[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks ... Week of 10/13

[Christopher Mitchell]

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Wilson Business Thrives With Muni Fiber Network - Community Broadband Bits
Podcast 171
<http://muninetworks.org/content/wilson-business-thrives-muni-fiber-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-171>
Tue, October 06, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/wilson-business-thrives-muni-fiber-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-171>

When Wilson decided to build its municipal fiber network in North Carolina,
it found a strong opponent in Tina Mooring, store manager of Computer
Central <http://www.cocentral.com/>. One of the local business' sources of
revenue was connecting people to the Internet and they were fearful that
they would lose customers to what becameGreenlight
<http://www.greenlightnc.com/>, the municipal fiber network that delivered
the first 100 Mbps <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18>citywide
service in the state and later the first citywide gig as well.

As we noted in a post in August, Computer Central became a strong supporter
of Greenlight
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gig-city-wilson-helps-local-companies-thrive>
and
now believes that Computer Central would be best served by allowing
Wilson's municipal fiber to expand to nearby communities.

In this week's Community Broadband Bits, Tina Mooring gives us the
background and reasoning for this interesting change of heart. This is a
short interview, but we hope to see more of these collaborations and
partnerships in other communities, where local businesses can use municipal
fiber networks to sell business-to-business services.

... Listen to the Show Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/wilson-business-thrives-muni-fiber-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-171>
... Read the Transcript Here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-171>
...

More Colorado Communities Will Ask Voters To Reclaim Local Authority
<http://muninetworks.org/content/more-colorado-communities-will-ask-voters-reclaim-local-authority>
Wed, October 07, 2015 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/more-colorado-communities-will-ask-voters-reclaim-local-authority>

This November 3rd, more than ten communities in Colorado will attempt to
escape the local-authority-revoking effects of SB 152 by overriding its
restrictions at the polls: Archuleta County, Bayfield, Boulder Valley
School District, Durango, Fort Collins, Ignacio, La Plata County, Loveland,
Moffat County, Pitkin County, San Juan County, and Silverton.

Many of these communities participated in a $4.1 million fiber
infrastructure project
<http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20150803/NEWS01/150809876/Wired-for-speed->
which
currently provides public entities (municipal buildings, libraries, and
schools) with cheap, plentiful Internet access. To determine how to better
utilize that existing fiber infrastructure, the South Colorado Council of
Governments received a $75,000 regional planning grant
<http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20150803/NEWS01/150809876/Wired-for-speed->.
The 10 year old law in question, SB 152, prevents local governments from
taking full advantage of local fiber assets by removing local authority to
offer any services that compete with incumbents; voters must reclaim that
authority through a referendum.

... Read More About the Many Colorado Communities Poised to Move Forward
Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/more-colorado-communities-will-ask-voters-reclaim-local-authority>

Owensboro, Kentucky, Developing Muni FTTH Pilot
<http://muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-kentucky-developing-muni-ftth-pilot>
Mon, October 05, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-kentucky-developing-muni-ftth-pilot>

Owensboro Municipal Utilities (OMU) is now expanding its Fibernet services
with a pilot FTTH <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13> program to
connect residents this fall. There are approximately 500 homes in the
selected area where OMU will test out the new venture
<http://omu.org/pilot/>. People living in the project area can sign-up
online <http://omu.org/pilot-registration/>.

Businesses in Owensboro have had access to OMUFibernet for data transport
since 1999 and in 2014 the utility added VoIP to its commercial product
line. The pilot will offer gigabit Internet access to residents, but
OMUFibernet has only advertised speeds up to 100 Mbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18> to business customers thus
far, according
to the OMU website <http://omu.org/omufibernet-rates/>. Businesses are also
able to lease dark fiber, which allows them to have more flexibility with
data transport speeds.

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-kentucky-developing-muni-ftth-pilot>

Fibrant Rolls out 10 Gbps, A Look At Salisbury's Challenges in FTTH
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fibrant-rolls-out-10-gbps-look-salisburys-challenges-ftth>
Thu, October 08, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fibrant-rolls-out-10-gbps-look-salisburys-challenges-ftth>

Salisbury, North Carolina's Fibrant <http://fibrant.info/>, now holds the
distinction of offering the fastest Internet access in the country. The
municipal network is making 10 Gbps
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term14>symmetrical
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24> connectivity available for
residents and businesses.

Fibrant's first 10 Gbps customer is Catawba College <http://catawba.edu/>,
a local school that will use the ultra-fast connections for its new Digital
Media Creation and Collaboration labs. In a press release
<http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fibrant-and-calix-partner-to-make-salisbury-north-carolina-americas-first-10-gigabit-city-2015-09-03-8173258>
Joanna
Jasper, Catawba CIO stated:

"By moving to Fibrant's 10 Gbps speeds, the College is in a better position
to differentiate itself. We can bring world-class broadband services to our
campus community to support the next generation of educational
applications."

…

"The future is all about rich immersive digital media and being able to
communicate and collaborate with others in real-time regardless of where
people are in time and space."

