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UTOPIA Face Lift and Podcast
Utah's UTOPIA network has refreshed its web presence and Jesse Harris has completed another podcast with a provider on the open access network.
Norton, Mass, Building Publicly Owned Institutional Network
Evidently, the Comcast-provided I-Net in Norton - a city of nearly 20,000 west of the Cape - suffers frequent outages, outraging those who depend on it.
Chelan Video: What has Publicly Owned Fiber Done for Them?
A video from Chelan shows the benefits of a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network in a rural public utility district in Washington State. The network has literally saved lived with tele-medicine applications. Citizens also cite educational advantages and increased business opportunities thanks to this smart investment.
This video is no longer available.Highland Illinois Networks Takes Another Step Forward
This community of almost 10,000 near St. Louis has taken another step toward creating competition in broadband by investing in a publicly owned fiber network. In April of 2009, the community voted overwhelmingly (75%) yes to a question authorizing the network with revenue bonds that would be backed by electrical revenues from the city's public power company.
Monticello Advertisement
FiberNet Monticello put one of their advertisements on YouTube.
Jim Baller Audio Interview
Looking for something to listen to? Jim Baller's interview with Scott Mace on IT Conversations provides insight into stimulus funding, background on publicly owned networks, and his work on a broadband plan for the U.S.
Tacoma Offering Tips to Seattle
Seattle's new mayor continues to impress me as he makes good on his pledge to build a publicly owned fiber-optic network in the City. He has just met with the mayor of Tacoma to discuss lessons learned from the Tacoma Click! network.
Universal Access - History and Future
Last month, the Daily Yonder offered a short history of Universal Service in telecommunications in the U.S.
Dubuque Considers Its Telecom Options
I caught an interesting article asking whether Dubuque, Iowa, should build a publicly owned broadband network. Iowa already has a number of publicly owned networks, mostly cable HFC networks, that serve communities.
What Constitutes Socialism?
While I was researching recent developments in the BVU OptiNet, I stumbled across a hilarious comment to a news post. I have tried to track down the original source but have not been able to find anything.
Deadline for Network Neutrality Comments Draws Nigh
The FCC asked for comments on its plans to make rules to protect the open Internet [pdf] from companies that may exert more control over the sites you want to visit in order to boost their profits.
Free Press made the video below to encourage people to comment before the deadline.
Ars Technica: Municipal fiber needs more FDR localism, fewer state bans
Ars Technica has published an op-ed I wrote after we published our interactive municipal broadband preemption map.
Community-owned broadband is one way to bring fiber to smaller m
Internet is Infrastructure, Not Nicety
Over the holiday break, I was visiting family in central Minnesota where they rely on dial-up for getting on the Internet. Translation: They are not on the Internet. Though I have previously said this, my experiences reminded me that nothing I do on the Internet on a daily basis is possible to do over dialup.
Free UTOPIA Podcast
Listen to this 1 hour podcast from Free UTOPIA that discusses recent progress in Brigham City, notes that Orem City is saving some $50,000/month from telecom expenses thanks to UTOPIA, and recaps some of the early history of the UTOPIA project.
Schrier Stays in Seattle, Fiber Network to Follow?
After campaigning on building a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network in Seattle, Mayor McGinn has decided to maintain leadership at the Department of Information Technology.
Highland Illinois - Deliberating a Network
Highland, Illinois, having overwhelmingly approved a referendum in April, 2009 to own and operate a fiber-to-the-premises system, has continued to examine the potential for a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network.
Jackson, Tennessee, Profiled
The Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) network now has over 16,000 subscribers and offers speeds up to 100 Mbps for local businesses and 25 Mbps for standard residential users.
Jackson is considered one of the most technologically advanced cities in the U.S. We have four competitors in the market with AT&T, Bell South, Charter and JEA.
Rochelle, Illinois - Smart Municipal Investors
I stumbled across an interesting article about a small community in Illinois - Rochelle - that has used smart public investments to ensure a healthy future.
Rules Matter - Burlington Telecom
As someone who has long researched and followed developments in Burlington Telecom (BT), the city-owned triple-play full fiber-to-the-home network in Vermont, recent developments between BT and the Mayor's office have been deeply disappointing.
Santa Monica and South Hadley Expand Networks
TMCNET interviews Jory Wolf - the CIO of Santa Monica's Information Systems Department - about their application for broadband stimulus funds.