[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 10/6

Christopher Mitchell christopher at newrules.org
Tue Oct 6 11:47:23 PDT 2015 

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the **Institute for
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Spanish Fork Building Gig Fiber over Cable Network - Community Broadband
Bits Podcast 170
<http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-building-gig-fiber-over-cable-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-170>
Tue, September 29, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-building-gig-fiber-over-cable-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-170>

The Spanish Fork Community Network has long been among the most successful
community broadband projects. And now that the community has finished
paying off the debt of the network, they are using the net income to
upgrade to a fiber network that will be capable of delivering a symmetrical
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24> gigabit to anyone in town.

John Bowcut, Director of Information Systems and SFCN Director, speaks with
us again this week to explain how the project is doing and how they plan to
upgrade to fiber. They are pursuing a unique upgrade to our knowledge --
they are building fiber over the coax and will operate both. Telephone and
Internet access will run over the fiber and television over the cable.

The network has paid back its debt and continues to generate impressive
community savings. With a take rate
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term25> of 80 percent of the community,
the network saves a cumulative $3 million each year. That is a lot of money
circulating in the city of 35,000 people.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-building-gig-fiber-over-cable-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-170>
... Read the Transcript here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-170>
...

Carrier Neutral Facilities Creates Big Savings in Steamboat Springs
<http://muninetworks.org/content/carrier-neutral-facilities-creates-big-savings-steamboat-springs>
Tue, September 29, 2015 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/carrier-neutral-facilities-creates-big-savings-steamboat-springs>

On July 6th and 7th, much of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, lost phone and
Internet
<http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/jul/13/routt-county-and-city-steamboat-close-naming-broad/>
when
a fiber line was cut, creating a public safety hazard. In order to aviod
future massive outages and improve connectivity, Steamboat Springs has
decided to develop a Carrier Neutral Location or CNL
<http://nwccog.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/2014-Broadband-Accomplishments.pdf>,
much like a similar initiative in nearby Cortez.

In July a CenturyLink fiber optic line was accidentally cut by construction
crews, disrupting the 911 emergency system for about 3 hours
<http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/jul/07/centurylink-restores-services-after-eight-hour-plu/>.
No calls were missed, but it is a terrifying reminder of how small towns
are dependent on incumbent providers like CenturyLink for basic services.

The community, located in the northwest corner of the state and home to
about 12,000 people, is known as a popular ski destination in the winter
months. Locations like Steamboat Springs have a natural beauty in the
rugged terrain, but incumbent providers tend to see a poor
return-on-investment rather than beauty.

... Read More About This Investment Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/carrier-neutral-facilities-creates-big-savings-steamboat-springs>

AnchorNETS Conference Nov. 16th - 17th in Mountainview, CA
<http://muninetworks.org/content/anchornets-conference-nov-16th-17th-mountainview-ca>
Tue, October 06, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/anchornets-conference-nov-16th-17th-mountainview-ca>

The Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition
<http://www.shlb.org/> (SHLB)
will present the first AnchorNETS Broadband Summit this November 16th &
17th in Mountainview, California. The event is designed to help leaders
from anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals, and libraries connect
and learn about solutions to help them achieve gigabit connectivity. The
conference will be held at the Computer History Museum
<http://www.computerhistory.org/>. Our own Christopher Mitchell will be
there as well.

*Keynote Speakers include:*

   - Evan Marwell, CEO & Founder, EductionSuperhighway
   <http://www.educationsuperhighway.org/>
   - Catherine Sandoval, Commissioner, California Public Utilities
   Commission (CPUC)
   - Sunne Wright McPeak, CEO, California Emerging Technology Fund
   <http://www.cetfund.org/>

... Read the Story to Learn More About this Event ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/anchornets-conference-nov-16th-17th-mountainview-ca>

Op-Ed: Community Broadband Networks Drive NC Economy
<http://muninetworks.org/content/op-ed-community-broadband-networks-drive-nc-economy>
Thu, October 01, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/op-ed-community-broadband-networks-drive-nc-economy>

*The Roanoke Daily Herald published this op-ed about local government
action for broadband networks on September 25, 2015.* *We were responding
to an earlier Op-Ed, available here
<http://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/other-view-left-or-right-government-owned-broadband-is-wrong/article_2a0bdb86-481b-11e5-bfb2-23acafa13636.html>.
Christopher Mitchell wrote the following op-ed.*

*Local governments should make broadband choices
<http://www.rrdailyherald.com/opinion/other-view-community-broadband-networks-drive-nc-economy/article_47501ea6-63a9-11e5-a483-4302f7c1b453.html>*

Community broadband must be a local choice, a guest columnist writes.

