Community Broadband Media Roundup - January 25

California

Huntington Beach, Calif., considers offering broadband as a utility by Anthony Clark Carpio, GovTech

 

Colorado

Colorado should let communities decide on broadband options by Karen Sheek, David Romero and Dennis Coombs, The Denver Post

Most connected community by Steamboat Today Editorial Board

The project ushers in a new era of connectivity for local institutions and could also open up new opportunities for local Internet service providers to use the new fiber to improve and expand private broadband service.

In our opinion, there’s not anything that can have a bigger impact on our community’s future than having better broadband service.

 

Oregon

Eugene looking to expand public Internet fiber network downtown by Christian Hill, The Register-Guard

Such capacity is important for technology and other companies that use vast amounts of data to serve customers or to perform functions such as video conferencing.

Supporters say businesses connected to the existing publicly owned network are paying $99 a month for speeds up to 1 gigabit, or 125 megabytes per second, a speed that allows a user to download a high-definition movie in 36 seconds. Large Internet service providers can offer such speeds downtown but charge hundreds of dollars a month for the service, the city said.

 

Tennessee

Cleveland Utilities studying ways to expand broadband by Dave Flessner, Times Free Press and GovTech

 

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West Virginia

WV Internet providers targeted over slow speeds by Eric Eyrem Charleston Gazette Mail

ISPs band together, fight West Virginia state-funded broadband network by Eric Eyre, GovTech

Cable companies that provide Internet service are working to kill legislation that would create a state-financed $72 million fiber-optic network across West Virginia. Suddenlink, Comcast, Shentel, Time-Warner Cable and other members of the West Virginia Cable Television Association oppose building the high-speed Internet network, saying it’s a waste of money…

 

General

How and why Chattanooga, Tenn., and other cities have embraced municipal broadband by Heather B. Hayes, State Tech Magazine

Hudson, OH is just one of an increasing number of municipalities that has chosen to launch its own broadband networks, according to Christopher Mitchell, director of community broadband networks for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.

“Many communities have realized that if they do not invest in themselves, they will be left behind in the digital economy,” Mitchell says. “Local governments are watching as other communities that have affordable citywide, high-quality Internet access are thriving.”

Image of the Cowboy Beagle courtesy of Sid through a creative commons license.