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Media Coverage Roundup: Georgia AT&T Bill to Kill Community Broadband
In the wake of a bill in Georgia to revoke local authority and substitute it with state say-so over whether a community can build a broadband network, multiple outlets have covered the situation.
As usual,
In Chattanooga, EPB Customers Rave, Comcast Customers Livid
Chattanooga's community owned EPB Fiber Network continues to get positive reviews from subscribers in the local paper. And Comcast's customers continue to complain.
In Minnesota, Rural Fiber to the Farm Project Expands
A rural Fiber-to-the-Farm project that started in Sibley County has added three new towns to its potential territory due to the extremely high interest in fast, affordable, and reliable connections to the Internet.
Poor State of US Broadband a Result of Poor Regulation
I recently stumbled across a great point regarding the spectacular failure of the US (mostly the FCC, but Congress should certainly share some of the blame) to properly regulate broadband connections to the Internet. US policy results in a few massive providers dominating the market.
SEATOA Conference Coming Up in Chattanooga
The SouthEast Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors has its annual conference in Chattanooga this year - March 12 and 13th.
NATOA Encourages South Carolina Senate to Preserve Local Authority
With AT&T again pushing a bill in South Carolina to revoke local authority to build community broadband networks, the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers has sent a
Kennedy School's Innovation in Government Award - Nominate Now
With all the great community broadband network projects out there that are owned by local governments, I hope readers will take some time to nominate some of them for the "Innovations in American Government" awards from the Ash Center at Harvard's Kennedy School.
Deadline for n
Georgia Legislature to Revoke Local Authority to Build Networks
The Georgia Senate is considering SB 313, a bill that would overrule local decision-making authority in matters of broadband.
Rural Community Broadband Network in Minnesota Garners More Coverage
Minnesota Public Radio has once again covered some of the many benefits coming from the stimulus-funded Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services that grew out of WindomNet, a small muni network.
Freedom to Connect is Back!
One of the great conferences, Freedom to Connect, is back for 2011!
Digital Dialogue on Jan 25 - Community Broadband
The Media Action Grassroots network is holding a digital dialogue phonecast from 1-2pm EST on January 25.
AT&T Bid for Broadband Monopoly in South Carolina Resurfaces
AT&T, one of the few dominant Internet access providers in South Carolina, is again pushing a bill in the state legislature that will gut the self-determiniation of local communities in the digital age.
Some Good News in UTOPIA
As should happen with entities that are accountable to the public, the 2011 audit of the UTOPIA network in Utah is available for the public to read.
Santa Clara Prepares to Re-Launch Free Wi-Fi Network
Silicon Valley Power, the muni electric utilty owned by Santa Clara is preparing to launch a citywide Wi-Fi network later this year according to the Santa Clara Weekly.
Amazon's Chattanooga Distribution Center is Expanding
Prior to Chattanooga's gigabit announcement, Amazon had no considered that region as a location for the distribution center they would looking to put in the southeastern U.S. But they saw the announcement, talked to the City and Boom!
Community Broadband Research Position Available at ILSR
The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), a small non-profit based in Minneapolis seeks a full-time employee to conduct public policy research in broadband/telecommunications. The position involves research, including conducting telephone interviews, writing, and creating online materials including charts/graphs, web pages, videos, infographics, etc.
Legislation Alert: Washington Considers Community Broadband Bill
Last year we noted that a bill to expand local authority to invest in publicly owned broadband networks would return in 2012. HB 1711 is in Committee and causing a bit of a stir.
Minnesota PUC Information Meeting on Recent FCC Reforms on Jan 12
The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is hosting an informational meeting on Thursday, January 12, at 1:00.
DC Revolving Door, Comcast, and Campaign Finance Reform
One of the reasons community broadband networks face so many unique hurdles (often created deliberately by states in response to cable/dsl lobbying) is because of the many ways in which campaign finance corrupts our national and state governments.
Community broadband networks are focused on meeting community needs, not sending lobbyist armies into Washington, DC, and state capitals (though one of
AT&T Fights Broadband Stimulus by Proxy
Phillip Dampier at Stop the Cap! has once again followed the money trail to reveal AT&T p