[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 6/9

[Christopher Mitchell]

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the *
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*Sending this from the excellent Mountain Connect Broadband Conference in
Colorado. Shoutout to Rick Harnish, Dave Zelenok (who is presenting a
keynote as I finish this) and many others who are here and read this weekly
digest!*


Upgrade Seattle on Need For Better Access - Community Broadband Bits
Episode 153
<http://muninetworks.org/content/upgrade-seattle-need-better-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-153>
Tue, June 02, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/upgrade-seattle-need-better-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-153>

We were excited to begin writing about the Upgrade Seattle
<http://www.upgradeseattle.com/> campaign back in January
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey>
and
this week we are presenting a discussion with several people behind the
campaign for episode 153 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast.

We are joined by Sabrina Roach
<http://community.brownpapertickets.com/Doers/radio.html>, Devin Glaser,
and Karen Toering to discuss what motivates the Upgrade Seattle campaign
and the impact it hopes to have on the community.

We discuss their strategy for improving Internet access, how people are
reacting, and how Upgrade Seattle is already working with, learning from,
and sharing lessons to, people organizing in other communities for similar
goals.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/upgrade-seattle-need-better-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-153>
... Read the transcript from our discussion here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-153>
 ...

Co-Mo Cooperative Facing Off With Subsidized CenturyLink in Missouri
<http://muninetworks.org/content/co-mo-cooperative-facing-subsidized-centurylink-missouri>
Wed, June 03, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/co-mo-cooperative-facing-subsidized-centurylink-missouri>

Parts of rural central Missouri have some of the fastest Internet service
available thanks to fiber service from Co-Mo Electric Cooperative
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/co-mo-cooperative-bringing-some-fastest-speeds-nation-rural-missouri>
and
United Electric Cooperative. The two have worked together to bring gigabit
FTTH <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13> to cooperative members in
central Missouri. Now that they have proven that people and businesses want
high capacity connectivity, CenturyLink is about to enter the scene. The
company plans to use millions of dollars in Connect America Funds (CAF) to
build in areas already served by the cooperatives.

After years of planning and hard work, Co-Mo and United are not taking the
threat lightly. They have filed challenges with the Wireline Competition
Bureau but CenturyLink's Inside-the-Beltway power has thus far served them
well. The Wireline Competition Bureau denied a challenge by Co-Mo and
United but the decision appears to contradict established policy. Co-Mo and
United recently appealed to the FCC asking them to review the Bureau's
Order allowing CenturyLink to use over $10 million in CAF. [Read the
Application
for Review here
<http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view;NEWECFSSESSION=1BC9VC4Qbc9yp27ycZ3W1WdJTNZFPMQLHhTLsZj7HhJRrXyGGGnx!1460960001!118464228?id=60001045190>
.]

... Read this Incredibly Frustrating Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/co-mo-cooperative-facing-subsidized-centurylink-missouri>

Islesboro, Maine, Voters Approve First Round of Muni Funding
<http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-voters-approve-first-round-muni-funding>
Thu, June 04, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-voters-approve-first-round-muni-funding>

Islesboro residents voted on May 30th to move forward with their municipal
network plan. According to the Islesboro Press Herald
<http://www.pressherald.com/2015/05/30/islesboro-acts-to-become-maines-most-wired-island/>,
approximately 75 percent of voters attending the annual town meeting
approved a motion to spend $206,830 on an engineering study and contractor
search. Approximately 200 residents attended.

As we reported in March,
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/isleboro-maine-will-vote-bond-municipal-network-may>
the
community has been working since 2012 on a plan for a fiber network to
improve connectivity for businesses and the almost 600 residents on the
island. The infrastructure will belong to the Town of Isleboro; GWI will
offer services via the network. The entire project estimate is $2.5 - $3
million to be funded with a municipal bond.

Many of the island's residents now obtain Internet access via DSL
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term9> from Fairpoint, which has been
described as spotty and unreliable, for $20 - $70 per month. GWI already
operates on the island, offering wireless service.

... A Few More Details Available Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-voters-approve-first-round-muni-funding>

In NC, Bald Head Island Releases RFP for Gigabit Network
<http://muninetworks.org/content/nc-bald-head-island-releases-rfp-gigabit-network>
Mon, June 01, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/nc-bald-head-island-releases-rfp-gigabit-network>

The Village of Bald Head Island, North Carolina <http://www.villagebhi.org/>,
recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP), in its search for an FTTP
network. The Village, home to about 160 year-round residents, is accessible
only by ferry. Transportation on the island is limited to feet, bikes, and
electric golf carts. While they may choose slower transportation methods,
the people of the island want speed when it comes to Internet access.

