Image
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
Telephony Podcast Interviews Jackson Energy Authority
Carol Wilson speaks with Jackson's Michael Johnston about JEA's triple-play network in Tennessee. As far as I can tell, this interview took place in September, 2009. Johnston reports that the publicly owned network passes 30,000 residences and about 5,000 businesses.
Wired Road Plans Expansion, Adds Service Provider
The Wired Road, a community-owned open access network in rural Virginia, has added an additional wired service provider and announced expansion plans. This is a network in Grayson and Carroll counties as well as the city of Galax. Services on the Wired Road are provided exclusively by independent service providers, not the network owners.
New Hampshire Bill Would Allow Communities to Build Networks
The Design Nine blog alerted me to a bill in New Hampshire that would modify state law to allow communities to build publicly owned networks. It appears they may currently invest in a network in unserved areas -- though few places are entirely unserved.
Chaska.Net Profiled in Local Paper
I've often wondered what it would look like if a reporter wrote about a Wi-Fi network without any ideological baggage to slam it. Now you can see - Mollee Francisco wrote a lengthy and fair article for a local paper in Chaska, a suburb of Minneapolis.
Dover, Ohio, Contemplates Publicly Owned Network
Dover, a city of over 12,000 in Eastern Ohio south of Canton, has been considering a publicly owned fiber to the home network for years to complement its water and electric muni utilities.
Folks in Maine Resent FairPoint's Lobbying Against Broadband Awards
As Karl Bode recently asked, "Should Fairpoint Really Be Giving Broadband Advice?" They have been lobbying against other stimulus projects in Maine that could allow FairPoint subscribers to actually get service that works and puts communities first.
Given FairPoint's horrendous track record in New England since taking over Verizon's run-dow
Christopher Mitchell Interview on FreeUTOPIA Podcast
I was the guest on Jesse Harris' February Podcast about the UTOPIA network in Utah.
Comcast, NBC Merger Bad for Community Networks
I am not going to spend a lot of time on this, because if it isn't in the proverbial weeds for the focus of this site, it is pretty close. But the merger between Comcast and NBC would be bad news for publicly owned networks.
Comcast is already a massive company that has huge advantages due to its scale.
Geoff Daily VidChat with Director of LUS Fiber, Terry Huvall
Terry Huvall, the head of Lafayette's municipally owned fiber to the home network, discusses the history and motivations behind the community fighting for four years to build their own network.
Qwest Isolates Entire Minnesota Counties with Fiber Cuts
For some 12 hours last week, entire communities found themselves without access to telecommunications due to a fiber cut to a Qwest cable that services the entire region.
Wilson's Greenlight Keeps Time Warner Prices Low in Community
Catharine Rice gave a terrific presentation detailing the ways Time Warner has responded to the municipally-owned Greenlight fiber-to-the-home network: raising the rates on everyone around them and cutting great deals to Wilson residents.
UTOPIA Face Lift and Podcast
Utah's UTOPIA network has refreshed its web presence and Jesse Harris has completed another podcast with a provider on the open access network.
Norton, Mass, Building Publicly Owned Institutional Network
Evidently, the Comcast-provided I-Net in Norton - a city of nearly 20,000 west of the Cape - suffers frequent outages, outraging those who depend on it.
Chelan Video: What has Publicly Owned Fiber Done for Them?
A video from Chelan shows the benefits of a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network in a rural public utility district in Washington State. The network has literally saved lived with tele-medicine applications. Citizens also cite educational advantages and increased business opportunities thanks to this smart investment.
This video is no longer available.Highland Illinois Networks Takes Another Step Forward
This community of almost 10,000 near St. Louis has taken another step toward creating competition in broadband by investing in a publicly owned fiber network. In April of 2009, the community voted overwhelmingly (75%) yes to a question authorizing the network with revenue bonds that would be backed by electrical revenues from the city's public power company.
Monticello Advertisement
FiberNet Monticello put one of their advertisements on YouTube.
Jim Baller Audio Interview
Looking for something to listen to? Jim Baller's interview with Scott Mace on IT Conversations provides insight into stimulus funding, background on publicly owned networks, and his work on a broadband plan for the U.S.
Tacoma Offering Tips to Seattle
Seattle's new mayor continues to impress me as he makes good on his pledge to build a publicly owned fiber-optic network in the City. He has just met with the mayor of Tacoma to discuss lessons learned from the Tacoma Click! network.
Universal Access - History and Future
Last month, the Daily Yonder offered a short history of Universal Service in telecommunications in the U.S.
Dubuque Considers Its Telecom Options
I caught an interesting article asking whether Dubuque, Iowa, should build a publicly owned broadband network. Iowa already has a number of publicly owned networks, mostly cable HFC networks, that serve communities.