Community Broadband Media Roundup - May 13

Arizona

Thin on broadband: Tribal areas still struggle with lagging technology by Keerthi Vedantam, Cronkite News

California

Empower local communities to close the digital divide by Greg Norton, California Economic Summit

Colorado 

Broadband Internet access lags in Greeley, badly, and the city is well aware by Bobby Fernandez, Greeley Tribune 

NextLight wins affordability awards from Broadband Now by Sophia Collender, Longmont Observer

Maine

Minot selectmen consider broadband study by Eriks Petersons, Sun Journal 

Massachusetts 

Petersham residents to get update on broadband by Greg Vine, Athol Daily News 

Michigan 

Opinion: Municipal fiber is good for communities by Jon Anne Willow and Curtis Dean, Traverse City Record Eagle

Missouri 

Lawmakers negotiate education funding, broadband expansion ahead of budget deadline by Mark Zinn, News-Press NOW

Commissioners say river flooding projected, broadband project continues by Sarah Gray, The Marshall Democrat-News

New Mexico

New Mexico utility building rural broadband infrastructure, Albuquerque Journal

North Carolina

North Carolina awards $9.8M in grants to boost rural Internet speeds, WRAL TechWire

“The most current map of broadband availability in North Carolina shows that 93.7 percent of North Carolina households have access to broadband. This implies that most North Carolina households should be able to effortlessly connect to the Internet and without too much waiting or delay: run a small business, stream video, complete homework assignments, communicate with friends and family and play video games… But interactions with citizens from all parts of the state have led our office to believe this figure—93.7 percent—is wildly inaccurate.”

NC Company plans to bring faster Internet to northwest Rowan County by Josh Bergeron, Salisbury Post

Rural broadband in NC: A new season or more reruns? By Kirk Ross, Carolina Public Press

Swain, Jackson counties receive grant funding for broadband infrastructure, Cherokee One Feather

Rural Counties Get $10M for Broadband from N.C. Legislature by Charlotte Wray, Henderson Daily Dispatch

Tennessee

The oldest town in Tennessee receives the fastest broadband by Kristen Gallant, WJHL

Vermont

Broadband is no longer a luxury for rural Vermont by Carolyn Partridge, Brattleboro Reformer

Washington

Community responds for broadband survey by Diana Zimmerman, Wahkiakum County Eagle

General 

Your 5G phone won’t hurt you. But Russia wants you to think otherwise by William J. Broad, New York Times 

Henry Waxman: Congress should act now to ensure a free and open Internet by Henry A. Waxman, Los Angeles Times

Big telecom isn’t the answer to bridging the digital divide by Deborah Simpier, Broadband Breakfast 

As is often said, if big telecom could make money in rural areas they would already be here. When it comes to bridging the digital divide, big telecom probably isn't the answer. The future of rural access, instead, belongs to rural people who are blazing new trails of innovation and community powered networks, and that is a revolution I am excited about.

Broadband is the new railroad by Jonathan Sallet, Benton Foundation 

House passes 'pretty minor' broadband bill, expert says by Ryan Johnston, StateScoop