It is stunning any legislator can look at the constituents they serve in
rural North Carolina and think, “‘These people don’t need the same high
quality Internet access now being delivered in Charlotte and the Triangle.
They should be happy with whatever cable and telephone companies offer.”

But that’s just what I think Representatives Jason Saine and Michael Wray
are implying in their recent opinion piece on community broadband networks.

... Read our Full Op-Ed here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/op-ed-community-broadband-networks-drive-nc-economy>

New Video on Economic Development and High-Speed Connectivity in Tennessee
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-video-economic-development-and-high-speed-connectivity-tennessee>
Fri, October 02, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-video-economic-development-and-high-speed-connectivity-tennessee>

Tennessee Fiber Optic Communities <http://www.tn4fiber.org/> has released
another quality video focused on restoring local telecommunications
authority. This three minute feature describes the importance of high speed
connectivity to local economic development.

The video offers specific examples of businesses that relocated to places
like Jackson and Chattanooga, comparing business connectivity in places
with municipal networks to areas where high-speed connections from
incumbents are costly and hard to come by.

... Watch the Video Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-video-economic-development-and-high-speed-connectivity-tennessee>

DC-Net Delivers Public Savings
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dc-net-delivers-public-savings>
Wed, September 30, 2015 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dc-net-delivers-public-savings>

Washington, DC, continues to operate an incredibly successful municipal
network. Created in 2007, the municipal government’s 57-mile fiber optic
network, DC-Net <http://muninetworks.org/tags-386>, provides connectivity
to government buildings and community anchor institutions that are health
or education based. DC-Net started providingpublic Wi-Fi hotspots
<http://dcnet.dc.gov/page/public-wi-fi-find-hotspot> in 2010. We covered
some of the savings of DC-Net itself in our 2010 report
<http://muninetworks.org/reports/breaking-broadband-monopoly>, and we
recently found a report from 2012
<http://dcnet.dc.gov/sites/default/files/dc/sites/dcnet/publication/attachments/OPM_Case_Study_2012.pdf>
that
details an example of public savings from the network.

In 2008, the Office of Personnel Management in D.C. needed to replace its
aging phone system with state-of-the-art Voice over IP and a video
conference system. These two telecommunication systems require a high
capacity network. After a market analysis found that prospective vendors
would cost more than the budget could handle, they had to find an
alternative solution. That’s when they connected with DC-Net. The network
kept costs down - the initial cost-savings from the project were about
$500,000.

... Get the Rest of the Details Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dc-net-delivers-public-savings>

Parker Lecture Scheduled for October 20th; Honoring Everett Parker
<http://muninetworks.org/content/parker-lecture-scheduled-october-20th-honoring-everett-parker>
Wed, September 30, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/parker-lecture-scheduled-october-20th-honoring-everett-parker>

The United Church of Christ Office of Communications, Inc. (UCC OC), will
hold its annual Parker Lecture on October 20th at 8 a.m. in Washington,
D.C., at the First Congregational Church. This year's lecture will be
especially meaningful because on September 17th, Rev. Dr. Everett C.
Parker, known for his groundbreaking work with public rights in
broadcasting, passed away at the age of 102.

This year's honorees
<http://uccmediajustice.org/p/salsa/web/common/public/content?content_item_KEY=12661>
 are:

   - *danah boyd*, founder, Data & Society Research Institute and “activist
   scholar” on the social and cultural implications of technology, will give
   the 2015 Parker Lecture on Ethics and Telecommunications.
   - *Joseph Torres*, senior external affairs director of Free Press and
   co-author of News for All the People: The Epic Story of Race and the
   American Media, will receive the Parker Award which recognizes an
   individual whose work embodies the principles and values of the public
   interest in telecommunications.
   - *Wally Bowen*, co-founder and executive director of the Mountain Area
   Information Network (MAIN), will receive the Donald H. McGannon Award in
   recognition of his dedication to bringing modern telecommunications to
   low-income people in rural areas.

