Tag: "media roundup"

Community Broadband Media Roundup - August

Posted August 30, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

While we think they buried the lede (talking about cord-cutting and entertainment options when what we really need in this country is a locally accountable choice), the New York Times editorial board came out in support of local authority for municipal networks, in a roundabout sort of way.

Preparing for Life After Cable by Editorial Board of the New York Times

Although Americans now have more choices than ever for how they watch TV, about seven in 10 American households can only get broadband Internet service from one or two providers, usually cable and phone companies.

In other words, the big telecom companies will still have plenty of leverage. Some analysts predict that as customers desert cable TV packages for Internet-based services, the telecom giants like Charter and AT&T will simply charge more for Internet access, wiping out some or all of the savings consumers had hoped for.

That’s why it is important that Congress and the Federal Communications Commission push for more choices in the broadband market. Among other things, they should override laws some states have passed that make it difficult or impossible for municipalities to invest in broadband networks. State and local officials could also help by streamlining rules that make it hard for newer businesses to string fiber-optic cable on utility poles or below ground in order to compete with established cable and phone companies.

Community Broadband By State

Colorado

Winter Park, Fraser will put broadband question to voters by Hank Shell, Sky Hi Daily News

Routt County broadband plan could be ready in less than three months by Teresa Ristow, Steamboat Today

Fort Collins, Loveland Will Have Broadband Vote On The 2015 Ballot by Jackie Fortier, KUNC

Minnesota

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Community Broadband Media Roundup - August 10

Posted August 11, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

Colorado

Wired for speed by Mary Shinn, The Durango Herald

Delaware

Newark exploring city-sponsored Internet by Xerxes Wilson, Delaware Online

Indiana

Board eyes way to bring fiber optics to Triton Central by Andy Proffet, Shelbyville News

New York

State looks for opinions on telecommunications future by Craig Wolf, The Poughkeepsie Journal

Broadband initiative advances in Allegany County By Brian Meyer, WBFO

A key step was taken within the past week when the Board of Legislators approved a local law that will pave the way for the creation of a not-for-profit local development corporation to manage the system. Pullen says the LDC will ensure that the county will have some control over the system.

“We’re not a business. We’re government. So we don’t want the county to be operating that, but we want the county to ultimately have control," Pullen said. "It owns this facility and wants it to be maintained and operated in the public interest.”

North Carolina

Gigabites: Ting Scouts NC for New Gig Sites by Mari Sibley, Light Reading

Oregon

Where broadband is a utility, 100Mbps costs just $40 a month by Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica

“Part of the culture of SandyNet is we view our citizens as owners...

Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 31

Posted August 4, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

Two weeks ago, members of the US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce committee met to discuss how they can have a hand in "Promoting Broadband Infrastructure Investment."

Next Century Cities Executive Director Deb Socia testified before members of the committee, along with several other groups and organizations.

That story leads our roundup:

Next Century Cities Featured in Congressional Hearing on Broadband Infrastructure Investment by Deb Socia, Next Century Cities
Gila River leader says lack of broadband is harming tribal, rural areas by Aubrey Rumore, Cronkite News
Eshoo Outlines Keys to Broadband Buildout by John Eggerton, Broadcasting & Cable

Community Broadband News By State

Colorado

Loveland council to vote on broadband ballot language by Craig Young, The Reporter Herald

Connecticut

New Connecticut agency focuses on high-speed Internet by Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register

Illinois

Network agreement close in Mahomet by Amelia Benner, News Gazette

Kentucky

SOAR Announces High-Capacity Broadband Project Plans by Paul Hitchcock, WMKY

Maryland

More than 100 Harford sites connected to high speed data network, more to come by David...

Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 20

Posted July 21, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

Community Network Media Roundup By State

California

Santa Monica cited as model city for broadband by Debbie Lee, The Santa Monica Daily Press

Beginning with the unveiling of a Telecommunications Master Plan in 1998, the City of Santa Monica has reduced the cost of laying fiber optic cable by nearly 90 percent by coordinating installation with other capital projects while issuing no additional debt. As of the end of 2013, the City of Santa Monica maintains 32 free Wi-Fi hotspots along nine major commercial corridors and has managed to synchronize 80 traffic signals, according to a report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). Additionally, generating $5 million in revenue toward the City General Fund, the city has lowered the cost of high capacity internet connections for businesses by over two-thirds.

“We’re gratified by this recognition of Santa Monica’s success at building out digital infrastructure, which we hope can serve as an example for other communities on how to proceed incrementally, sustainably and even profitably,” said Santa Monica Mayor, Kevin McKeown.

Colorado

High-speed broadband a slow process for city by Kevin Duggan, The Coloradoan

Fort Collins voters are likely to be asked in November to give the city authority to look into providing broadband service. However, if voters approve the proposal, the city is not locked in to being a service provider.

A “yes” vote would only open the door to the city exploring options and getting into sundry details, such as the role “incumbent” providers (Comcast, CenturyLink, etc.) might play in city-provided broadband, the cost of service, how to fund infrastructure upgrades, and so on.

Connecticut

New Haven, Conn., to Pursue Citywide Fiber-Optic Cable Network by Mary O’Leary, Government Technology

Pennsylvania

No Internet access restricts many...

Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 13

Posted July 13, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

California

US Senators asks FCC to probe into “ridiculous prices” charged for Internet access by Jonathan Clifford, Uncover California

Urging the FCC to look into the monthly charges which are being issued by service providers, the Senators have put forth the argument that the apparent lack of competition amongst service providers gives cable and phone companies the ability to increase the charges for service without any fear of loss of business.

Colorado

Fort Collins to host broadband open house, Coloradoan

Broadband discussion set for Thursday by Saja Hindi, Loveland Reporter Herald

"What we're hoping to achieve with this is to take back our right to provide the best services for Loveland and encourage and facilitate the best services for broadband in Loveland," she said.

If the voters don't approve it, she said, the city can't even look into providing the service directly or indirectly.

Idaho

Boise becomes 100th city to join Next Century Cities broadband coalition by Sean Buckley, Fierce Telecom

Massachusetts

22 US Towns Unite to Build Their Own Broadband Internet Infrastructure, Softpedia

Massachusetts Communities fund Broadband Collective by Civ Source

The project is a unique effort toward building out a shared services model for municipal broadband. The FCC recently announced its support for municipal broadband following years of coordinated attacks by the largest telecom companies to stifle these network, even where they have no plans to build private networks.

Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 6

Posted July 6, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

California

Santa Cruz partners with local internet provider for next-gen Internet by Jessica York, Santa Cruz SentinelMaine

Maine

Maine Gov. Paul LePage Vetoes State Broadband Fund by Colin Wood, GovTech

New York

Audit Reveals Verizon Tried To Corner NYC Broadband Market By Striking Exclusive Landlord Deals by Karl Bode, TechDirt

Verizon's refusing to serve millions of people, but making it impossible for anyone else to do so either. If you've followed the municipal broadband debate, that's effectively the same logic the mega-ISPs have displayed on a national level, and this kind of behavior by incumbent ISPs (especially if you watched the ILEC/CLEC wars of the late 90s and early aughts) is a major contributor to the nation's utterly mediocre rankings in most broadband metrics.

North Carolina

Backed by the telecommunications industry N.C., Tenn. fighting attempts at city-run broadband by Tim Mandell, Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues

Pennsylvania

Lancaster city debuts free wi-fi in bins park by Dan Nephin, Lancaster Online

Free Wi-Fi in public areas is a side benefit of the municipal broadband program the city is building to improve city services, such as remote water-meter reading. Residential and business Internet subscriptions will also be offered, according to city officials.

