[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 9/29

[Christopher Mitchell]

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the *
*Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear
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*We are Hiring!  Looking for someone excited to write for us on community
networks in our Minneapolis office! Job description here
<http://muninetworks.org/content/were-hiring-internet-policy-research-associate-writer-journalist>
- please circulate! *

*We are excited about the upcoming AnchorNETS Broadband Summit for Schools,
Health, and Libraries on November 16 & 17 in Mountain View,
California. *Developed
by the SHLB Coalition, *AnchorNETs* <http://www.anchornets.com/> is
designed to educate leadership from schools, health and library
organizations; introduce them to partners, solutions providers and capital
sources; and provide a strategic road map to bring gigabit connectivity and
all the benefits of this 21st century infrastructure to constituents,
communities and people. *More Details here!* <http://www.anchornets.com/>


Spanish Fork Upgrading to Fiber in Utah
<http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-upgrading-fiber-utah>
Mon, September 21, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-upgrading-fiber-utah>

Spanish Fork Community Network <http://www.sfcn.org/sfcn/> (SFCN) recently
announced it is upgrading its cable network to a fiber optic network. The
network has already started improving services by increasing speeds for the
highest tiers at no extra costreports the Herald Extra
<http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/spanish-fork/spanish-fork-upgrades-to-fiber-network/article_49e735ea-1526-5dd6-be26-171ffd76aead.html>
.

Residents and businesses in the town of approximately 37,000 have relied on
the municipal cable network since 2001. Over the past 14 years, the network
has come to provide triple-play <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term27> to
80 percent of Spanish Fork homes.

Officials kicked off construction on September 3rd:

“We’re excited this is the next step for the SFCN network," [SFCN Director
John] Bowcut said. "We’ve always planned on doing fiber to the home, and
now we’re in the fiscal position where we can go ahead and install that for
our customers."

... Read the Full Exciting Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-upgrading-fiber-utah>

Westminster Homes Now Receiving Gig Internet Access From Ting
<http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting>
Mon, September 21, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting>

After several years
<http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-marylands-fiber-pilot-project-grows>
of
planning, deployment, and the formation of a partnership with Ting
<http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting>,
Westminster's fiber network is now serving its citizens. In August, local
CPA Tim Redmond and his wife Allison were the first to get gigabit Internet
access, according to a Ting press release
<https://ting.com/blog/the-first-home-in-westminster-md-to-get-crazy-fast-fiber-internet/>
.

Apparently, Redmond has been waiting for some time to be able to access
such speeds online:

Redmond has followed along with Westminster’s efforts to get the gig for
city residents. He first learned of gigabit fiber Internet coming to town
in a pretty low-tech way. “We got our water bill and there was an
enclosure. It described that fiber optic Internet was coming to
Westminster” and introduced Ting Internet as the service provider for
Westminster.

It was welcome news; Redmond has been following fiber since his college
days when Verizon started to push FiOS
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term11> in Baltimore. When it became
clear that big providers aren’t willing to go anywhere but a major metro,
he became despondent. OK, despondent might be a slight overstatement. “I
was bummed,” is what he actually said.

... A few more Details from Westminster here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting>

Dark Fiber Network Saving Money, Generating Revenue in Burbank
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-network-saving-money-generating-revenue-burbank>
Tue, September 22, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-network-saving-money-generating-revenue-burbank>

ONE Burbank
<https://www.burbankwaterandpower.com/fiber-optics/one-burbank-services>,
the dark fiber network that has provided connectivity for studios since
1997, is bringing a number of benefits to Burbank schools and taxpayers,reports
the Burbank Leader
<http://www.burbankleader.com/news/tn-blr-internet-service-provider-for-studios-schools-uses-fiber-optic-network-20150908,0,1723865.story>.
The network is saving public dollars, generating revenue, and providing
better connectivity to schools and public facilities.

Five years ago, we reported on Burbank's asset
<http://muninetworks.org/content/publicly-owned-fiber-connects-hollywood-studios>
and
its primary customers - Hollywood studios. That trend has continued but now
the network generates even more revenue. As a result, all electric
customers served by Burbank Water and Power save with lower utility bills:

Last year, ONE Burbank generated $3.4 million in revenues for the utility,
[General Manager Ron] Davis said in May. That’s compared to roughly
$205,000 in 1997 and about $1.5 million five years ago, according to data
Davis presented to the City Council.

