[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 8/4

[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.*

*Missed last week's update while on vacation. In other news, Crater Lake in
southern Oregon is stunning. And a bit chilly to swim in. Two weeks worth
of stories below!  Don't Miss our InfoGraphic on Comcast's Big Gig Rip-Off
<http://muninetworks.org/content/comcasts-big-gig-rip>*


Eugene Opens Up Dark Fiber for Commercial Connectivity
<http://muninetworks.org/content/eugene-opens-dark-fiber-commercial-connectivity>
Thu, July 30, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/eugene-opens-dark-fiber-commercial-connectivity>

Businesses are now finding affordable connectivity in Eugene, Oregon,
through a partnership between the city, the Lane Council of Governments
(LCOG), and the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), reports the
Register-Guard
<http://registerguard.com/rg/business/33140791-63/faster-with-fiber-downtown-eugene-businesses-are-getting-a-big-bump-in-speed.html.csp>.
A new pilot project has spurred gigabit Internet access in a small downtown
area for as little as $100 per month.

According to the article, the city contributed $100,000, LCOG added
$15,000, and EWEB spent $25,000 to fund last mile
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term17> connections to two commercial
locations. LCOG's contribution came from an $8.3 million BTOP
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term610> grant.

The fiber shares conduit <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305> space
with EWEB's electrical lines; the dark fiber is leased to private ISPs who
provide retail services. XS Media and Hunter Communications are serving
customers; other firms have expressed an interest in using the
infrastructure.

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/eugene-opens-dark-fiber-commercial-connectivity>

WiredWest Grows: Roster of Towns Up to 22
<http://muninetworks.org/content/wiredwest-grows-roster-towns-22>
Mon, July 20, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/wiredwest-grows-roster-towns-22>

Momentum is growing in WiredWest territory and each town that votes takes
on a fresh enthusiasm. New Salem is one of the latest communities to
overwhelmingly support joining the municipal broadband cooperative. The
Recorder reported
<http://www.recorder.com/home/17133801-95/new-salem-voters-turn-out-to-ok-borrowing-15m-for-broadband>
that
all but one of the 189 registered New Salem voters chose to authorize
borrowing $1.5 million to move forward with the initiative. There are now 22
towns that have joined
<http://wiredwest.net/2015/07/02/update-22-towns-authorize-34-5m-for-fiber-6700-deposits-on-service/>
.

According to Moderator Calvin Layton, a typical town meeting draws 60 to 70
voters, far less than this one did. Apparently, investing in better
connectivity is a hot button issue in places like New Salem, where Internet
access is slow, scant, and expensive.

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/wiredwest-grows-roster-towns-22>

Longmont Gig Finds Many Takers - Community Broadband Bits Episode 161
<http://muninetworks.org/content/longmont-gig-finds-many-takers-community-broadband-bits-episode-161>
Tue, July 28, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/longmont-gig-finds-many-takers-community-broadband-bits-episode-161>

The community reaction to Longmont's NextLight gigabit municipal fiber
network in Colorado has been dramatic. They are seeing major take rate
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term25>s in the initial neighborhoods,
driven in part by the opportunity for a $50/month gigabit connection if you
take service within three months of it becoming available in the
neighborhood.

This week, Longmont Power & Communications General Manager Tom Roiniotis
joins us to tell us more about their approach and how the community has
responded, including a block party celebrating freedom from a well-known
monopoly.

We discuss how they have connect the schools, the history of the network,
and how incumbent providers are reacting. Along the way, I make a case for
why what Longmont is doing is substantially different from the upgrades
that CenturyLink and Comcast are making in some areas. See our other
stories about Longmont here <http://muninetworks.org/tags-216>.