... Read This In-Depth Look at Salisbury's Path and Accomplishments ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fibrant-rolls-out-10-gbps-look-salisburys-challenges-ftth>

Chicago Alderman Advocates Public Fiber For Municipal Savings
<http://muninetworks.org/content/chicago-alderman-advocates-public-fiber-municipal-savings>
Fri, October 09, 2015 | Posted by Tom Ernste
<http://muninetworks.org/users/tom-ernste>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/chicago-alderman-advocates-public-fiber-municipal-savings>

At a Chicago City Council meeting this month, a newly elected alderman
proposed
<http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/961375/rookie-alderman-wants-save-millions-switching-city-buildings-private-internet-access-citys-fiber-optic-network>
the
city stop relying on incumbent ISPs and start using its existing fiber
network for connectivity.

Pointing to nearby cities like Aurora
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onlight-aurora-partners-city-better-connectivity-illinois>
,
<http://muninetworks.org/content/onlight-aurora-partners-city-better-connectivity-illinois>
where
municipal government elimnated leased lines to reduce costs by $485,000 per
year, Alderman Brian Hopkins <http://www.aldermanhopkins.com/>suggested the
switch could save the city “tens of millions of dollars” annually. He also
advocated the change in order to provide more efficient services.

“We already have a robust infrastructure in place to build from. Fiber
optic resources currently controlled and managed by [the Office of
Emergency Management and Communications] for traffic, first-responder, and
emergency services is an example,” Hopkins said. "Given the debt Chicago
faces, we should follow other cities by switching all municipal government
broadband access from private incumbent providers to a taxpayer-owned fiber
network. The money saved can be reinvested into the expansion of the
municipal network to finally reach those communities that need fast
affordable access. Why would we not do this?”

... More Details on Chicago's Plans Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/chicago-alderman-advocates-public-fiber-municipal-savings>

POTs and PANs Explores Conduit
<http://muninetworks.org/content/pots-and-pans-explores-conduit>
Sat, October 10, 2015 | Posted by Tom Ernste
<http://muninetworks.org/users/tom-ernste>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/pots-and-pans-explores-conduit>

In a recent POTs and PANs
<http://potsandpansbyccg.com/2015/09/18/installing-fiber-in-conduit/> post
from the owner and president of CCG consulting,Doug Dawson
<https://twitter.com/DougDawson_CCG?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw> helps to demystify
the process cable installation experts use to run fiber optic cables
through conduit.  The article walks us through the process, describing the
techniques, equipment, and quality control processes involved in the
installation of long and short fiber runs.

As the article notes, while installers can lay fiber optic cables without
using conduit, carrier-class conduits often use conduit for two primary
reasons: (1) to protect fiber optic cables and (2) to make the cables
easily accessible for future needs. The post explains the three methods
installers user to feed the cables through the conduit. One method, the
simplest of all, involves pushing the cables through conduit; it is
commonly used for home and office installations.  For longer routes,
installers can potentially use either of more complex pulling
<http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-3/issue-2/cable-installer-tips/pulling-fiber-optic-cable.html>
and blowing
<http://www.cablinginstall.com/articles/print/volume-15/issue-9/features/design/blown-fiber-systems-see-growth-and-acceptance.html>methods.
Dawson discusses the advantages and limitations of each method along with
unique characteristics of short and long installations that dictate which
method is the best for a given job.

... An Excellent Primer on Conduit Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/pots-and-pans-explores-conduit>

USDA Broadband Funding for Rural Projects; Coops On Top
<http://muninetworks.org/content/usda-broadband-funding-rural-projects-coops-top>
Tue, October 06, 2015 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/usda-broadband-funding-rural-projects-coops-top>

This past July the USDA announced over $85 million in funding
<http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2015/07/0212.xml>
for
rural broadband projects across seven states. The projects, many awarded to
rural cooperatives, aim to bridge the digital divide and expand economic
opportunities. For those interested in federal funding opportunities, NTIA
has just released this guide
<http://www2.ntia.doc.gov/files/broadband_fed_funding_guide.pdf> [pdf].

Rural areas are often passed over by big telco
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term608>s because they are considered
less profitable. Farming, however, is a high-tech industry, and Agriculture
Secretary Tom Vilsack
<http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda/usdahome?contentidonly=true&contentid=2015/07/0212.xml>
believes
that Internet access is as necessary as electricity in rural areas:

"Broadband is fundamental to expanding economic opportunity and job
creation in rural areas, and it is as vital to rural America's future today
as electricity was when USDA began bringing power to rural America 80 years
ago. ...  Improved connectivity means these communities can offer robust
business services, expand access to health care and improve the quality of
education in their schools, creating a sustainable and dynamic future those
who live and work in rural America."

... More Details About Funded Projects here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/usda-broadband-funding-rural-projects-coops-top>

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/>

... More Details Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/anchornets-conference-nov-16th-17th-mountainview-ca>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - October 10
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-10-0>
Mon, October 12, 2015 | Posted by rebecca
<http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-10-0>

*Community Broadband News By State*

*Colorado*

Vote ‘yes’ on broadband
<http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2015/oct/09/jon-quinn-vote-yes-broadband/>
by
Jon Quinn, Steamboat Today

Letter: Let’s work to get municipal broadband
<http://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2015/10/07/letter-work-get-municipal-broadband/73523794/>
by
Robin Gard, The Coloradoan



*Delaware*

City exploring municipal broadband service
<http://www.newarkpostonline.com/news/article_c0fcabe5-c7d7-5aa5-bb85-d7957fc94dff.html>
by
Karie Simmons, The Newark Post

... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-10-0>

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