[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks... Week of 6/21

Tue Jun 21 09:14:58 PDT 2016

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the **Institute for
Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send
feedback.  Forward Widely.*

Ammon's Model: The Virtual End of Cable Monopolies
<https://muninetworks.org/content/ammons-model-virtual-end-cable-monopolies>
 VIDEO
Wed, June 15, 2016 | Posted by rebecca
<https://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/ammons-model-virtual-end-cable-monopolies>

The city of Ammon, Idaho, is building the Internet network of the future.
Households and businesses can instantly change Internet service providers
using a specially-designed innovative portal. This short 20 minute video
highlights how the network is saving money, creating competition for
broadband services, and creating powerful new public safety applications.

We talk with Ammon's Mayor, local residents, private businesses, and the
city's Technology Director to understand why a small conservative city
decided to build its own network and then open it to the entire community.
We explain how they financed it and even scratch the surface of how
software-defined networking brought the future of Internet services to
Ammon before any larger metro regions.

Ammon's network has already won awards, including a National Institute of
Justice Challenge for Best Ultra-High Speed Application, and spurred
economic development. But perhaps most important is that most communities
can replicate this model and bring these benefits to their communities.

For more information, see our in-depth coverage on Ammon
<https://muninetworks.org/tags-304>. Sign up for our weekly newsletter
<http://muninetworks.org/content/sign-newsletters> to stay informed on what
local governments are doing to improve Internet access.

... Watch the Video Here! Share it Far and Wide! ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/ammons-model-virtual-end-cable-monopolies>

Glenwood Springs Shares Lessons Learned - Community Broadband Bits Podcast
206
<https://muninetworks.org/content/glenwood-springs-shares-lessons-learned-community-broadband-bits-podcast-206>
Tue, June 14, 2016 | Posted by christopher
<https://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/glenwood-springs-shares-lessons-learned-community-broadband-bits-podcast-206>

Last week, while at my favorite regional broadband conference - Mountain
Connect <http://mountainconnect.org/>, I was asked to moderate a panel on
municipal fiber projects in Colorado. You can watch it via the periscope
video stream that was recorded
<https://twitter.com/MountainConnect/status/740257186119487489>. It was an
excellent panel and led to this week's podcast, a discussion with Glenwood
Springs Information Systems Director Bob Farmer.

Bob runs the Glenwood Springs Community Broadband Network
<http://gscbn.com/>, which has been operating for more than 10 years. It
started with some fiber to anchor institutions and local businesses and a
wireless overlay for residential access. Though the network started by
offering open access <https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625>, the
city now provides services directly. We discuss the lessons learned.

Bob also discusses what cities should look for in people when staffing up
for a community network project and some considerations when deciding who
oversees the network. Finally, he shares some of the successes the network
has had and what continues to inspire him after so many years of running
the network.

... Listen to the Show Here
<https://muninetworks.org/content/glenwood-springs-shares-lessons-learned-community-broadband-bits-podcast-206>
... Read the transcript from this show here
<https://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-206>
 ...

Bridgewater State University Connects to OpenCape
<https://muninetworks.org/content/bridgewater-state-university-connects-opencape>
Mon, June 13, 2016 | Posted by hannah
<https://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/bridgewater-state-university-connects-opencape>

CapeNet <http://www.capenet.com/>, the local Internet service provider, on
the OpenCape community network <http://opencape.org/> is expanding in
southeastern Massachusetts. Bridgewater State University will connect to
the OpenCape network
<http://bridgewater.wickedlocal.com/article/20160421/NEWS/160429147> for
more bandwidth <https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2> and more
reliable Internet access.

*Connectivity for Education*

Bridgewater State University <http://www.bridgew.edu/> needed to ensure
reliable connectivity for its students because many university courses have
online, cloud <https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term6>-based, or video
components. In fact, nearly every school CapeNet serves requests more
bandwidth each year, reports the Bridgewater Wicked Local
<http://bridgewater.wickedlocal.com/article/20160421/NEWS/160429147>.

... Read the Full Story Here ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/bridgewater-state-university-connects-opencape>

Kane County's Fiber Is Open For Business In Illinois
<https://muninetworks.org/content/kane-countys-fiber-open-business-illinois>
Tue, June 14, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<https://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/kane-countys-fiber-open-business-illinois>

Kane County, Illinois <http://www.countyofkane.org/Pages/default.aspx>, is
hoping its fiber-optic <https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10> network
will attract more businesses looking for better connectivity. As it turns
out, they've had the resources for some time but are now making more of an
effort to market the benefits of their publicy owned network.

*Sharing The Savings, Services, Speeds*

In 2011, reports the Chicago Tribune
<http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-kane-fiber-optic-network-st-0531-20160530-story.html>,
the county took advantage of road reconstruction and in a coordinated
effort, Kane County and the Kane County Department of Transportation
deployed fiber along one of its main thoroughfares, Randall Road. Since
then, the county has expanded the network to approximately 47 miles,
connecting county facilities in five area cities. Kane County contributed
$1.5 million to the construction of the underground network that now offers
10 Gigabits per second (Gbps <https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term14>)
capacity.