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/longmont-gig-finds-many-takers-community-broadband-bits-episode-161>

Illinois Munis Partner with Local ISP for Gigabit Network - Community
Broadband Bits Episode 160
<http://muninetworks.org/content/illinois-munis-partner-local-isp-gigabit-network-community-broadband-bits-episode-160>
Tue, July 21, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/illinois-munis-partner-local-isp-gigabit-network-community-broadband-bits-episode-160>

The southern Illinois cities of Urbana and Champaign joined the University
of Illinois in seeking and winning a broadband stimulus award to build an open
access <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625> urban FTTH
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13> network. After connecting some
of the most underserved neighborhoods, the Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband
(UC2B) network <http://uc2b.net/> looked for a partner to expand the
network to the entire community.

In this week's Community Broadband Bits podcast, we talk with UC2B Board
Chair Brandon Bowersox Johnson and the private partner iTV-3's VP and Chief
Operating Officer Levi Dinkla. The local firm, iTV-3
<https://theperfectupgrade.com/>, already had a strong reputation as an
Internet Service Provider as well as operating other lines of business as
well.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/illinois-munis-partner-local-isp-gigabit-network-community-broadband-bits-episode-160>
... Read the transcript here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-160>
...

Cambridge Broadband Advocate at the Summit: "We Are the Perfect Testbed"
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cambridge-broadband-advocate-summit-we-are-perfect-testbed>
Tue, July 21, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cambridge-broadband-advocate-summit-we-are-perfect-testbed>

In April, Chris spoke at the Broadband Communities Summit in Austin
<http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/>. If you were not able to attend, Saul
Tannenbaum's Readfold.com article
<https://readfold.com/read/stannenb/connecting-cambridge-reinventing-a-free-fair-and-open-internet-Q97zNAq6>
gives
you a taste of what it was like. Tannenbaum is a member of the Cambridge
Broadband Task Force, recently set up
<https://www.cctvcambridge.org/CambridgeMunicipalBroadband> by the city's
City Manager to investigate the possibility of municipal broadband
connectivity.

Tannenbaum describes his experience there and some of the typical
discussions he encounters while investigating a muni network. What role
should the local or state government play in bettering connectivity? What
is preventing the U.S. from excelling at ubiquitous access for all income
levels? Why a municipal network? For Tannenbaum, and other residents of
Cambridge, those questions are especially significant because the town is
historically a place of technological innovation.

... Read the Rest Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cambridge-broadband-advocate-summit-we-are-perfect-testbed>

Ammon, ID Creates Award-Winning Ultra-High Speed App
<http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-id-creates-award-winning-ultra-high-speed-app>
Thu, July 23, 2015 | Posted by hannah <http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-id-creates-award-winning-ultra-high-speed-app>

The City of Ammon just took first place in the National Institute of
Justice’s (NIJ) Ultra-High Speed Apps: Using Current Technology to Improve
Criminal Justice Operations Challenge with the “School Emergency Screencast
Application”.

The challenge encourages software developers and public safety
professionals to utilize public domain data and ultra-high speed systems to
create applications to improve criminal justice and public safety
operations. Ammon’s application does just that.

Utilizing gunshot detection hardware and a school’s existing camera system,
the application reports gunshot fire and provides live-video and geospatial
information to dispatch and first responders.

.. Get More Details and See the Video Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-id-creates-award-winning-ultra-high-speed-app>

Biloxi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Towns Pursuing Fiber Initiative
<http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative>
Fri, July 24, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative>

Community leaders in the city of Biloxi want to expand massive water and
sewer infrastructure improvements to include broadband infrastructure. The
City Attorney Gerald Blessey recently addressed members from the Leadership
Gulf Coast group and during the speech he shared the idea to spread fiber
throughout Biloxi.

Mayor FoFo Gilich has already spoken with the Governor who, reports WXXV 25
<http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/City-of-Biloxi-Pushes-for-Fiber-Optic-Cables/k_xmRb39O0-1IpSbGw1Lew.cspx>,
is interested in the idea. Streets in town are being excavated for the
water and sewer project and Gilich wants to use this opportunity to install
conduit <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305> and fiber.

