Community Broadband Media Roundup - February 15

Colorado

Councilers to review broadband options by Saja Hindi, Loveland Reporter Herald

Various options include a public-policy-only model, in which the city will use policy tools and standards to streamline construction and reduce infrastructure costs; an infrastructure provider/dark fiber leasing model, in which the city will provide conduit and/or dark fiber to other organizations and providers; open access provider, in which the city finances and operates the physical broadband infrastructure; municipal retail, in which the city finances and operates fiber and sometimes cable services to businesses and residents; or public-private partnership, in which the city participates in financing with private companies.

City officials are currently working on the development of a request for proposals to have a firm conduct an assessment and feasibility analysis.

Massachusetts

Plans moving along for Greenfield broadband by Aviva Luttrell, Greenfield Reporter

Minnesota

Broadband funding in Minnesota and Crookston - Local officials: funding boost would by sweet by Mike Christopherson, Crookston Times

Tennessee

Haslam criticizes EPB broadband expansion bill, draws fire from proponents by Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times Free Press

AT&T fights to keep your Internet as slow as possible by Joan McCarter, Daily Kos

Just let that sink in for a second—Chattanooga residents enjoy broadband 50 times faster than Silicon Valley, and it's a local government that provided it. Which makes AT&T's claim that government interference is what's getting in the way of their advancing technology ring pretty hollow. In the news article referenced above, an AT&T flak, Daniel Hayes, actually said "[p]olicies that discourage private-sector investment put at risk the world-class broadband infrastructure American consumers deserve and enjoy today." As if AT&T were actually providing world-class broadband. As if AT&T gave a flying fig about providing world-class broadband to the millions of people who are trapped in markets where it has a stranglehold. They care even less about people in rural communities that don't have service at all.

State wake up, realize AT&T lobbysits have been writing awful protectionist broadband laws by Karl Bode, TechDirt

General

Blandin grant support M State, Wadena community tech expo by Minnesota State County and Technical College

Why AT&T's attempt to kill municipal broadband in Tenn. matters to all Americans by Bill Snyder, CIO

Digital divide: Wisconsin congressman launches rural broadband caucus by Wisconsin Gazette

If your Internet Service Provider is screwing you, here's how to fight back by Colin St. John, InVerse