Community Broadband Media Roundup - November 7

Colorado

26 Colorado communities will vote on building their own Internet networks by Jason Koebler, Motherboard Vice

Next Tuesday, November 8, 26 separate Colorado communities will vote on whether their local governments should build high speed fiber internet networks to compete with or replace big telecom internet service providers.

So-called municipal fiber ballot initiatives have become an annual tradition in Colorado, as roughly 100 communities have voted on measures that provide legal cover to governments who want to build new networks.

Broadband: A necessity for building our economy by David White, Montrose Daily Press (subscription required to view the entire article)

Municipal initiatives on marijuana, taxes, broadband also on Colorado ballots by Joey Bunch, Colorado Springs Gazette

Fort Collins considers municipal broadband by Russell Haythorn, Denver Channel 7 ABC

Illinois

In Illinois, rural co-ops see energy advantage with broadband by David J. Unger, Midwest Energy News

The smart grid is only as smart as an Internet connection is strong. As advanced meters, smart thermostats and other web-enabled energy devices spread across Illinois and beyond, so too does the need for reliable, broadband communications.

In cities and suburbs, there is enough infrastructure to make it a non-issue. But in rural communities outside Chicago and other cities, roughly 39 percent of residents lack access to high-speed Internet service, according to a study last year by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Maryland

Westminster Smart Home project kicks off by Jon Kelvey, Carroll County Times

New York

Inside the battle to bring broadband to New York's projects by Gideon Lewis-Kraus, Wired Magazine

North Carolina

Gauging Greenlight's future: Martin, Farris both support Wilson broadband law change by Brie Handgraaf, Wilson Times

City ISP makes broadand free because state law prohibits selling access by Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica

A municipal ISP that was on the verge of shutting off Internet service outside its city boundaries to comply with a state law has come up with a temporary fix: it will offer broadband for free.

The free Internet service for existing customers outside Wilson, North Carolina, will be available for six months, giving users more time to switch to an alternative.

After North Carolina Republicans banned cities selling Internet, a town decided to give it away instead by Boing Boing

Oregon

Small town gigabit networks planned in Oregon and Mississippi by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor

Tennessee

Chattanooga's 1 Gbps service drives innovation, economic development - and envy by Sean Buckley, FierceTelecom

Washington

Marching slow for fast municipal broadband in Seattle by Josh Cohen, NextCity

The 10 protestors marched slowly through the pouring rain and downtown lunch crowds from Comcast’s downtown store to City Hall holding signs decrying slow internet and poor customer service. The slow marching speed — it took an hour to cover the mile-long route — was meant to illustrate the frustrations of slow internet. The group had to stop a few times en route to “buffer.”

General

Daily report: A $25 billion fiber merger by Quentin Hardy, New York Times

Another day, another $25 billion technology merger — and further evidence of how fast the industry seems to be preparing for an even bigger networking future.

Open sesame by Jason Axelrod, American City & Country

The AT&T-Time Warner merger must be stopped by Susan Crawford, BackChannel

ILSR finds 63 cooperatives offering gigabit services by Andrew Burger, GigCommunities

Photo of the Colt courtesy of logesdo via Pixaby.