Biloxi recently settled
<http://www.biloxi.ms.us/biloxi-accepts-bp-settlement/> a lawsuit for just
under $5 million with British Petrolium (BP) for economic losses arising
from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. Community leaders consider
fiber a strong investment to help the area recover.

... See our Full Coverage of this Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative>

Video: Westminster and Ting Kick Off Deployment
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-westminster-and-ting-kick-deployment>
Fri, July 24, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-westminster-and-ting-kick-deployment>

Westminster recently officially lit up the new fiber network with its
partner Ting. They create several videos to record the event, including
this montage of interviews with movers and shakers in the municipal network
industry. The two partners announced their agreement
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting>
earlier
this year: the city will own the infrastructure and Ting will provide
retail services to local residents and businesses via the network.

In the video you will see Dr. Robert Wack
<http://muninetworks.org/content/story-behind-westminsters-pending-open-access-fiber-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast>,
the City Council Member behind the initiative, along with leading telecom
attorney Jim Baller
<http://muninetworks.org/content/jim-baller-discusses-municipal-broadband-history-community-broadband-bits-episode-57>,
Gigi Sohn from the FCC, and Deb Socia
<http://muninetworks.org/content/next-century-cities-community-broadband-bits-podcast-episode-121>
who
heads up Next Century Cities.

... Watch the Video Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-westminster-and-ting-kick-deployment>

Erie County, New York Will Hire Consultant for Feasibility Study
<http://muninetworks.org/content/erie-county-new-york-will-hire-consultant-feasibility-study>
Mon, July 27, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/erie-county-new-york-will-hire-consultant-feasibility-study>

Erie County's leadership recently decided
<http://cityoflight2.com/index.php/news/erie-county-approves-study> it is
time to get serious about publicly owned broadband infrastructure. The Erie
County Legislature approved funding to engage a consultant for a
feasibility study. Patrick B. Burke spearheaded the initiative, reports the
county's website
<http://www2.erie.gov/burke/index.php?q=%E2%80%9Cburke-gets-broadband-funding-approved%E2%80%9D>.
Burke stated:

“Consumers, businesses, schools and government agencies need to have
affordable and accessible high speed internet service in order to function
in today’s world; the build out of a fiber cable network is a no-brainer.
This is a win for social justice, economic development and public safety.”

In addition to funding, the county has also formed a Municipal Broadband
Committee and released a policy agenda which addresses service problems in
the county. Next the county will issue an RFP for a consultant.

... More Details on The Announcement Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/erie-county-new-york-will-hire-consultant-feasibility-study>

New Report on Bandwidth Caps From Open Technology Institute
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-report-bandwidth-caps-open-technology-institute>
Sat, July 25, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-report-bandwidth-caps-open-technology-institute>

The Open Technology Institute (OTI) at the New America Foundation recently
released its report on bandwidth
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2> caps.
"*Artificial Scarcity: How Data Caps Harm Consumers and Innovation*" is the
latest warning about an issue with grave implications. The PDF is now
available
<https://static.newamerica.org/attachments/3556-artificial-scarcity/DataCaps_Layout_Final.a7ef6b9029da4dd29324757e5710b903.pdf>
 to download <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8>.

Last November, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) released a report
[PDF]
<http://eshoo.house.gov/uploads/12.2.14%20GAO%20Report%20on%20Usage-Based%20Broadband%20Pricing.pdf>
with serious comments
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gao-report-warns-potential-isps-abuse-data-caps>
on
how ISPs might abuse their power through bandwidth caps. In that report,
the GAO strongly suggested the FCC take action.

This report by Danielle Kehl and Patrick Lucey further examines how this
profit grabbing technique from the big ISPs impacts consumer decisions and
usage.