“The bulk of that [$3.4 million] is all margin and helps keep electric
rates down,” Davis said. “[We do] basically zero marketing and collect that
margin.”

... Read More About the Incredible Benefits of their Network ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-network-saving-money-generating-revenue-burbank>

Explaining Right-of-Way Basics - Community Broadband Bits Episode 169
<http://muninetworks.org/content/explaining-right-way-basics-community-broadband-bits-episode-169>
Tue, September 22, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/explaining-right-way-basics-community-broadband-bits-episode-169>

For this week's Community Broadband Bits, we are delving into an area of
law and practice that is quite important for Internet network deployment
but tends to be dry and confusing. Not for us today though, we have Sean
Stokes, a Principal at Baller Herbst Stokes & Lide, joining us to explain
Right-of-Way basics.

We talk about what the public Right-of-Way (ROW) is, who is responsible for
maintaining it, how entities can get access to it and how poles are
distinct from the ROW. We discuss how much power local governments and pole
owners have to deny access to these assets and some of the costs associated
with make-ready. If you don't know what make-ready is, you'll know in less
than thirty minutes.

We finish our discussion by exploring the "Municipal Gain" policy in
Connecticut, where munis are entitled to some space on the poles for any
purpose they choose to use it. Historically, this was used only for public
safety, but it was recently broadened. Sean also explores how he believes
we should simplify access for fiber-optic
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10>s rather than basing access on
the particular end service being offered.

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/explaining-right-way-basics-community-broadband-bits-episode-169>

Orono and Old Town Receive Funding for Fiber in Maine
<http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine>
Thu, September 24, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine>

The Old Town-Orono Fiber Corporation (OTO Fiber), the entity created by the
cities of Old Town and Orono in Maine to design, install, maintain and
manage a planned fiber network, recently received a grant for $250,000.

The funds, awarded by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), will
help the communities commence their open access
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625> network project. According to
a statement
<http://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-northern-border-regional-commission-investments-in-six-maine-communities-totaling-more-than-13-million_>
released
by Maine Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, this was one of six awards
to Maine communities. The other grants included road, sewer, and other
municipally-owned facilities needed to maintain or grow jobs in the
northern counties of Maine.

Congress created NBRC in 2008 as a state-federal partnership to encourage
job growth in several northern counties of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire,
and New York that experience economic distress.

... Learn More About these Communities here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine>

Albany, NY Proposes Feasibility Study for Municipal Broadband Service
<http://muninetworks.org/content/albany-ny-proposes-feasibility-study-municipal-broadband-service>
Wed, September 23, 2015 | Posted by Tom Ernste
<http://muninetworks.org/users/tom-ernste>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/albany-ny-proposes-feasibility-study-municipal-broadband-service>

In July, the city of Albany, NY released a Request for Proposals (RFP)
<http://www.albanyny.org/NewsandEvents/RFPs/15-07-02/RFP_2015_08_Provision_of_a_City_of_Albany_Broadband_Assessment_Feasibility_Study.aspx>
seeking
qualified consulting firms to conduct a feasibility study for a municipal
broadband service. As the RFP states, the study will look to develop
strategies, find gaps in service and adoption, and develop a business plan
to explore partnerships between the city and private ISPs.

According to Broadband Communities magazine
<http://bbpmag.com/wordpress2/2015/07/albany-commissions-broadband-study-to-assess-community-needs/>,
a working group comprised of several important community organizations and
business groups in Albany will help to steer plans for the possible
municipal broadband initiative. Jeff Mirel, a technology professional in
Albany and a member of the working group, explains the group’s goals for
the feasibility study:

“The first step is asking the right questions, which is what we want this
study to do. What are the real broadband needs and issues that both
businesses and residents experience here? Is it infrastructure, technology,
education, affordability? How do we address the gaps to not only keep and
attract companies, but bring these employers and a connected local
workforce together? By taking a deep, comprehensive look at broadband
access and usability, along with best practices, we can move towards
meaningful, actionable strategies.”

