Community Broadband Media Roundup- October 30

Alabama

Could 'citizen-owned' internet service come to Montgomery? By Brad Harper, Montgomery Advertiser

California

Rural broadband bill signed by Gov. Brown by Staff Reporting, Record-Bee

San Francisco Just Took A Huge Step Toward Internet Utopia By Susan Crawford, Wired

Colorado

Our view: A cautious yes on Fort Collins broadband by The Editorial Board, The Coloradoan

‘Opt-out’ votes look like slam dunks in Silverthorne, Dillon by Eli Pace, Summit Daily

Fort Collins considers municipal broadband by Adam Hammond, ABC 7 Denver

Big Telecom Spent $200,000 to Try to Prevent a Colorado Town From Even Talking About a City-Run Internet by Kaleigh Rogers, Motherboard

Indiana

State works to have high-speed internet in all schools within 2 years by Arika Herron, Indy Star

Michigan

Michigan Lawmaker Doesn't Understand Her Own Bill Hamstringing Broadband Competition by Karl Bode, TechDirt

Telecom Lobbyists Fund Lawmaker Who Sponsors Bill To Ban Municipal Broadband by Jay Cassano, International Business Times

"What we are seeing in Michigan is a continuation of bills trying to stop municipal broadband around the country,” Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, told IBT. “There are tremendous areas in Michigan that are not very well connected, areas that are just being left behind. Trying to stop municipal broadband is just crazy as a political priority.”

Michigan Lawmaker Flees Twitter After Reports Highlight She Helped AT&T Push Anti-Competition Broadband Law by Karl Bode, Techdirt

Rural Legislator’s Bill Would Prevent Public Networks In Michigan By Craig Settles, The Daily Yonder

Michigan Lawmaker Withdraws Bill To Restrict Muni-Broadband by Wendy Davis, Media Post

Michigan broadband bill is dead, for now by Virginia Gordon, Michigan Public Radio

Ben Fineman is glad to see the bill go. He's president of the Michigan Broadband Cooperative, a grassroots initiative to advance broadband in rural Michigan.

"We'd like to see our legislature provide more tools for communities to expand their broadband access as opposed to fewer tools," said Fineman.

Communities are engaging with providing broadband access because citizens are asking them to, according to Fineman.

New York

County legislator candidates underscore broadband needs by Elizabeth Izzo, Sun Community News

Oregon

Slow internet not OK for rural areas  by Senator Ron Wyden Special to The Argus Observer

The first step toward a solution is learning who has coverage now. I’m co-sponsoring a bill requiring the FCC to create more accurate mobile service maps, especially in rural areas, so the government more accurately directs resources to communities most needing access.

Next, if Big Cable won’t serve rural areas, communities should have the right to build their own high-speed networks. I introduced The Community Broadband Act this year with Sen. Cory Booker to do just that.

Virginia

Roanoke County lights broadband extension, inching municipal network closer to original vision by Jacob Demmitt, The Roanoke Times

Washington

Municipal broadband advocates cry foul amid Seattle mayoral race by Zaid Shoorbajee, State Scoop

West Virginia

Frontier, WV Broadband Council spar over future of federal program by Max Garland, Charleston Gazette-Mail

West Virginia Broadband Panel Wants More Provider Details, Associated Press, U.S. News

Commission applies for regional broadband grant By Tina Alvey, The Register-Herald

General

Municipal Gigabit 2.0? San Francisco, Seattle Consider Increased City Investment by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor

“Universal access is a major factor” in why cities may rethink their broadband strategies, as is the desire to get better pricing, said Christopher Mitchell, director of community broadband network for the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, in an interview with Telecompetitor.

He added, though, that high tech hub cities such as San Francisco and Seattle may have another motive as well.

“They’re trying to figure out how to be really cutting edge,” Mitchell said. These cities, he said, are noting a “gap between those who have OK cable service and those who have gigabit service.”