Community Broadband Media Roundup - August 21

Florida

Lack of broadband hurts higher ed in rural areas by Lloyd Dunkelberger, The Gainesville Sun

Maine

Islesboro, CMP sign agreement to move broadband project forward by The Republican Journal Staff

New Mexico

Heinrich hosts tribal broadband listening session in Santa Fe by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, KRWG

Texas

Shenandoah city council OKs fiber Internet progression to boost web access by Hannah Zedaker, Houston Community Impact

Community wide broadband discussed at join city meeting by Erin Rogers, Texarkana Today

Members of the Joint Texarkana Community Committee, City Council of the City of Texarkana, Texas and Board of Directors of the City of Texarkana, Arkansas met Tuesday evening to discuss the possibility of community wide broadband for the twin cities. ...

Representatives from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and Texarkana College conveyed their need for robust internet connection; however, the project would encounter potential legal challenges and financial obstacles.

Vermont

Low cost high-speed Internet offered to eligible Burlington residents by Pat Bradley, WAMC

The city communications utility is the first ISP in the state to offer affordable high-speed internet to low-income residents.   Governor Phil Scott believes the idea could work statewide.  “It is a statewide issue.  Anytime that we can provide services to those with low income it’s beneficial for our economy. And I talk a lot about affordability in this state and this is an area that I think where the 21st century economy is almost essential to be a part of.  So a program like this could be translated to other areas of the state as well.”

Virginia

Franklin County looks at ways to improve broadband coverage in rural locality by Casey Fabris, Roanoke Times

Washington

Hey, Tacoma, your electrical utility faces big challenges that will affect you by Bill Virgin, The News Tribune

Darrington man sets up Internet utility to bring broadband to rural area by Matt Day, The Seattle Times

General

New FCC broadband 'advisory panel' stocked with telecom consultants, allies & cronies by Karl Bode, TechDirt

On the one hand, FCC boss Ajit Pai proclaims to be a man dedicated to hard data, transparency, and closing the digital divide. But we've repeatedly highlighted how his public rhetoric is miles from his actual policies, which by and large focus on making life easier than ever for the nation's entrenched, uncompetitive broadband mono/duopolies. From gutting broadband privacy and net neutrality protections, to protecting the cable industry's monopoly over the cable box, Pai's actions consistently reveal anti-competitive intent, while his words gracefully try to imply another, artificial artifice.

FCC packs broadband advisory group with big telecom firms, trade groups by Blake Dodge, Center for Public Integrity