Members of the community began working on the idea in the summer of 2013 as
part of an initiative that involved several challenges facing this quiet
community. They determined that the economic health of local businesses and
quality of life depended on improving access, traditionally provided by
AT&T and Tele-Media.

Real estate professionals on the island noted that lack of broadband
interfered with the housing market.

... Read Our Coverage of the Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/nc-bald-head-island-releases-rfp-gigabit-network>

Lessons Learned from Community Outreach in Gilberts, Illinois
<http://muninetworks.org/content/lessons-learned-community-outreach-gilberts-illinois>
Wed, June 03, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/lessons-learned-community-outreach-gilberts-illinois>

Earlier this year, we reported
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/small-illinois-town-will-vote-fiber-investment-april>
on
the Village of Gilberts, Illinois, where voters defeated a measure
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/gilberts-voters-say-no-tax-increase-muni>
to
approve general obligation bonds for a municipal network project. Our story
got the attention of Bill Beith, Assistant Village Administrator from
Gilberts who contacted us to talk about the project and provide detail on
their efforts to educate the voters prior to the election.

The project would have raised property taxes 1.8 percent or approximately
$150 per year on a property with a $250,000 market value. Even though the
network would have been a publicly owned asset, Beith believes the idea of
any new taxes defeated the measure. As the community considered the
project, voters stated repeatedly that Comcast or one of the other
incumbents should pay for deployment of infrastructure. Unfortunately, the
Village had approached incumbents who had no interest in building in
Gilberts. They felt the investment would not pay off in a community that is
home to about 6,800 people.

... Important Lessons Learned Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/lessons-learned-community-outreach-gilberts-illinois>

Dublin Plans Upgrade Dublink to 100 Gbps
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dublin-plans-upgrade-dublink-100-gbps>
Thu, June 04, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dublin-plans-upgrade-dublink-100-gbps>

Dublin, Ohio's Dublink has been saving public dollars and spurring economic
development since 2002. The gigabit fiber network is on the verge of a 100
gigabit upgrade. The Dublin Villager reports
<http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/dublin/news/2015/05/12/council-oks-100-gigabit-broadband-plan.html>
that
in early May the City Council voted to implement the 100-Gigabit Dublink
Ignite program.

According to the Villager:

The city has budgeted $865,000 over the next six years to complete the
project, [City Manager Dana] McDaniel said, and will also use $300,000 in
state funds and $360,000 from the Ohio Academic Resource Network for use of
additional fiber optics for the project.

Increasing the city's fiber capability will allow the Dublin to provide
fiber optics to older office buildings and make then more attractive,
McDaniel said.

In addition to bringing fiber to a greater number of office buildings, the
project may even lead to "fiber to the cubicle."

... This Ain't Ireland - It's OHIO! ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dublin-plans-upgrade-dublink-100-gbps>

ALEC in Savannah: Local News Video Exposes the Corrupt Process of Lawmaking
<http://muninetworks.org/content/alec-savannah-local-news-video-exposes-corrupt-process-lawmaking>
Fri, June 05, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>

We have reported on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in the
past and stories about ALEC sponsored legislative retreats pop up in the
news on a regulary basis. Most recently, NBC Channel 11 from Atlanta reported
on
<http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/investigations/2015/05/21/investigators-legislators-and-corporate-lobbyists-meet-in-secret-at-georgia-resort/27695105/>
the
shadowy world of big corporate influence in Georgia.

None of this will be new to anyone familiar with ALEC's shadowy way of
doing business, but having it on video makes it more compelling.

Brendan Keefe visited Savannah and tried to observe one of these meetings
between ALEC corporate members and state legislators. Even though Keefe and
his crew had an official press pass, they were blocked from entering the
meeting.

... Watch the Videos Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/alec-savannah-local-news-video-exposes-corrupt-process-lawmaking>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 7
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-7>
Tue, June 09, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-7>

Living Without Broadband In 2015: How 55 Million Americans Find Jobs,
Study, Watch YouTube
<http://www.ibtimes.com/living-without-broadband-2015-how-55-million-americans-find-jobs-study-watch-youtube-1943615>
by
Kerry Flynn, International Business Times

*Community Network News By State*

*Ohio*

Ohio electric cooperative to provide fiber services to 15 school districts,
local businesses
<http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/ohio-electric-cooperative-provide-fiber-services-15-school-districts-local/2015-06-05>
by
Sean Buckley, Fierce Telecom

*North Carolina*

For Wilson's Greenlight Community Broadband, fiber waiting game in full
swing
<http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/techflash/2015/06/greenlight-community-broadband-fiber-wilson-nc.html>
by
Lauren K. Ohnesorge, Triangle Business Journal Journal

... Read the Full Roundup Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-7>

-- 
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