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

[Christopher Mitchell]

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the Institute for
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feedback.  Forward Widely.*

*I'm at Freedom to Connect <http://freedom-to-connect.net/>!  I'm
presenting later this morning - webcast here
<http://freedom-to-connect.cleeng.com/f2c-2015/E635635429_US> for $25. F2C
is well worth supporting.*

*What a week!  *

Cable Companies Lose Big at FCC, Barriers to Community Broadband Struck Down
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down>
Thu, February 26, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down>

*For Immediate Release*: February 26, 2015

*Contact*: Christina DiPasquale, 202.716.1953, Christina at fitzgibbonmedia.com

*BREAKING: Cable Companies Lose Big at FCC, Barriers to Community Broadband
Struck Down*

Two southern cities today persuaded the Federal Communications Commission
to recognize their right to build their own publicly owned Internet
networks where existing providers had refused to invest in modern
connections. The 3-2 FCC vote removes barriers for municipal networks in
Chattanooga, Tennessee and Wilson, North Carolina, to extend their
high-quality Internet service to nearby areas.

... Our Statement Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down>

Republican Tennessee Leader Endorses Local Authority
<http://muninetworks.org/content/republican-tennessee-leader-endorses-local-authority>
Thu, February 26, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/republican-tennessee-leader-endorses-local-authority>

Republican State Senator Janice Bowling
<http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s16.html> from Tennessee is once
again speaking out in favor of local telecommunications authority. On
Monday, she published an op-ed
<http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/contributors/2015/02/23/expand-high-speed-internet-small-cities/23891515/>in
the Tennessean titled *"Don't limit high-speed broadband to big cities,"*noting
that rural communities often have no choice but to build their own
infrastructure to obtain fast, reliable, affordable Internet access for
residents and businesses.

Bowling refers to Tullahoma, her own home town, where economic growth is
strong and Internet access is affordable. Tullahoma has a history of
increasing speeds without increasing rates and now offers gigabit service
for around $100
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/lighttube-lowers-price-gig-increases-speeds-free-again>.
Unfortunately, Tullahoma is surrounded by communities it cannot help due to
the state limitations.

... Senator Bowling is a Champion of Local Choice - More Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/republican-tennessee-leader-endorses-local-authority>

City Council Moves Forward on Muni Project in Ellsworth, Maine
<http://muninetworks.org/content/city-council-moves-forward-muni-project-ellsworth-maine>
Tue, February 24, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/city-council-moves-forward-muni-project-ellsworth-maine>

The Ellsworth City Council <http://www.ellsworthmaine.gov/> voted on
February 9th to proceed with the first steps to developing yet another
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/more-muni-fiber-projects-maine> municipal
fiber network in Maine. Community leaders plan to develop open access
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625> fiber infrastructure. Five
ISPs have already expressed an interest in working with the city to provide
services via the network.

Ellsworth is home to approximately 7,500 people and is located along the
south not far from the central coast.

The Ellsworth American reports
<http://www.ellsworthamerican.com/featured/council-backs-broadband-internet-project>
that
council members decided unanimously to lease a parcel of land on which to
place a headend facility. The Ellsworth Business Development Corporation
(EBDC), which also obtained a $250,000 grant to expand high-speed Internet
in Ellsworth, will lease the property. The grant came from the Northern
Border Regional Commission in 2014
<http://bangordailynews.com/2014/09/17/business/ellsworth-to-get-250000-to-boost-availability-of-high-speed-internet-access/>
.

... Read About Yet Another Smart Maine Approach ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/city-council-moves-forward-muni-project-ellsworth-maine>
Mesa's Focus on Dig Once and Fiber Leases Pays Off - Community Broadband
Bits Podcast 139
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mesas-focus-dig-once-and-fiber-leases-pays-community-broadband-bits-podcast-139>
Tue, February 24, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mesas-focus-dig-once-and-fiber-leases-pays-community-broadband-bits-podcast-139>

Arizona's city of Mesa <http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/> is one of the largest
communities in the nation to benefit from the city taking role in ensuring
conduit <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305> and fiber are
available throughout the area. This week we talk with Alex Deshuk, the
city's Manager of Technology and Innovation that was brought on in 2008
<http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0320mr-mesatech0320.html>.

We talk about how Mesa has, for longer than a decade, ensured that it was
putting conduit in the ground and making fiber available to independent
providers as needed to ensure they had multiple options around town and
especially to select areas where they wanted to encourage development.

Having this fiber available has helped to encourage high tech investment,
including the new Apple Global Command Center.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mesas-focus-dig-once-and-fiber-leases-pays-community-broadband-bits-podcast-139>
... Read the transcript from this episode here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-139>
...
Opelika Speaks From Experience: Support Local Authority!
<http://muninetworks.org/content/opelika-speaks-experience-support-local-authority>
Wed, February 25, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/opelika-speaks-experience-support-local-authority>

Opelika has offered FTTH <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13> to
residents and businesses for less than six months
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rates-approved-opelika-community-fiber-network>but
already it is singing the praises of local choice. Mayor Gary Fuller is now
speaking out in an opinion piece in AL.com
<http://blog.al.com/press-releases/2015/02/how_opelika_a_town_you_may_not.html>,
encouraging the FCC to allow Wilson, Chattanooga, and other communities to
have the same opportunity as Opelika.