... More on the Report Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-report-bandwidth-caps-open-technology-institute>

New Handbook on Next Generation Connectivity From Gig.U
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-handbook-next-generation-connectivity-gigu>
Sun, July 26, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-handbook-next-generation-connectivity-gigu>

Gig.U <http://www.gig-u.org/>, a collaboration of more than 30 universities
across the country has just released *The Next Generation Network
Connectivity Handbook: A guide for Community Leaders Seeking Affordable,
Abundant Bandwidth*. The handbook, published in association with the Benton
Foundation, is available as a PDF online
<http://www.gig-u.org/cms/assets/uploads/2012/12/Val-NexGen_design_7.9_v2.pdf>
.

One of the authors, Blair Levin, has been a guest several times on the
Community Broadband Bits podcast, last visiting in January 2015 to weigh in
on public vs. private ownership
<http://muninetworks.org/content/public-or-private-ownership-community-broadband-bits-episode-132>
of
broadband networks. As many of our readers know, Levin was one of the
primary authors of the FCC National Broadband Plan in 2010.

... More on the Handbook here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-handbook-next-generation-connectivity-gigu>

Holyoke Case Study from Berkman Center Explores Massachusetts Muni Fiber
<http://muninetworks.org/content/holyoke-case-study-berkman-center-explores-massachusetts-muni-fiber>
Wed, July 29, 2015 | Posted by phineas
<http://muninetworks.org/users/phineas>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/holyoke-case-study-berkman-center-explores-massachusetts-muni-fiber>

A few weeks ago, Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society released
a report that documents the achievements of Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E)
Telecom
<https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/sites/cyber.law.harvard.edu/files/2015-07_broadbandVERTICAL_0.pdf>,
a municipal electric utility that now provides fiber-optic
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10> broadband Internet to local
businesses in several western Massachusetts towns. The utility’s move into
fiber-optics has led to municipal savings for the City of Holyoke, as well
as increased high-speed access in neighboring cities, and driven economic
development. We interviewed Holyoke's Senior Network Engineer, Tim Haas, in
a previous episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast
<http://muninetworks.org/content/western-mass-holyoke-gas-and-electric-brings-broadband-community-broadband-bits-episode-65>
.

Because the state of Massachusetts has no barriers that prevent the
creation of municipal Internet networks, HG&E has been able to compete on a
level playing field with incumbent ISPs Comcast and Charter. HG&E is among
12 MLPs (Municipal Light Plants) out of 41 in the state to offer fiber
Internet services. Researchers at the Berkman Center believe that MLPs
could play a large role in expanding Internet access and business
opportunities throughout the state as electricity revenues experience
diminishing returns and data needs grow. For example, HG&E’s fiber
connection was a factor in the Massachusetts Green High Performance
Computing Center’s decision to open a $90 million data center in Holyoke.

... More on this Excellent Report Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/holyoke-case-study-berkman-center-explores-massachusetts-muni-fiber>

AT&T, Comcast, Lies Hurt Homeowners
<http://muninetworks.org/content/att-comcast-lies-hurt-homeowners>
Fri, July 31, 2015 | Posted by phineas
<http://muninetworks.org/users/phineas>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/att-comcast-lies-hurt-homeowners>

As of this January
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-13-2015>,
the FCC defines broadband as 25 Mbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18> downstream
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8> and 3 Mbps upstream
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term28>, but in some rural areas in the
United States, people are still struggling to access DSL
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term9> speeds of 768 kbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term16>. In a few extreme cases,
individuals who rely on the Internet for their jobs and livelihoods have
been denied access completely.

The sad state of affairs for many Americans who subscribe to the major
Internet service providers like AT&T and CenturyLink was recently chronicled
in an article on Ars Technica
<http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/06/internet-nightmare-att-sells-broadband-to-your-neighbors-but-not-to-you/>
that
examined AT&T’s stunning combination of poor customer service, insufficient
infrastructure, and empty promises to subscribers. It tells the
unfortunately common story of the little guy being systematically
overlooked by a massive corporation focused solely on short-term profit
maximization.

... Get the Full Scoop Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/att-comcast-lies-hurt-homeowners>

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