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/albany-ny-proposes-feasibility-study-municipal-broadband-service>

Avoid Partisan Fights with a Personal Face on Economic Development
<http://muninetworks.org/content/avoid-partisan-fights-personal-face-economic-development>
Fri, September 25, 2015 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/avoid-partisan-fights-personal-face-economic-development>

*The following commentary comes from Mike Smeltzer, one of the key people
responsible for the UC2B network in the Illinois twin cities of Urbana and
Champaign. Mike had this comment after a question about how we can elevate
local bipartisan conversations from the local level to the state and
federal level without getting lost in political bickering. He wrote this
and gave us permission to republish it.*

The Urbana City Council could be confused for Madison's, while Champaign's
Council is far more conservative. I spoke to both of them on a regular
basis in the early days of UC2B seeking their support. I learned early on
that I could not tell Urbana's Council what they wanted to hear on Monday
night, and then change the message to better please Champaign's Council on
the next night. Those dedicated public servants watch each other's meetings
on the PEG <http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term22> channels.

... Read the Full Commentary Here - Good Advice! ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/avoid-partisan-fights-personal-face-economic-development>

Paul Bunyan Communications Wins Award for GigaZone
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-wins-award-gigazone>
Sat, September 26, 2015 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-wins-award-gigazone>

Sometimes we just want to celebrate a small victory for local communities.
Back in June, Paul Bunyan Communications
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn>
won
the 2015 Leading Lights <http://www.lightreading.com/> National Award for
Most Innovative Gigabit Broadband Service.

This small cooperative from rural northern Minnesota beat both innovative
local firms like C Spire and national companies like Google. Whereas
Comcast is rolling out Gigabit Pro in Silicon Valley, Paul Bunyan
Communications is serving sparsely populated, often-ignored, rural areas.
Gary Johnson, the Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager was
honored to accept the award and explained their approach
<http://paulbunyancommunications.com/cooperative/news/index.html#Leading-Lights-Award>
to
gigabit access

... More on the Award Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-wins-award-gigazone>

Join MAG-Net Campaign on Prison Phone Rates and Lifeline Program Funding
<http://muninetworks.org/content/join-mag-net-campaign-prison-phone-rates-and-lifeline-program-funding>
Wed, September 23, 2015 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/join-mag-net-campaign-prison-phone-rates-and-lifeline-program-funding>

The Media Action Grassroots Network recently launched a fall campaign, Fight
for Our #RightToConnect
<http://mag-net.org/2015/09/fight-for-our-righttoconnect/>, an appeal to
the FCC to expand the Lifeline program to include coverage for broadband
and to place a cap on prison phone rates. From MAG-Net:

Right now the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working on two
issues that could dramatically help close the gap on some of these
disparities.  First, the FCC is considering reforms to the prison telephone
industry that would establish an affordable flat rate for all phone calls
out of jails, prisons and detention facilities, ending a practice of price
gouging.  Second, the FCC is planning on modernizing a low-income program
known as Lifeline, which would help low-income families afford an Internet
connection at home.

We want to urge the FCC to move forward on both of these issues, which is
why members of the Media Action Grassroots Network are kicking off a “Right
to Connect” initiative.  During the next few weeks, we’ll be educating our
communities on Lifeline and Prison Phones and encouraging people to take
action on both of these issues.  Our activities will culminate with a
15-person delegation that will travel to Washington D.C. to meet with
members of Congress and the FCC to demand they support our communities.
Want to join us?

Take a few moments to sign MAG-Net's petition
<http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6220/c/1313/p/dia/action3/common/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=20921>,
which will be delivered to the FCC on October 6th-7th.

MAG-Net has produced a #RightToConnect Outreach Kit
<https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s7V_JNgDpujkRGVf5o_4J_0KdnsjwKfVPDkOphE-pVs/edit#>
with
sample blasts, social media suggestions, and images that can help raise
awareness.

Share the campaign on Facebook
<https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmag-net.org%2F2015%2F09%2Ffight-for-our-righttoconnect%2F#.VffBTVSZ5OM.facebook>
 and Twitter
<http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5RCatiJ7ay%2F4ZBu23Pmyc94i1RhVjJ6z>
to
get the word out. For more information on what you can do, contact Steven
Renderos at steven at mediajustice.org

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