Mayor Fuller points out that local telecommunications authority is an
organic outgrowth of local self-reliance:

Cities have always been at the heart of economic expansion,
entrepreneurialism, and local connection to citizens, charged with ensuring
high-quality education for our children, caring for our sick and elderly
neighbors, and laying the foundation for shared prosperity. As we look to
the years ahead, high-speed broadband will only become more and more
important to the quality and vitality of our community.

That's why in Opelika, I led the charge to become the first city in Alabama
to offer this cutting edge technology, both to residential and business
customers. As a result, Opelika citizens now have access to fast, reliable
broadband speeds that will turn possibilities into real opportunities.
Businesses now have more opportunities to expand and grow, work more
effectively and efficiently, and compete in a larger market.

... Read the Full Coverage Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/opelika-speaks-experience-support-local-authority>
Mitchell to Speak in Syracuse on March 4th
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mitchell-speak-syracuse-march-4th>
Sat, February 28, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/mitchell-speak-syracuse-march-4th>

Chris will travel to Syracuse, New York to speak on March 4th as part of
Syracuse MetroNet's Broadband Speaker Series. If you are in the area and
interested in attending, the lecture will be at 7 p.m. at Grewen Auditorium
at the Le Moyne College <http://www.lemoyne.edu/> campus. A PDF of the
press release <http://www.syracusemetronet.com/MitchellPressRelease.pdf> is
available online.

Syracuse MetroNet <http://www.syracusemetronet.com/index.html> serves
fifteen community anchor institutions, including hospitals, educational
institutions, government agencies, and community organizations.
Unfortunately, the connectivity situation for businesses and residents
needs a better solution.

Last fall, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner expressed interest
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/calls-grow-community-network-syracuse> in
developing a municipal network to improve connectivity in this community of
147,000. Residents now depend on Time Warner Cable for service and do not
treasure the idea of dealing with an even bigger behemoth, should the
merger with Comcast come to pass.

... Come on Out! ...

Rochester Pursues Business Case Study for Muni Network in Minnesota
<http://muninetworks.org/content/rochester-pursues-business-case-study-muni-network-minnesota>
Mon, February 23, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/rochester-pursues-business-case-study-muni-network-minnesota>

The Rochester <http://www.rochestermn.gov/> City Council recently voted
unanimously to move forward with a study on the possibilities of publicly
owned broadband in this southeastern city. Rochester will then decide
whether to move forward with bids to form a public-private partnership for
a network, or pursue another path.

After receiving dozens of calls from his constituents, City Councilman Michael
Wojcik
<http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/citycouncil/biographys/michaelwojcik.asp>
is
asking his colleagues to consider a municipal network. Rochester’s area
holds a population of about 110,000, and is home to the world-famous Mayo
Clinic <http://www.mayoclinic.org/>.

According to the Rochester Post-Bulletin
<http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/rochester-considers-city-operated-broadband/article_20930d2e-db74-5d97-a830-29ed61b512f7.html>,
Charter Communications operates its cable TV and Internet services under a
franchise <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term12> agreement with the
city. That agreement is up for a renewal on March 31.
... Read our Full Coverage Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/rochester-pursues-business-case-study-muni-network-minnesota>

Benton Foundation Article Dives Into Upcoming FCC Decision and Section 706
<http://muninetworks.org/content/benton-foundation-article-dives-upcoming-fcc-decision-and-section-706>
Wed, February 25, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/benton-foundation-article-dives-upcoming-fcc-decision-and-section-706>

Kevin Taglang, recently published an excellent explanatory post for the
Benton Foundation entitled *What Section 706 Means for Net Neutrality,
Municipal Networks, and Universal Broadband
<https://www.benton.org/blog/what-section-706-means-net-neutrality-municipal-networks-and-universal-broadband?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email>.
*He
provides just the right amount of detail to get one up top speed on the
upcoming decision and why it promises to be so influential. Additionally,
he summarizes many federal programs relating to Internet access.

We already know that February 26th will be an historic day in
telecommunications. On that day, the FCC's decision on new network
neutrality rules and municipal broadband networks has the potential to
literally change millions of lives. The decision will impact education,
economic development, jobs, healthcare, communications, utilities - you
name it.

... This is a Great Resource from Benton ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/benton-foundation-article-dives-upcoming-fcc-decision-and-section-706>
Community Broadband Media Roundup - February 27
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-27>
Sat, February 28, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-27>

This week, the FCC made an historic decision in favor of municipal networks
in Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC. Chris was in Washington, DC to witness
the vote, hear the testimony, and celebrate the hard work of several
organizations.

As Brendan Sasso with the National Journal reported, "The issue is one of
the most controversial that the FCC will vote on this year. But it was
largely overshadowed Thursday by the even more explosive debate over
net-neutrality regulations." We have full coverage of both decisions this
week.

*Municipal Broadband Decision*

*Feds Nullify State Laws on City Internet*
<http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/the-future-of-broadband/feds-nullifies-state-laws-on-city-internet-20150226>:
Net
neutrality may get more attention, but the FCC is also making a major push
for community Internet service—a priority for Obama. This by Brendan Sasso,
National Journal...

... See all the Statements here in the Roundup ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-27>

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