... More on This Wonderful Event Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/parker-lecture-scheduled-october-20th-honoring-everett-parker>
Video on OpenCape: How Cape Cod Created a Fiber Network
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-opencape-how-cape-cod-created-fiber-network>
Mon, September 28, 2015 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-opencape-how-cape-cod-created-fiber-network>

Almost ten years ago, Dan Gallagher, a technology director at Cape Cod
Community College <http://www.capecod.edu/>, could not get the bandwidth
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2> the college needed from
incumbent service providers. After communicating with others in the areas,
it soon became clear that a number of others shared the same experience.

“We asked anyone who thinks this is a problem for their business or entity
here on the cape to come to cape cod community college to talk about it and
a hundred people showed up.” - Dan Gallagher in eSTEAMers

The community formed non-profit OpenCape <http://opencape.org/>, and
created a 350 mile fiber optic network and a colocation data center with
$40 million in combined BTOP grants, state grants, and private funding
<http://muninetworks.org/content/opencape-almost-open-business>. Completed
in late 2012, the project proved to be well-worth the wait. Three large
entities almost immediately became customers on the network: the Joint
Base, the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, and Hydroid, Inc, a private
company.

... Watch the Video Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/video-opencape-how-cape-cod-created-fiber-network>

Debate on Municipal Networks by Federalist Society Now Available
<http://muninetworks.org/content/debate-municipal-networks-federalist-society-now-available>
Thu, October 01, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/debate-municipal-networks-federalist-society-now-available>

Our own Christopher Mitchell recently participated in a debate hosted by
the Federalist Society. You can now listen to the debate at the Federalist
Society website
<http://www.fed-soc.org/multimedia/detail/whats-the-download-on-municipal-broadband-podcast>.
We think it offers an intelligent airing of different points of view.

Chris, who is also Policy Director at Next Century Cities
<http://nextcenturycities.org/>, disscussed the role of municipal networks
in improving competition, reveiwed reguatory issues, and debated the
anticipated legal outcome of February's FCC decision
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fcc-opinion-and-order-striking-down-local-authority-limits-tn-and-nc-highlights>
on
local authority in Tennessee and North Carolina. He squared off against
Charles M. Davidson, Director of the Advanced Communications Law and Policy
Institute at New York Law School, and Randolph J. May, President of the
Free State Foundation. Both organizations have spoken out against community
broadband networks.

Rachel M. Bender, Senior Policy Director of Mobile Future, moderated.
New Michigan Bar Journal Article: "The Internet and Municipal Broadband
Systems"
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-michigan-bar-journal-article-internet-and-municipal-broadband-systems>
Sat, October 03, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-michigan-bar-journal-article-internet-and-municipal-broadband-systems>

A recent Michigan Bar Journal article by attorney Michael J. Watza, *The
Internet and Municipal Broadband Systems*, provides a quick look at the
FCC's Open Internet Order [PDF]
<https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-24A1.pdf>, the recent
ruling on state barriers to municipal networks
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down>,
and how the two may intertwine in Michigan. Watza's three-pager is a great
resource for community groups, legislators, and advocates who want to share
necessary information without overwhelming the reader.

In addition to providing summaries of each order, Watza offers hope for
places that lack the Internet access they need to prosper. He acknowledges
Michigan's first gigabit municipal network in Sebewaing
<http://muninetworks.org/content/sebewaing-bringing-better-connectivity-residents-businesses-fiber-michigan>
and
mentions the possibility of public private partnerships. Having worked with
Michigan municipalities on telecommunications issues, he knows that other
communities in the Great Lakes State also have their eyes on the future:

... Read the Article Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/new-michigan-bar-journal-article-internet-and-municipal-broadband-systems>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - October 5
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-5>
Mon, October 05, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-5>

*Community Broadband News By State*

*Colorado*

DavisGig working toward faster Internet service
<http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/residents-city-leaders-want-faster-internet-service/>by
Felicia Alvarez, The Davis Enterprise



*Kentucky*

Ready … or not? If we’re prepared, broadband can transform Appalachian
Kentucky
<http://www.nkytribune.com/2015/09/ron-daley-ready-or-not-if-were-prepared-broadband-can-transform-appalachian-kentucky/>by
Ron Daley, Northern Kentucky Tribune

 ... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-5>

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