Image
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
Ramsey County and Saint Paul Under Fire for Network Plan
If you were judging solely from the reaction of Comcast, you could be faulted for thinking Ramsey County and the city of Saint Paul were making a bold, if risky, investment to bring real broadband to local businesses and citizens in Minnesota's capital. But you would be wrong. Very wrong.
The City and the County are paying a company to build them a network to serve their own needs.
New Mexico Media Groups and Residents Lobby Senator on Value of Munis
Not long ago, we told you about Farmington, New Mexico, a community of 32,000 residents who want to capitalize on its current fiber network. Residents are tired of waiting for private investment in their community and want to take matters into their own hands.
Verizon Wireless Busted for Violating Network Neutrality
In December, 2010, Verizon Wireless began operating its network via C-Block spectrum with licenses it acquired in the 2008 auction.
CenturyLink Fails Ohio Community, 911 Goes Out During Storm
The people of Warren County, Ohio, endured some rough weather in June as a 70 mph derecho whipped through this southwest county. A series of errors from CenturyLink kept 911 service inoperable for more than 15 hours.
Chattanooga Gets 150 More Jobs... From Comcast
Just on the heels of Time Warner Cable announcing 81 new jobs in Kansas City in response to the newly competitive environment created by Google's Gig, we learned that Comcast is adding more jobs to its workforce in Chattanooga.
Tacoma's Click! Introduces 100 Mbps; CenturyLink Lies to Steal Click! Business
We have watched Tacoma's Click! Network for years, sharing its advances and benefits with you. The latest achievement in Tacoma is a new option for customers - 100 Mbps.
Upcoming Events Discussing Community Networks
We want to alert readers to some upcoming events that will discuss community broadband networks.
The first will be most interesting to those who are attending the National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture (NAMAC) conference in Minneapolis from September 6-8.
Unions and DSL Customers: Verizon Knocks Out Two Birds With One Stone
If you are a current or potential Verizon customer, by now you know that you no longer have the option to order stand alone DSL.
Milo Medin on the Age of Broadband Abundance
Milo Medin, the VP of Access Services at Google (responsible for the Kansas City deployment) gave a 40 minute presentation discussing important changes in the Internet. We should be moving from an age of scarcity to abundance, if the big cable companies will stop hindering that change.
Google Creates Competition in Kansas City, TWC Hires 81 People
A Business Journal story yesterday reveals that Time Warner Cable is adding 81 jobs in Kansas City, an increase of 9% over its present area workforce:
The company, which currently employs about 900 locally, wants to fill customer service, finance, sales and other positions.
Mediacom Says it Will Not Sue Lake County, Minnesota
In Star Tribune coverage of Mediacom's war against real broadband in rural Minnesota, we learn that Mediacom will not sue Lake County to disrupt its plan to serve thousands of unserved residents and local businesses.
And for all its accusations, Larsen says Mediacom will not sue.
Research Sharing, Translation, Big Winners At GigTank
Last week, GigTank Demo Day ended Chattanooga's 14 week GigTank program. The GigTank was an initiative designed to highlight Chattanooga's gigabit network, the fastest citywide broadband network in the nation. Twelve judges from a variety of tech giants analyzed ideas from eight teams and eleven students.
Wired West Launches Pre-Subscription Cards
Wired West, an initiative in rural western Massachusetts to build a modern network in a broadband desert, has launched a pre-subscription campaign to demonstrate local demand for broadband service and support for the project.
Indianola's Fiber Optic Network To Soon Serve Residents
We told you earlier this year about Indianola, Iowa's network, filling the gap for businesses where private providers had failed. At that time, the network only served local businesses and community anchor institutions, but plans to provide fiber-to-the-home in their community of 15,000 are now unfolding.
FCC Chairman Genachowski Recognizes Value of Munis in Statement on Google
Google's fiber rollout in Kansas City prompted kudos, specualtion, wonder, and analysis. While Google has the ability to invest in such an expensive and huge undertaking. Municipal networks have been bringing next-generation broadband to the public for years.
The Economist Understands Community Broadband
The conservative, eminently pro-capitalist publication The Economist understands why community broadband is important. "The Need for Speed" discusses Kansas City and Chattanooga -- two of the best broadband networks in the nation.
Fiber Route Construction Nearing Completion In Southwest Minnesota
In April, we reported on Spring construction of fiber installation by the Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services (SMBS) in the Jackson area. This is a stimulus-funded expansion growing out of the community-owned WindomNet.
Court Says Big Broadcasters Can't Stop Aereo's Tiny Antennas
You are surrounded by the radio waves of local television signals. They are available to you for free if you put up an antenna, but there was no easy way to take that free signal and then stream it to all your digital devices.
Dunnellon, Florida's Fiber Dreams Now a Reality
We reported on Dunellon, Florida, last year - time for a refresher and an update.
Wall Street: Lack of Competition Allows Comcast to Raise Prices Whenever It Wants
A major difference between Main Street and Wall Street is that we view Comcast's lack of competition as a major problem. The prospect of Comcast increasing our rates year after year makes us want to scream. Prepare to scream.