Texas

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Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 26, 2015

Posted June 29, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

How States Are Fighting to Keep Towns From Offering Their Own Broadband by Leticia Miranda, ProPublica

North Carolina and Tennessee are the latest states to side with telecoms, which have long lobbied against allowing cities to become Internet providers.

Community Broadband Networks - News By State

Alabama

Forbes recognizes Auburn-Opelika area region among nation’s best for job creation by OANow.com

This type of job creation was greatly encouraged by Opelika's FTTH network. Opelika's experience shows the power of local authority and self-reliance.

Maine

Will Maine Create a $500 Municipal Broadband Fund? by Colin Wood, GovTech

Proponents of municipal broadband say Maine's Legislature has its heart in the right place, but $500 won't buy the citizenry much connectivity...

It’s frustrating to see such a promising piece of legislation relegated into uncertainty, Mitchell said.

“It still sets an interesting precedent in terms of targeting municipal open-access approaches, which I think is valuable, although clearly much less so if they’re not going to put any money into it,” he said. “Just about every elected official wants to vote and tell their constituents that they supported better broadband, but they really don’t want to upset the Fairpoint and Time Warner Cable lobbyists, so they’ve kind of done both. The lobbyists are happy because there’s no real funding, but a lot of people will go home and say, ‘Well, I voted for better broadband for the state.’"

Maryland

City task force calls for better broadband in Baltimore by Stephen Babcock, Technical.ly

Minnesota

Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 19

Posted June 22, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

35 Mayors and Elected Officials Call for Accessible Broadband Performance Information Following GAO Investigation, Next Century Cities

To help our communities access these critical opportunities, we have joined the city-to-city collaborative Next Century Cities, which supports local efforts to provide these networks. We are working to provide the high-quality Internet that is essential to thriving communities and remain deeply appreciative of the Commission’s ongoing efforts to safeguard the principle of local choice and empower more communities to achieve high-speed broadband Internet.

Community Broadband Media Roundup- By State

Colorado

Firestone commissions municipal Internet study by Karen Antonacci, Times-Call Region News

Homeowners near Palmer Divide stuck with slow Internet or no Internet at all by Eric Ross, KOAA

Davis says no company he's talked with is willing to expand service in the area. He tells News5 each time a provider comes back with an offer and he agrees, the offer price keeps increasing.

Two of the largest providers in Colorado have contracts with El Paso County, so we wanted to know whether these providers were in violation by providing access to some homeowners, but not others.

Florida/Georgia

Allied Fiber Completes Southeast Route, the First Open-Access Colocation and Dark Fiber System to Enable Network-Neutral Interconnections from Miami to Atlanta and All Points Between, Allied Fiber

Massachusetts

Remote Mass. towns welcome broadband’s arrival...

Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 15, 2015

Posted June 15, 2015 by Rebecca Toews

This week's big news came out of Washington, specifically Seattle. The city just published a report examining the feasibility of a Chattanooga-type citywide municipal fiber network. The report and related materials are available here; read the news release here. In short, duplicating a Chattanooga-type approach appears too risky given the likely response from incumbents Comcast and CenturyLink.

Seattle

Public Internet is supposed to lower prices. In Seattle, it could work too well by Brian Fung Washington Post

Is Muni Broadband Feasible in Seattle? Not Likely, Report Finds by Colin Wood, GovTech

The numbers don't bode well for proponents of municipal broadband in Seattle, but the city has other plans.

“The broadband market has been changing incredibly fast just in the past six months, since the president mentioned the need for strong broadband access in his State of the Union address," he said. "And we’re starting to see some interesting joint ventures that allow cities to meet their policy objectives around equity and around economic development through broadband."

Seattle councilmember calls for ‘mass citywide movement’ against Comcast and CenturyLink in support of municipal broadband by Taylor Soper, Geekwire

GeekWire Radio: Amazon meeting hijacked; Twitter shakeup; and the future of municipal broadband by Todd Bishop, GeekWire

Cost of municipal broadband for Seattle less than estimated by Daniel Beekman, Seattle Times