... More on the Savings from this Network ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/kane-countys-fiber-open-business-illinois>

Haywood County, NC, Releases Feasibility Study RFP
<https://muninetworks.org/content/haywood-county-nc-releases-feasibility-study-rfp>
Fri, June 17, 2016 | Posted by alexander
<https://muninetworks.org/users/alexander>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/haywood-county-nc-releases-feasibility-study-rfp>

Last month, the Haywood Advancement Foundation (HAF) sowed the seeds for a
long-term broadband strategy
<http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/17738> in Haywood County, North
Carolina <http://www.haywoodnc.net/>. The nonprofit foundation posted a Request
for Proposals
<http://www.haywoodnc.net/downloads/admin/2016%20Stuff/HAF%20Broadband%20RFP-%20Final%205-17-16.pdf>
(RFP)
for a feasibility study as part of their strategy to develop a master plan
and improve local connectivity. A $10,000 grant from the Southwest
Commission and a matching $10,000 grant from HAF will fund the early stages
of Haywood’s broadband initiative. *The due date for proposals is July 15th*
.

*Living In The Present, Planning For The Future*

Located about 30 minutes west of Asheville, Haywood County is home to
approximately 60,000 residents. Asheville’s status as a cultural hub might
be driving up Haywood County property values
<http://www.smokymountainnews.com/news/item/17731-the-phoenix-rises-haywood-county-s-real-estate-market-gets-back-in-the-game>,
but it has failed to bring high quality Internet access to its rural
neighbors.

... Many More Details About This Network Here ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/haywood-county-nc-releases-feasibility-study-rfp>

Westminster's Fiber Network Enables Makerspace
<https://muninetworks.org/content/westminsters-fiber-network-enables-makerspace>
Wed, June 15, 2016 | Posted by Scott <https://muninetworks.org/users/scott>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/westminsters-fiber-network-enables-makerspace>

The high-speed, municipal fiber network in Westminster, Maryland
<http://www.westminstermd.gov/>, (pop. 18,000) is making possible another
intriguing resource service for the community’s businesses and residents.

In May, Westminster officials and the city’s fiber network partner, Ting
<https://ting.com/internet>, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the
coming this fall of the first Ting Makerspace, a service featuring 3-D
scanning technology, including “an electronic router that can carve digital
designs into physical objects and laser engraving," reports the Carroll
County Times.
<http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/ph-cc-makerspace-20160511-story.html>

*Ting Makerspace And 3D Printing*

The Times story notes:

The 3-D scanner “takes any object smaller than a sofa and records the
shapes and contours using light patterns, digitizing it,” according to the
news story. Then, the digital rendition can be printed on a mini 3-D
printer, “which can scale down the scanned object or print original
computer designs. The 3-D printer ejects layers of heated, rapidly cooling
plastic to create plastic models of these designs.” The newspaper reported
that the subscription fee for using the 3-D scanner will be $5 a day, $30 a
month or $300 a year.

... More Muni-Enabled Makerspace News Here ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/westminsters-fiber-network-enables-makerspace>

"Lafayette Pro Fiber Blog" Lives On!
<https://muninetworks.org/content/lafayette-pro-fiber-blog-lives>
Thu, June 16, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<https://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/lafayette-pro-fiber-blog-lives>

In January, our friend John St. Julien from Lafayette, Louisiana, passed
away
<http://muninetworks.org/content/john-st-julien-lafayette-community-leader-passes>.
Without John to help organize the people of Lafayette, the LUS Fiber
network would not have had the strong grassroots support that made the
project a success.

One of the ways John helped get the project going and spread the word about
the many benefits of a municipal fiber network was through the *Lafayette
Pro Fiber Blog*. The blog was a collection of resources, writings, and
comment fights that shed light on the local issues that affected, and were
affected by, Lafayette's previously poor connectivity and the municipal
fiber network project.

... More Information Here - Info on how to Donate in John's Memory ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/lafayette-pro-fiber-blog-lives>

Calories? Carbs? Data Caps? ISP Nutrition Labels From BroadbandSearch
<https://muninetworks.org/content/calories-carbs-data-caps-isp-nutrition-labels-broadbandsearch>
Sat, June 18, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<https://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/calories-carbs-data-caps-isp-nutrition-labels-broadbandsearch>

Depending on where you live, you may be able to choose between two or three
big name ISPs. No matter which one you ultimately select, you might face
some difficulty obtaining the kind of service you deserve. If you know what
to expect, it’s easier to prepare yourself and, in the event you DO have a
choice, pick the one that’s right for you.

BroadbandSearch has likened transparency in the telecommunications industry
to nutrition information on food packaging. They have produced a set of
“Nutrition Labels” for your Internet access diet.

... See the Label Here ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/calories-carbs-data-caps-isp-nutrition-labels-broadbandsearch>

Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 20
<https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-20>
Mon, June 20, 2016 | Posted by Nick <https://muninetworks.org/users/nick>
<https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-20>

*Florida*

Polk Vision hosts Smart Communities Summit
<http://www.theledger.com/article/20160613/NEWS/160619820?tc=ar> by John
Ceballos, The Ledger

The key to giving everyone in Polk County access to affordable high-speed
Internet has less to do with bandwidth
<https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2> and more to do with community
leaders banding together to achieve that goal.

... Read the Full Community Broadband Network Media Roundup ...
<https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-20>

-- 
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