Alabama

Would higher-speed broadband bring more jobs to Birmingham? by John Huddleston, WBRC

Massachusetts

At town meeting, Mount Washington voters approve funding for broadband network by Kristin Palpini, Berkshire Eagle

Missouri

Kansas City, Mo., Issues RFP for Smart City Partner by Skip Descant, Government Technology

New Hampshire

New law could improve Internet access by Nicholas Handy, Monadnock Ledger Transcript

New York

Digital Equity Lab Launches in NYC by Zack Quaintance, Government Technology

Municipal fiber network in Syracuse could bring lots of possibilities by Tom Magnarelli, WRVO

The city of Syracuse could take the first steps toward building a municipal fiber network this summer. The project would provide high speed bandwidth at an affordable price for the city, but could also benefit the community. 

North Carolina

Leaders consider net neutrality protections for North Carolinians by Nicole Neuman, WNCT

Oregon

Arkansas

Digital divide about more than minimal connections by Michael Lazzara, Fayetteville Observer

Colorado

Loveland council to vote on awarding contract for municipal broadband network design to Nokia by Julia Rentsch, Loveland Reporter Herald

Georgia

Lawmakers look to ‘small cell’ tech for rural high-speed internet answers by Diane Wagner, Northwest Georgia News

Kentucky

Louisville's digital divide is about more than internet access — here's why by Bridgett Weaver, Louisville Business Journal [Subscription Required]

Minnesota

Measuring Broadband's (Public) Return on Investment by Tim Marema, The Daily Yonder

A new study commissioned by the Blandin Foundation may help small communities put some hard numbers behind broadband’s public benefit. 

“Return on Investment: Measuring Impact of Broadband in Five Rural Minnesota Communities” looks at communities that have spent public funds on building out networks. The words “high speed” are critical. These communities have run fiber to homes and businesses or have plans to do so in the near future.  

Missouri

Colorado

Why you might want to buy (or not) Fort Collins broadband bonds by Nick Coltrain, The Coloradoan

Cortez reveals results of fiber project feasibility study by Stephanie Alderton, The Cortez Journal

Maine

Broadband: What Will It Take For Connectivity Across Maine? by Jonathan P. Smith, Maine Public

We’ll hear from experts and entrepreneurs about ways to bring high-speed internet to all of Maine. This is in advance of the statewide 2018 Maine Broadband Coalition Conference, in which Maine communities and national experts will share lessons learned to date, look at new ways for solving shared challenges, and identify what’s next for broadband funding and policy in Maine.

Missouri

Missouri U.S. Senators Sign Letter to Address Rural Broadband Coverage by Jason Taylor, MissouriNet

Rural broadband could receive a boost by Ray Scherer, News Press Now

North Carolina

“Tweaking” North Carolina’s state budget fails to address the underlying issue of failure to invest by Luis Toledo, NC Policy Watch -- Progressive Pulse

Oregon

Colorado

Greeley City Council talks broadband in work session by Sara Knuth, Greeley Tribune

Consumer satisfaction with cable, Internet Service Providers drops again by David B. Cline, The Coloradoan

Cortez reveals results of fiber project feasibility study by Stephanie Alderton, The Cortez Journal

Connecticut

Telecom industry books major win in municipal-broadband fight by Matt Pilon, Hartford Business

PURA's decision limits communities' use of pole space to local governmental activities like building networks for schools and other public buildings.

The ruling takes away what was once seen as the most economical and realistic avenue to forming municipal broadband networks in Connecticut, imperiling the hopes of communities desiring more affordable, gigabit-speed internet to spur economic growth, attract younger workers and close the "digital divide" for lower-income residents.

Minnesota

The speed of your internet service is -- cringe -- up to Congress by Hannah Jones, Minneapolis City Pages

A chance to succeed by Laurel Beager, International Falls Journal

Kudos to members of Koochiching Technology Initiative, or KTI, a local group seeking letters of support from businesses and individuals explaining how internet, or an improved internet, has a made a difference or could make a difference in their lives and their businesses.

Alabama

Sen. Doug Jones pushes rural broadband expansion by Mitch Sneed, Alex City Outlook

Colorado

Cortez to reveal results from internet feasibility study by Stephanie Alderton, The Cortez Journal

Pikes Peak region's rural communities looking for broadband on-ramp by Rachel Riley, Colorado Springs Gazette

Georgia

The Big Disconnect: Google Fiber’s Unfulfilled Promise In Atlanta by Jim Burress, WABE

Commission District 1: Patrick Davenport and Sharyn Dickerson by Blake Aued, Flagpole

Sharyn Dickerson: Create a Municipal Broadband Network. If determined to be feasible, given a recent presentation to Athens-Clarke County, work to establish a Municipal Broadband Network. The goal would be to provide residents living in more rural portions of our community (e.g.: District 1) with secure and reliable internet access.   Consider possible capital funding needed to build wireless network system through a future Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax project.

Massachusetts

Sandisfield candidates talk roads, broadband, economic development by Heather Bellow, Berkshire Eagle

Michigan

California

City Committee to Look at Future of Internet in Pasadena, Just Days After Weekend's Charter Spectrum Citywide Outage by Pasadena Now

Pasadena’s Chief Information Officer Philip Leclair, who heads the Department of Information Technology, will make a presentation about the growing demand for reliable broadband services in the City, how the current situation compares with what other California cities are doing, and what direction his department is recommending so the community could meet its broadband needs in the future.

