[Davisgig] Recently in Community Networks ... Week of 3/15

[Christopher Mitchell]

*Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the **Institute for
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Colorado Bill Aims To Hinder Opt-Out, Restrict Local Authority Even More
<http://muninetworks.org/content/colorado-bill-aims-hinder-opt-out-restrict-local-authority-even-more>
Fri, March 11, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/colorado-bill-aims-hinder-opt-out-restrict-local-authority-even-more>

When local elected officials in Colorado put the issue before constituents
last fall,voters in almost 50 communities
<http://muninetworks.org/content/voters-quiet-drums-polls-colorado> chose
overwhelmingly to reclaim local telecommunications authority. Colorado's
state law that strips away local authority, SB 152, permits opt-out through
referendum. Referendums are expensive for local communities, but at least
they are a way to reclaim the power to decide their own future.

That ability to opt out will get more expensive and more burdensome if a
new bill becomes law. Even though the state removed local authority with SB
152, this bill demonstrates that the legislature can still find a way to
strip away more local control when big corporate providers feel threatened.

... Get the Scoop on this Disappointed Effort to Restrict Local Choice ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/colorado-bill-aims-hinder-opt-out-restrict-local-authority-even-more>

Pulaski, Tennessee: "A Community Investing In Itself" With Better
Connectivity
<http://muninetworks.org/content/pulaski-tennessee-community-investing-itself-better-connectivity>
Thu, March 10, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/pulaski-tennessee-community-investing-itself-better-connectivity>

Pulaski, located in the area Tennesseans describe as the southern middle
region of the state, has a fiber network other communities covet. When we
contacted Wes Kelley, one of the people instrumental in establishing the
network, he told us that the community always wanted to be more than "just
Mayberry." Rather than settle for the sleepy, quaint, character of the
fictional TV town, local leaders in Pulaski chose to invest in fiber
infrastructure for businesses and residents.

*A Legacy That Lives On*

The county seat of Giles County, Pulaski has a long history of municipal
utility service. The electric system was founded in 1891, and is the oldest
in the state. The city also provides municipal water, sewer, and natural
gas service. The electric utility, Pulaski Electric System (PES), serves
most of Giles County
<http://www.energize.net/files/EnergizeServiceArea.pdf>, which
amounts to approximately 15,000 customers. PES receives power from the
Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) and then distributes it throughout the
county.

... Read our Full In-Depth Coverage of Pulaski Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/pulaski-tennessee-community-investing-itself-better-connectivity>

Nevada Electric Coop Gets Fiber, Creates Jobs
<http://muninetworks.org/content/nevada-electric-coop-gets-fiber-creates-jobs>
Mon, March 07, 2016 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/nevada-electric-coop-gets-fiber-creates-jobs>

A growing number of electric coops are providing Internet access to
residents and businesses in areas of the country where big providers don't
offer services. It’s not a big leap because many electric coops already use
fiber for communication between electric substations. Expanding in order to
offer high quality Internet access is a logical next step.

In Nevada, the Valley Electric Association (VEA) is bringing
Fiber-to-the-Home
<http://www.nevadabusiness.com/2016/02/vea-continues-growth-catalyst/> (FTTH
<http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13>) to members in 2016 and helping
create new jobs in Pahrump and Fish Lake Valley. The coop's subsidiary
Valley Communications Association (VCA), will operate the network.

Details on speeds and rates are yet to be determined, but the coop plans to
offer Internet access up to 1 gigabit.

... More Details on Another Rural Coop Investing in Fiber ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/nevada-electric-coop-gets-fiber-creates-jobs>

The FCC's Pro-Competition Agenda - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 192
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fccs-pro-competition-agenda-community-broadband-bits-podcast-192>
Tue, March 08, 2016 | Posted by christopher
<http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fccs-pro-competition-agenda-community-broadband-bits-podcast-192>

This week we welcome Gigi Sohn, Counselor to Chairman Wheeler of the
Federal Communications Commission, to Community Broadband Bits for episode
192. Before joining the FCC, Gigi was a founder of Public Knowledge
<https://www.publicknowledge.org/>.

Gigi discusses the pro-competition agenda that Chairman Wheeler has
advanced, including the efforts to ensure communities can decide locally
whether to build a municipal network or partner. We also discuss other
elements of FCC action to encourage competition in the Internet access
market, even how television set-top boxes fit in.

Echoing some of the comments I regularly hear from some thoughtful
listeners, I asked if competition was the best approach given the argument
that telecom, and particularly fiber, has the characteristics of a natural
monopoly.

... Listen to the Show Here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/fccs-pro-competition-agenda-community-broadband-bits-podcast-192>

Update on Santa Cruz: Banana Slug City, Say Goodbye to Sluggish Internet
<http://muninetworks.org/content/update-santa-cruz-banana-slug-city-say-goodbye-sluggish-internet>
Tue, March 08, 2016 | Posted by hannah
<http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/update-santa-cruz-banana-slug-city-say-goodbye-sluggish-internet>

Back in June 2015, Santa Cruz announced a municipal fiber project
<http://muninetworks.org/content/santa-cruz-fiber-project-cruzio> with
Cruzio <http://cruzio.com/>, a local company that offers Internet access,
colocation services, and a range of other data solutions. After finalizing
details of the partnership, the city is officially moving forward with the
plan.

