[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 4/21

[Christopher Mitchell]

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the Institute for
Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send
feedback.  Forward Widely.*


*Sent from the Ramsey County Courthouse in Saint Paul, Minnesota. I'm on
jury duty this week - they allowed me to move it from the middle of
February when I was originally scheduled. This is my first time and has
been an altogether enjoyable experience. *


Our Totally Not Ironic Letter of Support for the Comcast/TWC Merger
<http://muninetworks.org/content/our-totally-not-ironic-letter-support-comcasttwc-merger>
Wed, April 15, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/our-totally-not-ironic-letter-support-comcasttwc-merger>

*Last week, the New York Times reported that the “outpouring of thoughtful
and positive comments
<http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/06/business/media/comcast-recruits-its-beneficiaries-to-lobby-for-time-warner-deal.html>”
Comcast has received for their Time Warner Cable proposed merger is much
more than it’s cracked up to be. We are shocked, shocked, to learn that
organizations receiving a lot of Comcast charity are endorsing its merger
plans.*

*After a hasty staff meeting, we decided that for a mere $250,000 we too,
could see the benefits of this monopolistic mega-merger. We know
they ghostwrite many of their most favorable letters
<http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/26/7878239/comcast-twc-fcc-merger-letters-politicians-ghostwritten>,
but we want to save them the trouble, by providing our own glowing
endorsement. *

Dear Chairman Wheeler,

After careful consideration,  we wish to share our strong support for the
Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger. Firstly, we want to make absolutely clear
that our endorsement of this union has absolutely nothing to do with
$250,000 generously donated to our organization, no strings attached, by
Comcast. After years critiquing  their slack customer service
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/seths-tale-comcast-woe-perfectly-illustrates-many-internet-policy-problems>,
their perennially rising prices
<http://articles.philly.com/2015-01-01/news/57561592_1_price-increases-subscribers-new-york-company>,
and their lobbying to prevent real competition
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/cable-industry-dumps-dark-money-dc>,
we now think a merger between the two most hated companies in America is a
way awesome idea!

... Read the Rest Here ... At Least a Few People have Greatly Enjoyed It ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/our-totally-not-ironic-letter-support-comcasttwc-merger>

Muni Networks, Digital Liberty, and Surveillance - Community Broadband Bits
Episode 145
<http://muninetworks.org/content/muni-networks-digital-liberty-and-surveillance-community-broadband-bits-episode-145>
Tue, April 07, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/muni-networks-digital-liberty-and-surveillance-community-broadband-bits-episode-145>

As more communities become service providers in order to provide a needed
service to local businesses and residents, they are taking on an important
responsibility to safeguard the data and privacy of subscribers. Unlike big
providers like AT&T or big cable companies, municipal providers tend not to
engage in data mining or violating their users' expectation of privacy.

But given that issues of privacy and surveillance are becoming so
important, we wanted to talk with Corynne McSherry, Legal Director at the
Electronic Frontier Foundation
<https://www.eff.org/about/staff/corynne-mcsherry>, an organization that
champions liberty on the Internet.

In our conversation, we discuss what motivates EFF, why they support
municipal networks, and what advice they have for local governments that
have become ISPs. Perhaps most important, Corynne repeatedly advises local
governments to be transparent with subscribers regarding their policies and
encourages municipal ISPs to call EFF if they have questions about their
responsibilities under the law to protect subscriber data.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/muni-networks-digital-liberty-and-surveillance-community-broadband-bits-episode-145>
... Read the transcript from our discussion here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-145>
 ...

Improving Mid-Atlantic Internet Access - Community Broadband Bits Podcast
146
<http://muninetworks.org/content/improving-mid-atlantic-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-146>
Tue, April 14, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/improving-mid-atlantic-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-146>

When we last wrote about the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative, it was a
coop focused on open access <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625> middle
mile <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term456> connections. Now it has
become the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation
<http://www.mbc-va.com/> and is starting to work on some plans to expand
open access last mile <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term17> access.