The City operates its own robust fiber optic network servicing its own data connectivity needs as well as some businesses and educational institutions, but over 99 percent of households in the City depend on three commercial service providers: Spectrum, AT&T and Frontier Communications.

In a memorandum for the Committee, Leclair indicated it may not be feasible for the City to invest in expanding its own fiber optic network beyond its current reach, and instead would rather recommend that the commercial providers be allowed to upgrade their services especially in Pasadena’s residential neighborhoods.

Farrell’s citywide internet plan could benefit transit, public health agencies by Joshua Sabatini, SF Examiner

Colorado

Longmont battling NextLight misconceptions with few remaining multi-family property managers by Sam Lounsberry, Longmont Times-Call

For Boulder's 2018 ballot, fracking, broadband, soda-tax update up for discussion by Alex Burness, Boulder Daily Camera

California

SF expanding pilot program that gets public housing residents on Internet by San Francisco Chronicle Staff

Together the locations contain 313 housing units, and both locations were selected based on a needs assessment. And now, citing the success of the pilot program, city officials are working on a plan to expand similar services to five additional public housing sites by the end of the year. The specific locations are still being worked out.

“We need to make sure those individuals that need a leg up in our city and in our society are on a level playing field with everybody else. Internet access is just table stakes,” said Mayor Mark Farrell, who has long emphasized the need to expand access to Internet services for those who might not be able to afford it. An estimated 100,000 San Franciscans lack reliable Internet access at home.

Colorado

New method examined to bring fiber optics to homes by Patrick Armijo, Durango Herald

Delaware

How Delaware is Promoting Better Broadband State-wide, Including in Rural Areas by Broadband and Breakfast Staff

Iowa

City of Pella Utility Special Election to be Held Tuesday by Andrew Schneider, KNIA-KRLS

Maine

Congress can preserve an open Internet by Hector Barreto, Lewiston Sun Journal

Four-town plan to expand broadband takes shape by Matt Junker, Keep Me Current

Massachusetts

California

Better broadband to come to Davis by Stella Tran, The California Aggie

Colorado

Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado to discuss broadband at Craig meeting by Craig Daily Press

Colorado Net Neutrality Bill Tabled by John Eggerton, Broadcasting and Cable

Kansas

Kansas Governor Signs Bill Creating Task Force to Bring Broadband to Every Corner of the State by Erin Mathews, The Salina Journal (Government Technology)

Idaho

Idaho Counties Consider Banding Together to Buy New Fiber Optic Network by Kathy Hedberg, Lewiston Tribune (Government Technology)

The Lewis County Commissioners are considering buying into a five-county cooperative to construct a fiber-optic network that would upgrade emergency and public safety services.

Dave Taylor, emergency communications officer for Nez Perce County and Lewiston, met with the commissioners during their regular weekly meeting Monday to discuss the plan.

Taylor is asking commissioners in Lewis, Idaho, Nez Perce, Clearwater and Latah counties to pitch in $4,200 each to hire a consultant to determine where fiber-optic cable already exists in the region. Following that, fiber-optic cables would be installed in places where there currently are none. Taylor said he hopes the system would be completed within three years to meet the growing needs of emergency communications and support Next Generation 911 services.

Massachusetts

Colorado

Report: Municipal Broadband Could Protect Consumer Privacy by Eric Galatas, Public News Service

As Congress considers remedies for large-scale privacy breaches by Cambridge Analytica and Facebook, a recent report suggests that local municipalities could play a key role in protecting consumers.

The American Civil Liberties Union study says if cities and counties build out their own broadband networks, they could ensure privacy protections and keep the internet open for all residents who depend on access for health care, employment and other essential services.

Kansas

Utility funds may be used for fiber cable by The Gardner News

Massachusetts

Easthampton committee may explore high-speed internet options by Mary C. Serreze, MassLive

Three years into a ten-year cable contract with Charter Communications -- now known as "Spectrum" -- a city committee could start to research other options for consumer broadband service.

"I have had a number of constituents request that the city research the possibility of taking a more active role in ensuring fast, affordable, net-neutral internet access," wrote Precinct 3 City Councilor Thomas Peake in a recent memo.

Missouri

Broadband coverage push for rural areas by Waynesville Daily Guide

State Senators Consider Bill to Fund Broadband Expansion by Jason Taylor, MissouriNet

California

City weighs cable service future by Austin Walsh, San Mateo Daily Journal

City looks at options to speed up telecom by The Morgan Hill Times

Colorado

Considering Fort Collins-provided broadband? This Q-and-A might help by Nick Coltrain, The Coloradoan

Georgia

Georgia’s Rural Broadband Program Still Lacks Funding by Tyler Jett, Chattanooga Times Free Press (GovTech)

Louisiana

Long-serving LUS Director Terry Huval announces retirement by Ben Myers, Lafayette Advocate

Maine

SanfordNet broadband project to start July 1 by Tammy Wells, Sanford Journal Tribune

2 rural towns pioneer new route to faster internet by Darren Fishell, Bangor Daily News

The communities of Calais and Baileyville are putting their own money into getting faster internet speeds than most of the state. It will be a dramatic turnaround, allowing the average user to download a 45-minute high-definition television show in roughly one-and-a-half minutes.