Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 10

Alabama

OPS broadband may soon move beyond the Gig City of Opelika by Elizabeth Lauten, Alabama Today

Branding itself  “Alabama’s first Gig City,” Opelika invested about $43 million in the network offering customers “triple play”  — telephone, television and Internet. But despite the 425 miles of fiber running throughout the city the service begins and ends in Opelika.

At least one Alabama Senator hopes to change that.

Colorado

2 more Colorado cities vote for municipal broadband Internet by Mark Harden, Denver Business Journal

In all, 66 Colorado cities and towns have now passed measures authorizing a community-based broadband service, either directly provided by local government or by a third-party vendor, according to the Colorado Municipal League. State law bars communities from running their own high-speed internet service unless local voters specifically authorize it.

Former Intel exec ready to help bring broadband to rural Colorado by Zack Quaintance, Government Technology

Minnesota

ISP privacy rules could be resurrected by states, starting in Minnesota by Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica

The Senate and House versions of the budget must be reconciled into a compromise version before final passage, the Pioneer Press noted. Republicans have a one-vote majority in the Minnesota Senate, but one Republican sided with Democrats in order to get the amendment into the Senate's final bill.

“We should be outraged at the invasion that’s being allowed on our most intimate means of communication,” said Republican Sen. Warren Limmer, according to the Pioneer Press. “This is an amendment that so urgently needs to be addressed.”

Missouri

Broadband access in rural Missouri is focus of McCaskill effort by Buffalo Reflex

New York

Grand Island, N.Y., explores municipal broadband system by Nancy A. Fisher, Government Technology

Franklin Co. seeks broadband-service solutions by Denise A. Raymo, Press Republican

Pennsylvania

LanCity Connect: Lancaster's municipal broadband is the first of its kind in Pennsylvania by Tim Stuhldreher, Lancaster Online

“This is a good deal” for Lancaster, said Christopher Mitchell, the director of the nonprofit Community Broadband Networks Initiative, based in Washington, D.C. “It’s far better than the status quo.”

Virginia

Bland receives nearly $200,000 to expand broadband service by Blake Stowers, Bluefield Daily Telegraph

Southwest Virginia towns team with federal partners for broadband expansion by Olivia Bailey, News 5 - WCYB

West Virginia

Survey: West Virginians unhappy with Internet service by Eric Eyre, West Virginia Gazette Mail

Broadband bill stays alive at statehouse by West Virginia Metro News Staff

Competition key for quality broadband in WV by Ronald Pearson, West Virginia Gazette Mail

Several bills have been introduced in this year’s Legislature for the purpose of improving broadband service, and one, House Bill 3093, offers real hope. HB 3093 just passed the House, receiving 97 “Yes” votes out of the possible 100. It was the subject of a public hearing that enumerated the many ways this bill will encourage competition by authorizing fiber optic cable on existing utility poles, mini-trenching for fiber on public highways, and authorizing cities and citizen co-ops to seek federal and other sources to increase broadband access and service. Another feature of the bill is the requirement that broadband providers must deliver the service they advertise!

There are two opponents to HB 3093, Frontier Communications and some, but not all, of the cable companies — the providers that most of us must have been relying on to provide internet access.

General

What does the new ISP data-sharing rollback actually change? by Russell Brandom and Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge

FCC Chairman Pai pushes for access over competition in rural broadband by Devin Coldewey, TechCrunch

FCC limits order on Charter extending broadband service by David Shepardson, Reuters

Gigi Sohn, a former top Wheeler aide, said the decision shows the Republican FCC is more focused on putting "incumbents first" than on competition. She cited its putting broadband privacy rules on hold and withholding federal approval of new companies to offer government subsidized telecommunication services.

Six broadband policy ideas to spur investment by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor

Next Century Cities releases policy agenda for strategies to expand broadband access by Deb Socia, Government Technology

Image of the Highlander bull courtesy of FrankWinkler via pixaby.