This week, we speak with MBC President and CEO Tad Deriso to learn more
about their history and current approach. We discuss how they got started
financially and lessons for other middle mile open access efforts.

We also discuss their plan to expand the model to last mile businesses and
homes in Martinsville in southern Virginia. And along the way, we learn how
incumbent providers react differently to open access in the middle mile
than in the last mile.

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/improving-mid-atlantic-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-146>

Gigabit Cities Live in Atlanta on May 13th and 14th
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-cities-live-atlanta-may-13th-and-14th>
Tue, April 14, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-cities-live-atlanta-may-13th-and-14th>

On May 13th and 14th get y'allselves to Altanta to attend Gigabit Cities
Live 2015
<http://www.gigabitcitieslive.com/events/gigabit-cities-live-2015/event-summary-6f90ed9d349047b88e9bc43b99fbf4dc.aspx>.
The event will bring together members from the public, private, and
non-profit sectors to explore how gigabit networks are changing local
communities.

>From the event summary:

Gigabit Cities Live 2015 will deliver a highly ‘immersive’ experience for
attendees, exploring everything from the infrastructure required to deploy
ultra-high-speed networks to the applications these networks are enabling
to how gigabit networks will transform communities.

... Meet decision-makers from all aspects of the Gigabit Cities ecosystem –
from service providers to urban leaders to technology vendors to
applications developers and more – to learn about different approaches and
business models for gigabit network success.

Hear thought leaders, see new products and services and learn from peers
and solutions providers, all under one roof.

Chris will participate in a panel discussion, *Open Access* *and the Future*
, on the morning of Thursday the 14th, time to be determined.

... More Details Here - and a Complimentary Code for City Officials,
Activists, etc ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-cities-live-atlanta-may-13th-and-14th>

What Does It Mean to Be A Gigabit City? Sharing Positive Outcomes Together
(SPOT)
<http://muninetworks.org/content/what-does-it-mean-be-gigabit-city-sharing-positive-outcomes-together-spot>
Mon, April 13, 2015 | Posted by Staff <http://muninetworks.org/users/staff>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/what-does-it-mean-be-gigabit-city-sharing-positive-outcomes-together-spot>

In North Carolina, Wilson’s Greenlight gigabit fiber network
<http://www.greenlightnc.com/> is doing everything it can to ensure
everyone benefits from this important municipal investment. The city-owned
network is a key partner in a digital inclusion program, Sharing Positive
Outcomes Together (SPOT), which focuses on the children least likely to
have high quality Internet access in their homes.

Though the digital divide remains a serious policy challenge, Wilson
Greenlight and SPOT demonstrate s that solutions can be inspiring and fun.

*Training With a 4-Dimensional Approach*

SPOT is an after-hours educational program focused on children ages 5 to 18
and attracts youth from all backgrounds, including those who are homeless
or fostered to those with professional parents burdened by demanding work
schedules. Among other components, its mission is to promote an atmosphere
of accountability, confidence, and self-esteem. SPOT invites its children
to dream, be “ambitious, inspired, high school graduates,” while
“addressing and closing society's darker cracks that way too many young
lives fall into.” “Leave it at the door and come grow” is part of its motto.

... Learn More About Wilson's Approach Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/what-does-it-mean-be-gigabit-city-sharing-positive-outcomes-together-spot>

Leverett Starts to Light Up in Massachusetts
<http://muninetworks.org/content/leverett-starts-light-massachusetts>
Thu, April 16, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/leverett-starts-light-massachusetts>

The celebrated municipal network in Leverett, Massachusetts, is starting to
serve select areas of the community. Customers' properties on the north
side of town are now receiving 1 gigabit Internet service from the town's
partner Crocker Communications. These early subscribers are considered
"beta sites." Telephone service will become available when the network has
been fully tested.

