<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-size:13px"><i>Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send feedback.  Forward Widely.</i><br></div></div><div style="font-size:13px"><i><br></i></div><div style="font-size:13px"><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/president-obama-speaks-against-barriers-community-networks" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">President Obama Speaks Against Barriers to Community Networks</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:14px;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, January 14, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">christopher</a></span></div><div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/president-obama-speaks-against-barriers-community-networks" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-president-us.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">When we started to hear rumors that the White House was investigating community owned networks, we were excited but not sure what to expect. I have to admit that seeing President Obama - the President of the United States - saying that Cedar Falls was smart to invest in themselves was much more powerful than I ever expected (see the video below).'</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">President Obama will visit Cedar Falls on Wednesday to address his plans to increase access to affordable, high-speed broadband across the country. Tune in at 3:40 Eastern to the <a href="http://www.whitehouse.gov/live/president-obama-delivers-remarks-cedar-falls-utilities" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">White House Briefing Room</a> to watch the live event.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The efforts of so many people to legitimize community networks are now paying off. Belittled by the big cable companies and their paid experts, we certainly were not destined to reach this point. But we are here - and everyone now recognizes that local governments can play an important role in ensuring we all have great Internet access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/president-obama-speaks-against-barriers-community-networks">... Preliminary Coverage Here ...</a></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/national-press-follows-president-obama-cedar-falls-iowa">... Post Speech Coverage Here with Video of his Talk ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/use-social-media-support-local-choice" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Use Social Media to Support Local Choice!</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, January 20, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">christopher</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/use-social-media-support-local-choice" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-coalition-local-net-choice.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="66" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Join us on February 2 as we make the case for local Internet choice - with a few simple clicks, you can join our Thunderclap, where all of our social media accounts will publish a message in favor of local choice.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://localnetchoice.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Coalition for Local Internet Choice</a> is encouraging people to <a href="https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/21222-local-internet-choice?locale=en" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">sign up in advance</a> and to spread the word far and wide.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Please encourage your friends, colleagues, etc., to join in and help us to build momentum after <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/national-press-follows-president-obama-cedar-falls-iowa" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the President spoke out in favor of community networks</a> last week in Cedar Falls!</p></div></div></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/missouri-bill-creates-new-barriers-community-networks" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Missouri Bill Creates New Barriers to Community Networks</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:14px;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, January 13, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/missouri-bill-creates-new-barriers-community-networks" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-missouri.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/member.aspx?district=124" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Republican State Representative Rocky Miller</a> began the new legislative session with a bill designed to yank authority from local communities that need better connectivity.  Even though the state already <a href="http://www.moga.mo.gov/mostatutes/stathtml/39200004101.HTML" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">preempts local authority to sell telecommunications services</a>, there is a current exemption for "Internet-type services." <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billtracking/bills151/billpdf/intro/HB0437I.PDF" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">HB 437</a> [PDF] removes that exemption and would make it all but impossible for a local community to ensure they had access to the same types of services now available in Kansas City.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The bill prohibits communities from offering services if there are any private providers with no regard to the type or quality of those services. There can be no mistake that bills such as these are aimed directly at communities contemplating building their own gigabit networks because the existing service providers have refused to invest in the needed infrastructure.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/missouri-bill-creates-new-barriers-community-networks">... More Details About this Troubling Bill ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/howard-county-fiber-encourages-new-jobs-competition-maryland-community-broadband-bits" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Howard County Fiber Encourages New Jobs, Competition in Maryland - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 133</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, January 13, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">christopher</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/howard-county-fiber-encourages-new-jobs-competition-maryland-community-broadband-bits" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-community-bb-bits_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">While at the <a href="http://www.bbcmag.com/springfield/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Broadband Communities Economic Development conference in Springfield</a> last year, I had the good fortune to catch a panel with Chris Merdon, the <a href="http://www.howardcountymd.gov/Departments.aspx?Id=180" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">CIO of Howard County</a>, Maryland.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Howard County has become an Internet Service Provider, not just to itself, but to private firms as well. To improve Internet access for businesses, it is both leasing dark fiber to existing providers and directly offering services to businesses and buildings.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We are grateful that Chris could join us for a Chris² interview! We discuss how and why Howard County chose this strategy and how it is benefiting the community.