[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 12/15

Tue Dec 15 09:47:13 PST 2015

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

Speedy Holiday Gift in Tullahoma
<http://muninetworks.org/content/speedy-holiday-gift-tullahoma>
Sat, December 12, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/speedy-holiday-gift-tullahoma>

Tullahoma Utilities Board LightTUBe <http://www.tub.net/> customers are
once again receiving a special holiday gift via the municipal fiber
network. As of December 5th, subscribers got a boost in speeds with no
boost in price.

>From the LightTUBe Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/TUB-LightTUBe-69707771514/?fref=ts> page:

[image: lightube-fast-speed-fb-2015.png]

More good news is on the way after the first of the year. According to
General Manager Brian Skelton, rates for the two highest tiers will
*decrease*. Symmetrical <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24> gigabit
Internet service will drop from $99.95 per month to $89.95 per month and
200 Megabits per second (Mbps <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18>)
symmetrical Internet service will decrease from $79.95 per month to $74.95
per month.

... Higher Capacities, Lower Prices - Another Benefit of Community Networks
... <http://muninetworks.org/content/speedy-holiday-gift-tullahoma>

Maine House Representative Pushes for Better Internet Access - Community
Broadband Bits Podcast 180
<http://muninetworks.org/content/maine-house-representative-pushes-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-18>
Tue, December 08, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/maine-house-representative-pushes-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-18>

Eleven months ago, we noted the incredible energy in the Maine Legislature
around improving Internet access
<http://muninetworks.org/content/maine-legislature-all-about-broadband-2015>.
Maine State Representative Norm Higgins joins us this week for Community
Broadband Bits Podcast episode 180.

Rep. Norm Higgins, a newcomer to the Legislature, pushed hard for
legislation to encourage municipal open access
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625> networks as well as removing
barriers to increased investment including a tax on the Three-Ring Binder
project. He was part of a large majority that moved some key bills forward
despite fierce opposition from Time Warner Cable
<http://muninetworks.org/content/time-warner-cable-takes-maine-lawmakers-exclusive-hotel-lobbying-tryst>
and
others.

We talk with Rep. Higgins about the various bills, including LD 1185
<http://muninetworks.org/content/graphic-ld-1185-proposes-planning-grants-munis-maine>,
which would have created planning grants for community owned open access
networks but passed without any funding.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/maine-house-representative-pushes-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-18>
... Read the transcript from this episode here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-180>
 ...

Island Community Builds Their Own Network: Coverage in Ars and Video From
The Scene
<http://muninetworks.org/content/island-community-builds-their-own-network-coverage-ars-and-video-scene>
Thu, December 10, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/island-community-builds-their-own-network-coverage-ars-and-video-scene>

Island living has its perks - the roar of the waves, the fresh breeze, the
beauty of an ocean sunset - but good Internet access is usually not one of
them.

A November Ars Technica article
<http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/how-a-group-of-neighbors-created-their-own-internet-service/>
profiles
Orcas Island, located in Washington state. Residents of the island's Doe
Bay chose to enjoy the perks of island living*and* do what it took to get
the Internet they needed. By using the natural and human resources on the
island, the community created the nonprofit Doe Bay Internet Users
Association <http://dbiua.org/> (DBIUA). The wireless network provides
Internet access to a section of the island not served by incumbent
CenturyLink.

... Watch the Video and Get the Rest of the Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/island-community-builds-their-own-network-coverage-ars-and-video-scene>

What's Next For Southern Tier Network?
<http://muninetworks.org/content/whats-next-southern-tier-network>
Mon, December 07, 2015 | Posted by ternste
<http://muninetworks.org/users/ternste>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/whats-next-southern-tier-network>

With construction of a major community broadband network behind them, local
leaders in New York State’s Southern Tier region are now considering the
potential for the recently completed dark fiber network.

Since becoming operational in 2014, the Southern Tier Network
<http://www.southerntiernetwork.org/> (STN) is already serving over 100
industrial and government service entities across the region. STN is a
not-for-profit, local development corporation that built, owns, and manages
the network for the region.