This past December, the Santa Cruz City Council voted unanimously to begin
the$45 million fiber network
<http://www.kionrightnow.com/news/local-news/full-speed-ahead-for-high-speed-internet-in-santa-cruz/36885772>.
Cruzio intends to complete the project in the next 3 years, bringing
next-generation, high-speed Internet access to the home of theUCSC banana
slugs <http://www.ucsc.edu/about/mascot.html>.

... More Information About this Public-Private Partnership ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/update-santa-cruz-banana-slug-city-say-goodbye-sluggish-internet>

TN and NC vs. FCC: Oral Arguments Scheduled for Thursday, March 17th
<http://muninetworks.org/content/tn-and-nc-vs-fcc-oral-arguments-scheduled-thursday-march-17th>
Mon, March 14, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/tn-and-nc-vs-fcc-oral-arguments-scheduled-thursday-march-17th>

This Thursday, March 17th, attorneys for the FCC and the states of
Tennessee and North Carolina will present arguments
<http://www.hlregulation.com/2016/02/05/sixth-circuit-to-hear-oral-argument-in-challenge-to-municipal-broadband-rules/>
to
the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals on a case that could define parameters
for publicly owned Internet networks. The proceedings begin at 9 a.m.
eastern. Each side has 15 minutes to present.

As we reported a year ago
<http://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down>,
the FCC ruled that state barriers in Tennessee and North Carolina limiting
expansion of publicly own networks are too restrictive and threaten the
U.S. goal of expanding ubiquitous access. The FCC overruled the harmful
state laws but soon after, both states filed appeals.

... Our Post on Thursday's Arguments ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/tn-and-nc-vs-fcc-oral-arguments-scheduled-thursday-march-17th>

2016 IAMU Broadband Conference: Explore Muni Possibilities, March 30 - 31
<http://muninetworks.org/content/2016-iamu-broadband-conference-explore-muni-possibilities-march-30-31>
Sat, March 12, 2016 | Posted by lgonzalez
<http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/2016-iamu-broadband-conference-explore-muni-possibilities-march-30-31>

The Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities <http://members.iamu.org/?> (IAMU)
is presenting the 5th Annual Broadband Conference on March 30 & 31 in Des
Moines. This year, the organization is adding the Municipal Broadband
Explorers Track to provide information for communities seeking more
information as they consider the publicly owned option.

Our own Chris Mitchell will lead the Expedition and will be accompanied by
a number of community leaders who know a thing or two about municipal
broadband. Some of the presenters will be:

   - Jim Baller, Baller, Herbst, Stokes & Lide
   - Vincent Turner, Longmont, CO <http://muninetworks.org/tags-216>
   - Paul Scott, Decorah
   <http://muninetworks.org/content/decorah-fiber-network-wins-civic-award>
Fast
   Fiber, IA
   - Mark Erickson, Sibley County, MN
   <http://muninetworks.org/content/rs-fiber-cooperative-breaks-ground>
   - Mike Litterer, Waverly Utilities, IA
   <http://muninetworks.org/content/waverly-next-gigabit-community-iowa>
   - Eric Lampland, Lookout Point Communications
   <http://muninetworks.org/tags/tags/eric-lampland>

The Municipal Broadband Explorers Track offers specialized conversations
that community leaders seek as they consider whether or not a muni is right
for their town, city, or county. You can view thefull agenda here
<http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/IAMU_2016_Muni_BBD_Track_Agenda.pdf>
to
plan your visit.

... You can also register for the conference
<http://members.iamu.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=713345&group=> at the
IAMU website ...

Community Broadband Media Roundup - March 14
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-march-14-0>
Mon, March 14, 2016 | Posted by Nick <http://muninetworks.org/users/nick>
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-march-14-0>

*Alabama*

You didn't notice it, but Google Fiber just began in the Golden Age of
high-speed Internet access
<https://backchannel.com/you-didn-t-notice-it-but-google-fiber-just-began-the-golden-age-of-high-speed-internet-access-67b3f775fb85?mc_cid=706358a3e0&mc_eid=2910c7b52b#.n0v8xn43l>
by
Susan Crawford, Back Channel



*Indiana*

'Game of Gigs' organization aims to expand Bloomington, Ind., broadband
<http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/Game-of-Gigs-Organization-Aims-to-Expand-Bloomington-Ind-Broadband.html?mc_cid=706358a3e0&mc_eid=2910c7b52b>
by
Megan Banta, GovTech

For Bloomington, Ind., citywide broadband should be less a question of if
and more a question of how, local and national experts said Tuesday.

“Today is a beginning, not an ending,” Mayor John Hamilton said at the end
of a four-hour symposium focusing on the benefits of high-speed network
connectivity for economic development and quality of life in Bloomington.
“My head is buzzing ... in a good way.” Hamilton repeatedly has pushed for
the creation of a citywide, community-controlled broadband network since
his campaign.

 ... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup here ...
<http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-march-14-0>

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