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Video Showing Importance of Fast, Affordable Broadband to Wisconsin Governments
Another video from the Building Community Capacity through Broadband project (hosted by the University of Wisconsin Extension service) takes a look at how local governments use broadband and the importance of high capacity, reliable connections that they can actu
Rachel Maddow: Public Investment in Broadband is Important
Rachel Maddow reminds us that many areas of America still do not have broadband in her coverage of the broadband stimulus funds prior to an interview with USDA Secretary Vilsack on October 5 (transcript).
While introducing Secretary Vilsack, Rachel had a terrific explanation of why public investments i
Astroturf Org in Longmont Accuses City of Distributing Propaganda
Just one day after getting busted for lying about its supporters, a group funded by self-interested groups outside the community is accusing the City of distributing propaganda regarding an upcoming referendum over whether the City should have the authority to use an existing fiber-loop to spur economic development.
Longmont: Beware the Robo-Calls From Mega-Corporations
Vince Jordan, an advocate for broadband competition in Longmont, Colorado, wrote the following op-ed for the local paper about the upcoming referendum 2A. He has given us permission to reprint it here.
“There you go again” (to quote President Ronald Regan).
Well, it has already started.
Broadband and Second Order Benefits
In a recent post about AT&T's funding of astroturf groups to promote its agenda, I took aim at the Internet Innovation Alliance, which has long promoted AT&T goals aroun
Lafayette Dealing with Expected Headaches
No matter how much community broadband advocates prepare the community and elected officials for the expected difficulty of building a successful local project, in the midst of the deployment, times are tough.
Longmont Fiber Ring Referendum
Residents in Longmont, Colorado are preparing for a municipal referendum to utilize an existing fiber optic network.
The referendum is set for Tuesday, November 1, 2011.
AT&T Takes Its Astroturf Show on the Road, Midwest Edition
As AT&T tries to buy out its competition via the T-Mobile merger, it has sent out its allies and minions to push the company line in communities around the country.
Longmont Referendum Take Two: It Starts With a Debate
As we previously noted, the city of Longmont, Colorado, is preparing for a referendum to allow the City to offer telecommunications services to local businesses and residents using a fiber ring it built long ago.
Publicly Owned Network in Wisconsin Creates Taxpayer Savings
Eau Claire and Chippewa Falls worked together to build a high-capacity broadband network connecting community anchor institutions, including schools, clinics, traffic lights, and more.
AllCoNet Pioneers Muni Wireless in Maryland
Two hours northwest of the nation’s capital lies rural Allegany County, in western Maryland on the border with Pennsylvania. In the mid-1990s, before cable internet was even widely available, the county launched a successful wireless carrier network that would expand into an envied public model. In 1996, the State of Maryland offered financial assistance to wire public schools.
Visiting Elected Officials Makes a Difference
Before Josh Levy and five other activists met with Yvette Clarke (D-NY), she had signed a letter of support for the AT&T merger with T-Mobile.
Massachusetts Electricity Debate Mirrors Community Broadband Networks
An interesting article earlier this week on Boston.com says a number of Massachusetts towns are studying muni electric plants after the privately owned electrical company took too long restoring power in the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.
Help a Student: Community Wireless Survey
I received a request from a student looking for people to complete a short poll to help his research into community wireless. He is looking for anyone presently contributing to a wireless network or anyone historically involved in one. Thanks!
Santa Monica Receives Another Award for City Fiber Network
Santa Monica has received yet another award for its publicly owned broadband network, not too long after it received award from the Ash Center at Harvard Uni
Big Broadband Breaks Ground in Illinois
The Champaign-Urbana "Big Broadband" stimulus project as broken ground.
Broadband on Modern Farm
Too many policy and decision makers have little idea what life is like in flyover country, let alone on the farm. Many have been convinced that people living in rural areas either have no interest in or use for fast, reliable, and affordable connections to the Internet.
Granbury, Texas, Deploys City Owned Wireless Network
In the place where “Texas history lives,” the City of Granbury followed a fellow Texas city in delivering a Tropos wifi system that covers all 10 square miles of the city.
More Testimonials for Chattanooga Community Fiber
Chattanooga's publicly owned EPBFi advanced broadband network has produced a series of testimonials from people that have switched to their services from the national incumbent providers.
Black Voices for Internet Freedom Kicks off Next Friday
If I were near Washington, DC, next week, I would be stopping by the New America Foundation for the kickoff of "Black Voices for Internet Freedom" with a panel discussion.
Black and Latino communities are coming together to keep the Internet open and free from discrimination.