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/howard-county-fiber-encourages-new-jobs-competition-maryland-community-broadband-bits">... Listen to the Show or Read the Transcript Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Gigabit Muni Fiber Partnership: Westminster and Ting</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, January 13, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-westminster-md.png" alt="" title="" width="83" height="82" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Westminster's city council just voted unanimously to establish a partnership with Ting,<a href="http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/news/local/ph-cc-westminster-meeting-011315-20150112,0,2701792.story" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports the Carroll County Times</a>. Known primarily as a mobile service provider, Ting wants to offer Internet services via the new municipal fiber optic network. Ting announced earlier this month that it would soon begin offering Internet service in <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/ting-offer-fiber-internet-service-charlottesville" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Charlottesville, Virginia</a> as well.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In their own announcement about the partnership, CTC Technology & Energy's Joanne Hovis <a href="http://www.ctcnet.us/blog/maryland-city-announces-groundbreaking-fiber-partnership-with-ting-internet/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">described the arrangement</a>:</p><blockquote style="margin:1em 2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em;font-style:italic"><p style="margin:1em 0px">The City will fund, own, and maintain the fiber; Ting will lease the fiber and provide all equipment and services. Ting will pay the City to use the fiber—reducing the City’s risk while enabling Ting to offer Gigabit Internet in Westminster without having to build a fiber network from scratch.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">CTC has worked with Westminster since the beginning to analyze the community's situation, assets, and challenges. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting">... More Details on This Exciting Partnership! ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sandynet-now-offering-gigabit-ftth-oregon" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">SandyNet Now Offering Gigabit FTTH in Oregon</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, January 15, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sandynet-now-offering-gigabit-ftth-oregon" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-sandy-or2.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="82" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Back in September, SandyNet announced that its <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Fiber-to-the-home.  As most telecommunications networks use fiber in some part of it, FTTH is used to specify those that use fiber to connect the subscriber.  Some claim they have a fiber-optic network because they use fiber to the node even when they use phone lines or a cable network over the last mile.  FTTH may be more expensive to install currently, but offers significant savings in terms of maintenance when compared to copper alternatives.">FTTH</cite></a> gigabit network was officially up and running. The utility will continue to expand and eventually bring the network to all 4,000 households. <a href="http://www.lightreading.com/gigabit/gigabit-cities/utility-brings-gigabit-to-oregon-town-/d/d-id/712821" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Light Reading</a> recently spoke with Joe Knapp, Sandy's IT Director and general manager of the broadband utility about the new offering. With a population of 10,000, Sandy is in Oregon between Portland and Mount Hood.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The network is completely underground. Sandy is one of many communities that have developed<a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/smart-conduit-policy-sandy-mount-vernon-reduces-network-cost" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">smart conduit policies</a>, reducing the cost and preparing the environment for deployment over a period of years.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sandynet-now-offering-gigabit-ftth-oregon">... More Information on Sandy Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-issues-rfp" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority Issues RFP</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, January 16, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-issues-rfp" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/roanoke-valley-va_0.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="68" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Roanoke Valley in Virginia has taken a deliberate pace on the road to improving local connectivity. On December 10th, the Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority (RVBA) <a href="http://highspeedroanoke.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">released an RFP</a> for proposals for an <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="An arrangement in which the network is open to independent service providers to offer services.  In many cases, the network owner only sells wholesale access to the service providers who offer all retail services (ie: triple play of internet, phone, tv).  Open access provides much more competition from which potential subscribers can choose.">open access</cite></a> fiber optic network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The RVBA is seeking a partner to build the network that will remain a publicly owned asset but will be managed by a private partner. According to the RFP, the City of Salem Electric Department has fiber in place that will be integrated into the the network. The RVBA has already invested in design, engineering, and permitting of 42 miles of a fiber network to jumpstart the process. Construction should begin this year.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-issues-rfp">... More Information on the Story Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/hagerstown-maryland-issues-rfi-gigabit-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Hagerstown, Maryland Issues RFI for Gigabit Network</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:14px;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Sun, January 11, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/hagerstown-maryland-issues-rfi-gigabit-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-hagerstown-md.png" alt="" title="" width="107" height="108" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.hagerstownmd.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Hagerstown</a>, population 40,000, recently released a Request for Information to field ideas to develop existing infrastructure for residents and local businesses.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to the press release:</p><blockquote style="margin:1em 2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em;font-style:italic"><p style="margin:1em 0px">"The interest in our City and the potential shown for our market from industry professionals working with municipal broadband initiatives has been very promising. We look forward to moving ahead in collaboration with private partners to bring affordable technology to Hagerstown," says Mayor Dave Gysberts.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">The RFI identifies five goals ...</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/hagerstown-maryland-issues-rfi-gigabit-network">... Read the Goals Here ...</a></p></div></div></div>

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