According to the press release
<http://leverett.ma.us/content/broadband-committee>:

The Town's initial plan was to turn on all subscriber locations at the same
time; but interest from pre-subscribers was so strong that the Town's
Broadband Committee arranged to offer sequential connections as individual
homes are spliced into the network distribution cable.

... Read More on Leverett Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/leverett-starts-light-massachusetts>

Mesh Networks: They Are Out There
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mesh-networks-they-are-out-there>
Fri, April 17, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mesh-networks-they-are-out-there>

There are probably more mesh Wi-Fi
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term29> networks operating in the U.S.
than most of us realize. They require only one hard-wired connection to the
Internet and there are many industrious, tech minded people out there who
have the skills to set up this self-healing technology, though they are
still working out the kinks.

A mesh network allows devices to engage each other without going through a
central point. If I want to use my cell phone to call the cell phone of
someone standing 10 feet away from me, the signal may travel thousands of
times farther than it would have to because a cell phone company wants to
track minutes, collect data, and more. In a mesh network, the two devices
would just talk to each other without intermediation.

A recent Technical.ly article
<http://technical.ly/2015/04/06/12-communities-experimenting-mesh-networks/>,
explores a dozen communities that are using the technology to serve local
residents.

... More on Mesh Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mesh-networks-they-are-out-there>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 17
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-17>
Sat, April 18, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-17>

This week, Christopher traveled to Austin, Texas for the Broadband
Communities Conference <http://bbcmag.com/>. It was great to connect with
so many people doing great work and build on the energy we are seeing
across the country. Onward!

FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler Pokes Finger in Eye of Telecom Incumbents at
Broadband Communities in Austin
<http://broadbandbreakfast.com/2015/04/fcc-chairman-tom-wheeler-pokes-finger-in-eye-of-telecom-incumbents-at-broadband-communities-in-austin/>
by
Drew Clark, BroadbandBreakfast.com

Wheeler Talks Up Pre-emption Says There Are Serious Questions About ISP
Competition
<http://www.multichannel.com/news/broadband/wheeler-talks-preemption/389766#sthash.vRZnIId9.dpuf>by
John Eggerton, MultiChannel

Just to reiterate:

"The Commission respects the important role of state governments in our
federal system," he said, "and we do not take the matter of preempting
state laws lightly. But it is a well-established principle that state laws
that inhibit the exercise of federal policy may be subject to preemption in
appropriate circumstances. My position on this matter was shaped by a few
irrefutable broadband truths:

   - *You can't say you're for broadband - but endorse limits on who can
   offer it,*
   - *You can't follow Congress' explicit instruction to 'remove barriers'
   to infrastructure investment - but endorse barriers to infrastructure
   investment,*
   - *And you can't say you're for competition - but deny local elected
   officials the right to offer competitive choices.*"

... Last Week's Roundup Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-17>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 12
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-12>
Tue, April 14, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-12>

*Community Broadband News Around the Nation:*

*Colorado*

Community and candidates react to Grand Junction election results
<http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/The-Grand-Junction-community-and-candidates-react-to-municipal-election-results-299002071.html>
by
Lindsey Pallares, KJCT-TV

“It’s an indication that people really want to see us have better fiber in
this city so we'll step back as a city council and see what are next steps
to go forward,” says Mayor Phyllis Norris.

*Connecticut*

Connectict is taking steps to become the nation's first gigabit state. You
can also check out ourCommunity Broadband Bits episode 118
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/connecticut-communities-want-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-118>
for
more on how they're doing it.

... The Roundup from Two Weeks Ago Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-12>

-- 
You can always find our most recent stories and other resources at http://MuniNetworks.org
--- 
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Community Networks Weekly Updates" group.
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to communitynetworks-weekly+unsubscribe at ilsr.org.
For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/a/ilsr.org/d/optout.
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://list.omsoft.com/pipermail/davisgig/attachments/20150421/382dfb40/attachment.html>