[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 6/3

[Christopher Mitchell]

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the *
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Public Private Partnerships: A Reality Check
<http://muninetworks.org/content/public-private-partnerships-reality-check>
Tue, May 26, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/public-private-partnerships-reality-check>

When Westminster, a community of 18,000 in rural Maryland, found itself
with poor Internet access that incumbents refused to improve, it decided to
join the ranks of a growing trend: public-private-partnerships between
local governments and private companies to invest in next-generation
Internet access. They arenow working with Ting
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting>
- one
of a growing number of private sector firms seeking partnerships with
cities – though how partnerships are structured varies significantly across
communities.

In building an infrastructure intended to serve the community for decades,
city leaders knew Westminster should retain ownership of the network to
ensure it would remain locally accountable. Ting is leasing fiber on the
network and providing Internet services to the community with plans to
offer some type of video in the near future. The public-private-partnership
(or “P3”) includes a temporary exclusivity arrangement for two years or
when a minimum number of subscriptions are activated. Westminster will then
have the ability to open up its network to other providers in an open access
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625> arrangement.

... This is an In-Depth, Balanced Discussion on a Topical Matter ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/public-private-partnerships-reality-check>

Santa Fe's Targeted Fiber Investment - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 152
<http://muninetworks.org/content/santa-fes-targeted-fiber-investment-community-broadband-bits-podcast-152>
Tue, May 26, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/santa-fes-targeted-fiber-investment-community-broadband-bits-podcast-152>

After Santa Fe found its residents and businesses were often paying the
same rates for connections at half the speed of peers in Albuquerque, the
City began investigating the local broadband market. This week on Community
Broadband Bits, Sean Moody joins us to discuss the situation and what Santa
Fe is doing to spur more investment.

Sean works in the Economic Development Division of the City as a Special
Projects Administrator. He explains the bottleneck in middle mile
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term456> access that allowed
CenturyLink to charge higher rates for backhaul
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term812> than are common in similar
communities.

The City decided to invest $1 million in a new fiber link that would bypass
the choke point and allow various independent companies to have a better
choice for access to the wider Internet. Along the way, the City partnered
with the state for additional benefits.

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/santa-fes-targeted-fiber-investment-community-broadband-bits-podcast-152>

EPB and Chattanooga Will Lower Price of Internet for Low Income Students
<http://muninetworks.org/content/epb-and-chattanooga-will-lower-price-internet-low-income-students>
Wed, May 27, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/epb-and-chattanooga-will-lower-price-internet-low-income-students>

In an effort to extend the benefits of its gigabit network to lower income
Chattanooga school kids, Mayor Andy Berke announced that the EPB will soon
offer the "Netbridge Student Program."

WDEF reports
<http://www.wdef.com/news/story/EPB-Offers-High-Speed-Internet-to-Low-Income/Uj3OuxX3PkWjipV7oX2mNQ.cspx>
that
children will qualify for the program if they are enrolled in Hamilton
County schools and are currently enrolled in the free or reduced price
lunch program. Comcast's Internet Essentials uses the same eligibility
criteria. Households that qualify will be able to sign up for 100 Mbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18> service for $26.99 per month.
Details are still being discussed.

Last year, Hamilton County schools replaced a number of textbooks with
iPads in an attempt to take advantage of Chattanooga's fiber asset to
improve student performance. The move revealed a grim reality - that many
students' access to that incredible gigabit network (or any network)
stopped when they walked out of the school.

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/epb-and-chattanooga-will-lower-price-internet-low-income-students>

Seattle Energy Committee Meets to Discuss Muni Fiber Possibilities: Video
Available
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-energy-committee-meets-discuss-muni-fiber-possibilities-video-available>
Thu, May 28, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-energy-committee-meets-discuss-muni-fiber-possibilities-video-available>

As the talk of municipal broadband grows louder in Seattle, city leaders
are gathering to learn more about what deploying at a fiber network may
entail. On May 13th, the Seattle Energy Committee and leaders from citizen
group Upgrade Seattle <http://www.upgradeseattle.com/> met to discuss the
needs, challenges, and possibilities. Chris joined them via Skype to
provide general information and answer questions. He was in Atlanta at the
time of the meeting. Video of the entire meeting
<http://www.seattlechannel.org/mayor-and-council/city-council/20142015-energy-committee?videoid=x54040>
is
now available via the Seattle Channel and embedded below.

King5 also covered the meeting
<http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/seattle/2015/05/13/could-municipal-public-internet-pay-off-for-seattleites/27276449/>
(video
below).

... Watch the Video and Read the Rest of the Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-energy-committee-meets-discuss-muni-fiber-possibilities-video-available>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 1
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-1>
Wed, June 03, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-1>

*Colorado*

Internet speed wars escalate in region
<http://bizwest.com/internet-speed-wars-escalate-in-region/> by Joshua
Lindenstein, BizWest

Editorial: Fort Collins needs municipal broadband
<http://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2015/05/31/fort-collins-municipal-broadband/28072195/>,
The
Coloradoan Editorial Board

Other potential benefits, as we see it, include increased telecommuting
(which will get cars off the road and ease the congestion issues as Fort
Collins grows). Some people would also be able to cut ties with their
satellite dishes and cable boxes — and the associated costs — because
everything is available and, presumably, faster to access online.

Sure, being able to download <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8> and
watch a movie online faster would be more convenient, but it's not
life-changing. However, as innovations like telemedicine — communicating
with care providers via a video conference online before stepping into a
doctor's office — become more common, we need to have Internet speeds that
can keep up with advancements.

... Read the Full Roundup here! ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-1>

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