Jack Benjamin, president of economic development organization, Three Rivers
Development Corporation <http://3riverscorp.com/>, explained the value of
the network to the region in a July Star Gazette article
<http://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/2015/07/10/southern-tier-network-internet-connections/29967837/>
:

... See the Quote and Rest of the Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/whats-next-southern-tier-network>

Two Fiber Networks Collaborate: Aim to Bridge Digital Divide in Georgia
<http://muninetworks.org/content/two-fiber-networks-collaborate-aim-bridge-digital-divide-georgia>
Wed, December 09, 2015 | Posted by ternste
<http://muninetworks.org/users/ternste>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/two-fiber-networks-collaborate-aim-bridge-digital-divide-georgia>

In October, the North Georgia Network
<http://ngn.coop/about-north-georgia-network/> (NGN) cooperative announced
<http://ngn.coop/2015/ngn-and-georgia-public-web-partner-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-and-expand-broadband-availability-to-underserved-areas-of-georgia/>the
formation of a new partnership with Georgia Public Web
<http://www.gapublicweb.net/> (GPW), a pairing that will conjoin two large
fiber optic networks that together cover most of the State of Georgia. The
newly announced partnership will enable the two organizations to more
effectively confront their shared mission to improve broadband access
across the state. Paul Belk, president and CEO of NGN, expressed his
enthusiasm for the new partnership:

GPW is a great company for NGN to work with, as we have similar goals to
serve communities challenged with ‘the digital divide.’ The companies are
great links to each other because GPW serves most of the state with the
exception of NGN’s footprint. Together we create a complete solution.

*Two Networks Become One*

This partnership connects GPW’s nearly 3,500 mile fiber optic network that
stretches across most of the state to NGN’s 1,600 mile network. As Mr. Belk
noted, a look at NGN’s network map
<http://ngn.coop/technology/interactive-network-map/> shows that it covers
one of the few remaining service areas in Georgia that GPW’s massive
network map <http://www.gapublicweb.net/Network_Map%202.html> does not
reach.

... Read our Full Coverage Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/two-fiber-networks-collaborate-aim-bridge-digital-divide-georgia>

PILOTing Positive in Tennessee
<http://muninetworks.org/content/piloting-positive-tennessee>
Fri, December 11, 2015 | Posted by ternste
<http://muninetworks.org/users/ternste>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/piloting-positive-tennessee>

As the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals reviews
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/resource-central-tn-and-nc-appeal-fcc-decision-restore-local-authority>
the
FCC's February decision
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down>
to
scale back state anti-muni laws in Tennessee, at least two munis in the
Volunteer State are giving back by saving dollars. Networks are also
contributing substantially to  public coffers via Payment in Lieu of Taxes.

*Clarksville, Tennessee, Network Becomes Revenue Positive in 2015*

As of June 2015, the city’s utility provider CDE Lightband paid off
<http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/2015/10/21/cde-lightband-black-year/74339806/?mc_cid=077a563f51&mc_eid=e00c29a42c>
all
outstanding expenses related to their fiber optic network. General manager
Brian Taylor described how the network has improved the city’s utility
services and overall economic picture:

... See the Actual Amounts These Networks Raise in Lieu of Taxes ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/piloting-positive-tennessee>

Flipping the Switch in Santa Fe
<http://muninetworks.org/content/flipping-switch-santa-fe>
Fri, December 11, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/flipping-switch-santa-fe>

In May, Chris introduced you
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/santa-fes-targeted-fiber-investment-community-broadband-bits-podcast-152>
to
Sean Moody from Santa Fe's Economic Development Division, to explain how
the community was investing in a new fiber link
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/santa-fe-ready-improve-local-internet-choice>to
better serve the local business community. With a little competition, Santa
Fe officials expect more choice, better connectivity, and improved services.

CenturyLink controls the community's only connection to the Internet and
the line bringing access to the web into the downtown district. Santa Fe's
$1 million investment creates another path to encourage other providers to
compete. Residents in Santa Fe pay approximately $50 per month for average
speeds of 5 Megabits per second (Mbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18>) while nearby Albuquerque pays
the same for 10 Mbps.

... The Switch Has Been Flipped ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/flipping-switch-santa-fe>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - December 8
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-december-8>
Tue, December 08, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-december-8>

*Community Broadband Stories By State*

*Colorado*

Voters ask city to continue broadband conversation
<http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2015/12/01/fort-collins-municipal-broadband/76637816/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=>
by
Darin Atteberry, The Coloradoan

Last month, 83 percent of Fort Collins voters chose to overturn Senate Bill
152, removing legal barriers to the city of Fort Collins’ direct or
indirect involvement in providing high-speed broadband. That vote allows us
to spend the next several months carefully exploring possibilities in order
to identify and begin planning for an appropriate model in Fort Collins.

It is clear that this community wants next-generation high-speed broadband
access. City Councilmembers and I regularly hear from residents and
businesses that the status quo is not working, and that faster speeds and
greater reliability are crucial moving forward.

 ... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-december-8>

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