Colorado

Comcast, CenturyLink smacked down in Colo.: Voters approve city-owned broadband network by Bob Fernandez, The Philly Inquirer

Disdain for Comcast, CenturyLink drove Fort Collins broadband support by Kevin Duggan, The Coloradoan

The vote-no campaign, which spent a record $451,000, didn’t succeed for the same reason the push for municipal broadband in Fort Collins began five years ago: disdain for current internet service providers.

Companies such as Comcast and CenturyLink have terrible reputations for delivering the internet speeds and reliability customers pay for each month. And there is little love for their service when it comes to dealing with customer complaints and problems.

Despite 'Misinformation' Campaign by Telecom Industry, Municipal Broadband Wins in Colorado by Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams

Led by Comcast, "cable providers campaigned heavily against the Fort Collins move," the Denver Post reports, "spending more than $256,000 in television and radio ads." The Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR), however, says that by the time of the election, "that figure had jumped to more than $450,000." In an effort to promote the ballot measure, local residents formed the Fort Collins Citizens Broadband Committee, which raised less than $10,000, but was ultimately victorious.

Michigan

Local communities deserve to make their own choices by Christopher Mitchell, The Times Herald

Whether on broadband internet, wages, jobs, or the environment, local communities deserve to make their own...

California

San Francisco Has Approved a Plan For City-Wide Fiber Internet by Brad Jones, Futurism

As of last week, San Francisco is the first major city in the United States to commit to connecting each of its homes and businesses to a fiber optic network. The Fiber for San Francisco Initiative has recommended that procurement for a fiber optic network in San Francisco begin “as early as possible.”

To close the digital divide, California approves $330 million broadband infrastructure fund by Colin Wood, StateScoop

Colorado

Comcast Tries to Derail Fort Collins Community Broadband by Karl Bode, DSL Reports

Of course if companies like Comcast really wanted to prevent towns and cities from getting into the broadband business, they could provide cheaper, better services. These towns and cities aren't getting into broadband because it's fun, they're doing so because they're so disgusted by duopoly pricing, service quality and abysmal customer service that they're looking for more creative alternatives.

Small providers whose aim is network competition have met stiff resistance by Charles Ashby, The Daily Sentinel

A shifting focus: Is broadband infrastructure a function of government or business? By Charles Ashby, The Daily Sentinel 

Digital Divide by Charles Ashby, The Daily Sentinel

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California

San Francisco moving closer to building a city-owned Internet network By Dominic Fracassa, SF Gate

Colorado

Avon mayor: Vote ‘yes’ on 2B to allow town authority to provide broadband services by Mayor Jennie Fancher, Vail Daily

Loveland City Council Ward I candidate Lenard Larkin, Reporter-Herald

I support municipal broadband. It is the most cost efficient, customer-responsive form of broadband. Customer service can be in Loveland. Any private interference will mean overseas customer support. From Sandy, Oregon, to Chattanooga, Tennessee, this is shown to be the best format for our future.

About $20,000 invested in Fort Collins broadband ballot issue by Kevin Duggan, The Coloradoan

Fort Collins looks to Longmont for broadband lessons by Kevin Duggan, The Coloradoan

Louisville Question 2G: High-speed internet authorization, Daily Camera

Florida

Commissioner Justin Troller makes pitch for Lakeland broadband service by Christopher Guinn, News Chief

Michigan

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Arizona

Contentious broadband meeting by Alexis Bechman, Payson Roundup

Colorado

County agrees on plan to finish broadband project by Niki Turner, Herald Times

Idaho

Unique Model Makes Citizens A Funding Partner In Broadband Network By Craig Settles, The Daily Yonder

The Ammon Model by Bryan Clark, Post Register

Participants in Thursday’s conference praised a revolutionary model that uses upfront public investment in order to create a marketplace where residents benefit from intense competition between private internet service providers, competition that’s rarely seen elsewhere in the market.

“Ammon has inspired many other communities around the country,” said Chris Mitchell, policy director of Next Century Cities. “… Ammon has one of the most replicable models (for municipal fiber-optic systems).”

Pennsylvania

Slow internet plagues rural areas of Erie County by David Bruce, Go Erie

Virginia

Orange County Broadband Initiative Moves Forward by Jennifer Walker, NBC 29

This grant will lay the foundation for future internet plans in the Orange community and act as an additive to programs that are already in place.

“Through the partnership that we’ve been able to establish with the county, we can expand that service out beyond the schools to the community and that’s what’s really important about this...