[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 2/3

[Christopher Mitchell]

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Seattle Grassroots Muni Initiative Kicks Off With Campaign Survey
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey>
Thu, January 29, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey>

Seattleites tired of waiting
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/seattleites-want-more-rhetoric-quest-better-broadband>
for
incumbents to provide better services, have decided to launch a campaign to
establish Internet access as a public utility. In order to get the campaign
off to a strong start, the founding group has launched a survey
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YQE9TaX6wg2e8rAdNtSXsX3fAsqKd4MN5JfVBezXqxA/viewform?c=0&w=1&fbzx=-7650443809731904999>
to
choose a name.

Seattle has significant fiber resources in place, an electric utility, and
strong grassroots support. Unfortunately, incumbent Comcast has been trying
to curry favor within City Hall
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/broadband-complicated-piece-seattle-mayor-race>.
But given that Seattle has joined Next Century Cities
<http://nextcenturycities.org/>, the City seems focused on exploring all of
its options.

When Chris presented in Seattle
<http://muninetworks.org/content/christopher-mitchell-presentation-video-seattle-and-muni-networks>,
he strongly encouraged them to organize a grassroots effort to support a
community network.

... Learn More About Their Approach Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey>

Massachusetts Towns Consider WiredWest Opportunity
<http://muninetworks.org/content/massachusetts-towns-consider-wiredwest-opportunity>
Mon, January 26, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/massachusetts-towns-consider-wiredwest-opportunity>

Eleven Select boards in Franklin County are ready to take the next step
with WiredWest <http://wiredwest.net/> Cooperative. According to the
Recorder
<http://www.recorder.com/home/15124054-95/wiredwest-towns-ready-for-next-step?utm_content=buffera72df&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer>,
the towns of Ashfield, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, New
Salem, Rowe, Shutesbury, Warwick and Wendell have all approved nonbinding
resolutions taking them into the financial planning phase.

Last fall, the organization and the Massachusetts Broadband Institute
(MBI) agreed
to meet on a regular schedule
<http://wiredwest.net/2014/09/24/announcement-of-collaboration-on-last-mile-efforts/>.
The two organizations began meeting with town Select Boards in order to
update them on financial obligations to help them decide whether or not to
participate.

WiredWest Cooperative has worked with The Western Massachusetts Legislative
Delegation On The Last Mile
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term17> Broadband
Solution to create a strategy to improve connectivity statewide. In
addition to WiredWest, the group included MBI, the Franklin Regional
Council of Governments (FRCOG), and the Mass TechCollaborative. Several
state lawmakers, including Senator Stan Rosenberg
<http://wiredwest.net/2014/09/24/announcement-of-collaboration-on-last-mile-efforts/>,
participated in the delegation.


... Much More Detail Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/massachusetts-towns-consider-wiredwest-opportunity>


OneCommunity's Middle Way - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 135
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunitys-middle-way-community-broadband-bits-podcast-135>
Tue, January 27, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunitys-middle-way-community-broadband-bits-podcast-135>

OneCommunity <http://www.onecommunity.org/> is a nonprofit organization in
northeastern Ohio that has connected thousands of community anchor
institutions with high capacity connections. Created as OneCleveland before
expanding, it has remained a rather unique approach to expanding high
quality Internet access. This week, CEO Lev Gonick joins us to talk about
OneCommunity and its contributions to the region.

As neither a private company nor a local government, Lev believes that
OneCommunity offers a third way, something they often call a
"community-driven" approach. We discuss how a big city like Cleveland needs
to think about solving the problem of expanding Internet access broadly.

OneCommunity has just announced the recipients of its Big Gig Challenge
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients>
and
Lev shares some of the lessons they learned in evaluating proposals and
working with the communities that competed for the prize.

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunitys-middle-way-community-broadband-bits-podcast-135>

Fourth Annual IAMU Broadband Conference: March 18th - 19th in Des Moines
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fourth-annual-iamu-broadband-conference-march-18th-19th-des-moines>
Fri, January 30, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fourth-annual-iamu-broadband-conference-march-18th-19th-des-moines>

Spring is the time for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities
(IAMU)Broadband
Conference in Des Moines <http://www.iamu.org/en/services/broadband/>. This
year is it scheduled for March 18th and 19th at the Ramada Tropics and
Resort Center <http://www.ramadatropicsresort.com/attractions.php> downtown.
Don't forget your swimsuit!

Chris will be presenting again this year. He has been there 2 out of the
last 3 years and it is always a good time with lots of great energy. This
year they are particularly welcoming people from outside Iowa as well - so
put it on your calendar if you are nearby!

... Hope you Can Come! ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fourth-annual-iamu-broadband-conference-march-18th-19th-des-moines>

Boston Globe the Latest to Support Local Authority
<http://muninetworks.org/content/boston-globe-latest-support-local-authority>
Wed, January 28, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/boston-globe-latest-support-local-authority>

Yet another major news outlet has endorsed the President's position in
support of local telecommunications authority. On January 26th, the Boston
Globe went on record
<http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2015/01/26/congress-should-let-cities-provide-their-own-internetcongress-should-let-cities-build-their-own-broadband-high-speed-internet-access-for/Abx1YJxkzLxt4964ONDjUJ/story.html?event=event25>
to
endorse the concept, urging the FCC and Congress to work together to ensure
local communities have the right to make their own connecitvity decisions.

