[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 5/12

Tue May 12 06:26:39 PDT 2015

 *Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the **Institute for
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The Latest on Wired West Rural Fiber - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 149
<http://muninetworks.org/content/latest-wired-west-rural-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-149>
Tue, May 05, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/latest-wired-west-rural-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-149>

Our second episode
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-2-wired-west-podcast>
of
Community Broadband Bits featured an interview with Monica Webb, Chair of
the Wired West Board and Spokesperson. Three years later, we are excited to
have Monica on the show again to update us on their recent progress.

As we recently noted
<http://muninetworks.org/content/shutesbury-and-wendell-residents-ready-vote-wiredwest>,
the state has decided to contribute significantly to the capital costs of a
network connecting these rural towns and the towns are currently voting on
whether to move forward.

In our discussion, we discuss Wired West and what it is like to live with
very poor Internet access in 2015. You can read all of our coverage of
Wired West here <http://muninetworks.org/tags-312>. Keep an eye on
@Wired_West <https://twitter.com/wired_west> on Twitter for breaking news -
2 more communities voted to move forward with overwhelming majorities last
night!

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/latest-wired-west-rural-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-149>

Dakota County Expanding Fiber Network
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dakota-county-expanding-fiber-network>
Thu, May 07, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dakota-county-expanding-fiber-network>

Minnesota's Dakota County community leaders are planning to expand their
existing fiber optic network, reports Blandin on Broadband's Ann Treacy
<http://blandinonbroadband.org/2015/04/21/dakota-county-approves-1-million-for-more-fiber/>.
She attended a recent County Commissioner's meeting in which commissioners
approved $1.2 million to add another 500,000 feet to the network.

Dakota County plans to perform some upgrades in addition to the expansion.
They hope to collaborate with municipal and state government as well as a
local school district. In addition to connecting more public facilities, a
key benefit of this expansion will be to improve traffic signals along
several busy corridors.

Dakota County is taking advantage of transportation projects and its dig
once policy
<http://www.muninetworks.org/content/dakota-county-fiber-rich-thanks-dig-once-approach-community-broadband-bits-podcast-117>
to
install conduit <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305> and fiber.
This project will also add redundancy and capacity to the existing network
and create potential connections to an industrial park. By sharing the cost
of the expansion and the maintenance, each participating entity will see
many benefits at a fraction of the cost from leasing from an incumbent
provider.

... More Details from Dakota County in our Full Story ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dakota-county-expanding-fiber-network>

ECFiber Adds 1,000th Customer; Continues to Expand in Vermont
<http://muninetworks.org/content/ecfiber-adds-1000th-customer-continues-expand-vermont>
Wed, May 06, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/ecfiber-adds-1000th-customer-continues-expand-vermont>

In April, ECFiber connected it 1,000th customer in Thetford Hill. Users at
the First Congregational Church, described as the oldest meeting house in
the state, have nothing but kudos for ECFiber and their new high-speed
symmetrical <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24>Internet access.
>From the press release
<http://ecfiber.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-04-23-press-release.pdf>
 [PDF]:

“The service has been great so far,” said David Hooke, Chair of the Board
of Trustees, “and we really appreciate that ECFiber is a community owned
organization committed to bringing state of the art connectivity to rural
east central Vermont. This will be a boon for the whole region.”

To celebrate the milestone, ECFiber Chairman Irv Thomae presented a special
certificate to the Church.

... Read the Rest of the This Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/ecfiber-adds-1000th-customer-continues-expand-vermont>

Paul Bunyan Communications Spreading Fiber Across Northern MN
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn>
Mon, May 04, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn>

The northern half of Minnesota, despite its rural character, is rapidly
improving in high quality Internet access. Paul Bunyan Communications
<http://www.paulbunyan.net/index.html>, the cooperative serving much of the
Bemijdi area, began work on its GigaZone network last fall and the network
is snaking its way across the region. According to an April 20th press
release <http://www.paulbunyan.net/cooperative/news/index.html> from the
cooperative, GigaZone is now available to 500 more locations from the rural
areas near Lake George to Itasca State Park. This brings the number of
customers with access to GigaZone to 5,000.

Rates for symmetrical <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24> Internet
access range from *$44.95 per month for 20 Mbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18>* to *$74.95* *per month for 50
Mbps*. Higher speeds are available, including gigabit Internet access, but
the cooperative asks potential customers to call for pricing.

... Read Our Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn>

Seattle Times Supports Universal, Affordable Municipal Network
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-times-supports-universal-affordable-municipal-network>
Fri, May 08, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-times-supports-universal-affordable-municipal-network>

*The Editorial Board of the Seattle Times wants Mayor Ed Murray and his
administration to put affordability and ubiquitous access near the top of
the list as it considers a municipal fiber network. In a May 7th editorial
<http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/mayor-murray-should-bring-universal-broadband-service-to-seattle/>,
the Board acknowledged that Internet access in the City is available, but
apparently not at affordable rates for everyone. *

One of the next topics for Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to address is whether
taxpayers in Software City should support a new broadband network.

... This is an Excellent Sign of Support for Seattle Muni Fiber ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-times-supports-universal-affordable-municipal-network>

Video Available: Connecticut Gigabit State Event
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-available-connecticut-gigabit-state-event>
Sun, May 10, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-available-connecticut-gigabit-state-event>

On May 5th, Christopher participated in a panel conversation presented by
the City of New Haven and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel. Video
of the event,*Moving Towards A Gigabit State: Planning & Financing
Municipal Ultra-High-Speed Internet Fiber Networks Through Public-Private
Partnerships*, is now available.

You can watch it from the Connecticut Network website
<http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?id=11499>. The final panel has, in order of
appearance, Bill Vallee, Joanne Hovis, Christopher, Monica Webb, and Jim
Baller. It begins around 3:18 and Christopher begins his presentation at
3:36. The entire video is approximately 4 hours, 30 minutes.

... Link to This Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-available-connecticut-gigabit-state-event>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - May 8, 2015
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-8-2015>
Sun, May 10, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-8-2015>

*State-by-State Community Network Coverage*

*Maine*

Bangor panel argues state must invest in broadband or fall behind
<http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/29/business/bangor-panel-argues-state-must-invest-in-broadband-or-fall-behind/>
by Nick
McCrea, Bangor Daily News

Broadband’s influence on economic development is an “academic marvel,
because it’s the only thing that all economists agree on,” according to
[Tilson Tech broadband consultant, Aaron] Paul. He argued the
infrastructure is “fundamentally cheap,” when compared with investments,
such as natural gas connections, because fiber optic cables can be hung on
utility poles.

*Maryland*

Baltimore Broadband Coalition wants your input
<https://technical.ly/baltimore/2015/04/27/baltimore-broadband-coalition-seeks-input/>
by
Stephen Babcock, Technical.ly

... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-8-2015>

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