higgins from Maine.

Chris Mitchell: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell and today I'm speaking with Norm Higgins the Representative of District 120 in Maine's House of Representatives. Welcome to the show.

Norm Higgins: Thank you.

This is Episode 179 of the Community Broadband Podcasts. Julia Griffin of Hanover, New Hampshire, joins the show to discuss how open access networks encourage economic development and special assessment districts can fund needed infrastructure. Listen to this episode here.

Julia: As a town manager I'd like anything that supports local economic development. I think an open access network could help do that. 

Lisa: Hello, you are listening to episode 179 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. This week we take listeners to New Hampshire to the community of Hanover. Chris visits with town manager Julia Griffin. 

There have been some recent changes in state law that effect what actions local communities can take when trying to improve their connectivity. Hanover plans to use a special assessment district, a new model created by state law, to finance a municipal network. Julia provides details on the model, describes Hanover's open access plans, and talks about the challenges they face. Now here are Chris and Julia Griffin, town manager of Hanover, New Hampshire. 

Chris: Welcome to another addition of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell. Today I'm speaking with Julia Griffin, the town manager of Hanover, New Hampshire. Welcome to the show. 

Julia: Thanks very much. 

Chris: Julia, I'm really excited to speak with you. We're following up a little bit in a tour of New England. We've been talking about what's happening in Maine lately and Vermont. I'm excited to get a sense of what's happening in your corner of New Hampshire. Maybe you can start by telling us a little bit about Hanover. 

This is episode 178 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Chris interviews Audrey Danner, Executive Director of Craig Moffat Economic Development, and Virgil Turner, Director of Innovation and Citizen Engagement in Montrose, Colorado. They reflect on the November ballot initiatives to reclaim local control and discuss what's next for the Colorado communities. Listen to this episode here.

Audrey: We know this infrastructure is what we need for the future. 

Lisa Gonzalez: Hello and welcome to episode 178 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, I'm Lisa Gonzalez. November elections were an incredible event for Colorado communities seeking to take back local telecommunications authority. Over 40 communities chose to override a 10 year old state law that blocked them for investing or partnering with private sector providers to improve local connectivity. Most communities approve the ballot questions with overwhelming majorities. 

Virgil Turner and Audrey Danner talk with Chris this week. Virgil is the director of innovation and citizen engagement in Montrose, Colorado, and Audrey is the executive director of Craig Moffat Economic Development. Audrey also co-chairs the mountain connect broadband development council. Every year the council holds the mountain connect broadband conference.

In this episode Audrey and Virgil reflect on the results of the election and share what's next for these communities as they take advantage of their newly required local authority. Here is Chris visiting with Virgil Tuner and Audrey Danner.

Chris: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, I'm Chris Mitchell, and today I’m speaking with Virgil Turner, director of innovation and citizen engagement with the city of Montrose in Colorado. Welcome to the show.

Virgil: Hey Chris, it's great to be with you and your listeners today.

Chris: And we're also speaking with Audrey Danner, the executive director of Craig Moffat Economic Development and co-chair of the wonderful Mountain Connect Broadband Development conference. I'd like to welcome you to the show as well. 

This is Episode 177 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Carole Monroe of the East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network (EC Fiber) joins the show to talk about how the network got started and the benefits of fiber-to-the-premise networks in rural areas. Listen to this episode here.

Carole M.: But this is a network built on community. Everyone investing either for the sake of the project or investing for the construction along their road. It brings people together.

Lisa G.: Hello, and welcome to episode 177 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. In this episode, Chris talks with Carole Monroe, general manager of the East Central Vermont Community Fiber Network, a community-owned network in Vermont. EC Fiber's financing model is different than many of the networks we cover because it relied on individual investment to get the project off the ground. 

Carole describes how EC Fiber has experienced steady growth over the past several years and how, in an area of the state where residents and businesses typically rely on DSL and satellite, fiber to the premise has spurred a number of benefits. EC Fiber also has a new designation as a utility district. Carole addresses how this will affect EC Fiber's operation. Now, here's Chris's interview with Carole Monroe, general manager of EC Fiber.