The Globe suggested that, rather than allowing the FCC to take the lead
with the Wilson and Chattanooga petition decisions
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/fcc-our-best-shot-restore-local-authority>,
federal lawmakers take action:

A better approach would be for Congress to settle the issue itself, by
preventing states from interfering with cities and towns that want to start
their own Internet services.

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/boston-globe-latest-support-local-authority>


OneCommunity Announces "Big Gig Challenge" Award Recipients
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients>
Tue, January 27, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients>

Last fall, nonprofit ISP OneCommunity  created the "Big Gig Challenge"
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/nonprofit-isp-offers-%E2%80%9Cbig-gig-challenge%E2%80%9D-connect-northeast-ohio>
to
jump start expansion and promote gigabit applications in northeast Ohio.
The organization recently announced
<http://www.onecommunity.org/big-gig-recipients/> the winners and provided
some information about their projects.

The West 25th Corridor project, running through Ohio City, Tremont,
Clark-Fulton, Brooklyn Centre, and Old Brooklyn is a four mile stretch that
will affect small business, the Cleveland Clinic, two MetroHealth Systems
campuses, and several other large employers. This project also reaches 14
sites that could be developed and over 900 properties. It is a
collaborative project that includes four Cleveland Wards.

... Read Our Full Coverage Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients>


CLIC Presents Special Pre-Conference Event at 2015 Broadband Summit in
Austin
<http://muninetworks.org/content/clic-presents-special-pre-conference-event-2015-broadband-summit-austin>
Tue, January 27, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/clic-presents-special-pre-conference-event-2015-broadband-summit-austin>

The 2015 Broadband Communities Summit <http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/> is
scheduled for April 14 - 16 in Austin, Texas. When you book your flight and
reserve your room, plan on coming a day early so you can take advantage of
the is year's special pre-conference event. The Coalition for Local
Internet Choice <http://www.localnetchoice.org/> (CLIC) will offer a full
day's agenda <http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/pages/15CLICconference.php>on the
politics of local Internet choice on Monday, April 13.

Chris will speak at both events. As Senior Advisor to CLIC, he will be
speaking on Monday to CLIC pre-conference attendees and then addressing
economic development at the Broadband Communities Summit on Tuesday, April
14. The Summit Agenda at a Glance
<http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/pages/15agenda-at-a-glance.php> is now
available to view.

For a limited time, CLIC members can register online
<https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1559280> for the
CLIC program for $125 and attend the*entire* Summit for free. Choose the
CODEHOLDERS button and enter the code *CLIC125* to receive the special rate.

(Pssst! This is an awesome deal! You save $895!)

... Link to this Post Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/clic-presents-special-pre-conference-event-2015-broadband-summit-austin>

Missoula Maps Local Fiber Assets, Encourages New Installation
<http://muninetworks.org/content/missoula-maps-local-fiber-assets-encourages-new-installation>
Wed, January 28, 2015 | Posted by tanderson
<http://muninetworks.org/users/tanderson>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/missoula-maps-local-fiber-assets-encourages-new-installation>

Last August, we wrote
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/missoula-releases-results-broadband-feasibility-study>
 and podcasted
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/missoula-pursues-open-access-fiber-jobs-community-broadband-bits-podcast-112>
about
the results of a broadband feasibility study for the City of Missoula,
which recommended developing an open access
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625>network with approximately 60
miles of underground fiber through a public private partnership. The study
also demonstrated a significant need for improved connectivity in the
central business district, with almost 40% of businesses saying their
connections were insufficient for their needs. The study also recommended a
variety of fairly small policy changes to encourage the spread of fiber
optics, such as a “dig once” conduit
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305> policy.

Early in December, the Missoula City Council acted on at at least one of
those recommendations by lowering the fee the city charges for excavating
and installing new fiber optic lines in the public right-of-way by 75
percent. City Councilwoman Caitlin Copple, who has spearheaded the efforts
for better connectivity in Missoula and appeared on our Broadband Bits podcast
in August
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/missoula-pursues-open-access-fiber-jobs-community-broadband-bits-podcast-112>,
described lowering the fee this way to the Missoulian newspaper
<http://missoulian.com/business/local/new-network-map-reveals-missoula-s-internet-needs/article_7b24c2e1-7927-5f8e-bc2e-323d8ac74d48.html>
:

“It’s a gesture of good will to the service providers that we want to work
with them,” said Copple, who chairs the city’s Economic Development
Subcommittee. “It was a unanimous vote, and it shows Missoula is serious
about business.”

... More on Their Approach Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/missoula-maps-local-fiber-assets-encourages-new-installation>

Local Authority Restrictions One of the "Worst Policy Ideas of 2014"
According to Wonkblog
<http://muninetworks.org/content/local-authority-restrictions-one-worst-policy-ideas-2014-according-wonkblog>
Sat, January 31, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/local-authority-restrictions-one-worst-policy-ideas-2014-according-wonkblog>

We are well into the new year; a look back at 2014 can be instructive if we
strive to learn from our mistakes. A December article from the Washington
post Wonkblog listed "11 of the worst policy ideas of 2014"
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/30/11-of-the-worst-policy-ideas-of-2014/>
and,
of course, state barriers restricting local telecommunications authority
was on the list:

Fed up with limited choices, high prices and shoddy service, many cities
want to turn their back on large Internet providers by building their own
municipal broadband service. Standing in their way are state legislatures,
lobbyists for the telecom industry and even federal lawmakers who believe
states should have control over what projects their cities invest in.

Fortunately, this is something that we can change - let's educate elected
officials to ensure there are no new barriers and existing barriers are
repealed.

-- 
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