Chris M.: Welcome to another addition of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell. Today, I'm speaking with Carole Monroe, the general manager of EC Fiber in Vermont. Welcome to the show.

Carole M.: Thank you. It's great to be on.

Chris M.: It's great to talk to you again. We spoke with you about two years ago, maybe two and a half. I was looking back in my notes. It was episode 36, and you were with Fast Roads in New Hampshire. Welcome to Vermont. Welcome back. 

Carole M.: It's great to be here. It's great to be here in Vermont.

Chris M.: We're going to be talking about this thing EC Fiber. People who have been long-time listeners may have heard it all the way back in episode 9, when I talked with Leslie Nolte. That was three years ago or more. I'm hoping that you can just remind us what EC Fiber is. 

This is Episode 176 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. Chris speaks with Fletcher Kittredge of GWI about the "Maine model" for community fiber networks. Listen to this episode here.

Fletcher: What we were saying about the whole self-reliance thing and I think it's a recognition that as a rural area, the economics are not such that Google's going to come here any time soon.

Lisa: Hello, this is the Community Broadband Bits podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez. You are listening to episode 176. Maine has been a busy spot for municipal networks over the past year. For the first time ever, a Maine community, Rockport, invested in a publicly-owned fiber network. As a partner, Rockport collaborated with local ISP GWI to offer retail services over the city's infrastructure. Rockport is not the only community in Maine to invest in better connectivity in the past year.

This week, Chris talks with Fletcher Kittredge, CEO of GWI. Fletcher describes some of the other projects GWI is working on and also describes what has become known as the Maine model. There is a community-minded philosophy behind this dark fiber open access approach.

Each week we bring you interviews with guests that you will not find on other podcasts. Our shows are one-of-a-kind and commercial-free. Please take a moment to support our work with a donation at ILSR.org or MuniNetworks.org. Now here are Chris and Fletcher Kittredge, CEO of GWI.

Chris: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell and today I'm speaking with Fletcher Kittredge, the CEO of GWI in Maine. Welcome to the show.

Fletcher: Hi. Thank you for having me on.

Chris: I'm very excited to be talking with you. I've been following your work for quite a while. Why don't you start by telling us a little bit about GWI. What is it?

This is episode 175 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast. We turn our attention back to Chattanooga as Chris interviews Coleman Keane, Danna Bailey, and Beth Johnson on the 10Gbps future and the FCC's ruling. Listen to this episode here.

Beth: We hear over and over again, "I'm never going back. I can't believe it took me this long to switch."

Lisa: Hello. This is a Community Broadband Bits podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. I'm Lisa Gonzalez.

Earlier this month, Chattanooga's EPB Fiber Optics announced that is was making 10 gigabit available to both residential and business customers.  In episode 175 we focus on Chattanooga, not only to talk tech with director of fiber technology, Coleman Keane, but also to discuss their new fibervention marketing campaign with Beth Johnson, marketing manager. Chris also visits with Danna Bailey, VP of corporate communications, who's been a guest on the podcast before. Danna talks about the many ways the network has contributed to the community. You should know there is some detailed technical talk around the 10 gig discussion around two-thirds of the way through the interview.

Here are Chris and Beth Johnson, marketing manager; Danna Bailey, VP of Corporate Communications; and Coleman Keane, Director of Fiber Technology from Chattanooga's EPB Fiber Optics.

Chris: Welcome to another edition of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. I'm Chris Mitchell and today I'm speaking with three folks out of Chattanooga, Tennessee with EPB Fiber. Beth Johnson, the Marketing Manager for EPB, welcome to the show.

Beth: Hey, Chris. Thanks for having me.

Chris: We have Coleman Keane, director of fiber technology.

Coleman: Hi, Chris.

Chris: And Danna Bailey, VP of Corporate Communications.

Danna: Hi, Chris.

Chris: Thank you each for coming. There's so much news coming out of Chattanooga and frankly we could probably check in with you once a month but we try to spread the wealth around a little bit in terms of casting the spotlight on others. We're going to try to pack a lot of things into our short call today. I think I wanted to start by noting that I believe you've surpassed 75,000 subscribers. Danna, can you tell us how you're doing in terms of the subscriber counts?