<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><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><i><br></i></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/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Seattle Grassroots Muni Initiative Kicks Off With Campaign Survey</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">Thu, January 29, 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/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-seattle.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="104" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Seattleites <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/seattleites-want-more-rhetoric-quest-better-broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">tired of waiting</a> for incumbents to provide better services, have decided to launch a campaign to establish Internet access as a public utility. In order to get the campaign off to a strong start, the founding group has <a href="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1YQE9TaX6wg2e8rAdNtSXsX3fAsqKd4MN5JfVBezXqxA/viewform?c=0&w=1&fbzx=-7650443809731904999" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">launched a survey</a> to choose a name.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Seattle has significant fiber resources in place, an electric utility, and strong grassroots support. Unfortunately, incumbent Comcast has been trying to <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/broadband-complicated-piece-seattle-mayor-race" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">curry favor within City Hall</a>. But given that Seattle has joined <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Next Century Cities</a>, the City seems focused on exploring all of its options.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">When <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/christopher-mitchell-presentation-video-seattle-and-muni-networks" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Chris presented in Seattle</a>, he strongly encouraged them to organize a grassroots effort to support a community network. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey">... Learn More About Their Approach Here ...</a></p></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/massachusetts-towns-consider-wiredwest-opportunity" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Massachusetts Towns Consider WiredWest Opportunity</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">Mon, January 26, 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/massachusetts-towns-consider-wiredwest-opportunity" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-wired-west2012.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="28" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Eleven Select boards in Franklin County are ready to take the next step with <a href="http://wiredwest.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">WiredWest</a> Cooperative. According to <a href="http://www.recorder.com/home/15124054-95/wiredwest-towns-ready-for-next-step?utm_content=buffera72df&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the Recorder</a>, the towns of Ashfield, Charlemont, Colrain, Hawley, Heath, Leyden, New Salem, Rowe, Shutesbury, Warwick and Wendell have all approved nonbinding resolutions taking them into the financial planning phase.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last fall, <span style="letter-spacing:0px;font-family:Verdana">the organization and the </span>Massachusetts Broadband Institute (<span style="font-family:Verdana;letter-spacing:0px">MBI) <a href="http://wiredwest.net/2014/09/24/announcement-of-collaboration-on-last-mile-efforts/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">agreed to meet on a regular schedule</a>. The two organizations began meeting with town Select Boards in order to update them on financial obligations to help them decide whether or not to participate.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;font-family:Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing:0px">WiredWest Cooperative has worked with The Western Massachusetts Legislative Delegation On The <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term17" 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="Describes the final leg of a connection between a service provider and the customer. In DSL and cable systems, this is the most frequent bottleneck and the most expensive to resolve.  The service provider may run a faster fiber-optic network into the neighborhood but deliver the last mile (which could be considerably less than a mile -">Last Mile</cite></a> Broadband Solution to create a strategy to improve connectivity statewide. In addition to WiredWest, the group included MBI, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG), and the Mass TechCollaborative. Several state lawmakers, <a href="http://wiredwest.net/2014/09/24/announcement-of-collaboration-on-last-mile-efforts/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">including Senator Stan Rosenberg</a>, participated in the delegation.</span></p><p style="margin:0px;font-family:Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><br></span></p><p style="margin:0px;font-family:Verdana"><span style="letter-spacing:0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/massachusetts-towns-consider-wiredwest-opportunity">... Much More Detail Here ...</a><br><br></span></p><p style="margin:0px;font-family:Verdana"><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/onecommunitys-middle-way-community-broadband-bits-podcast-135" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">OneCommunity's Middle Way - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 135</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 27, 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/onecommunitys-middle-way-community-broadband-bits-podcast-135" 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"><a href="http://www.onecommunity.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">OneCommunity</a> is a nonprofit organization in northeastern Ohio that has connected thousands of community anchor institutions with high capacity connections. Created as OneCleveland before expanding, it has remained a rather unique approach to expanding high quality Internet access. This week, CEO Lev Gonick joins us to talk about OneCommunity and its contributions to the region.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As neither a private company nor a local government, Lev believes that OneCommunity offers a third way, something they often call a "community-driven" approach. We discuss how a big city like Cleveland needs to think about solving the problem of expanding Internet access broadly.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">OneCommunity has <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">just announced the recipients of its Big Gig Challenge</a> and Lev shares some of the lessons they learned in evaluating proposals and working with the communities that competed for the prize.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunitys-middle-way-community-broadband-bits-podcast-135">... Listen to the Show 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/fourth-annual-iamu-broadband-conference-march-18th-19th-des-moines" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Fourth Annual IAMU Broadband Conference: March 18th - 19th in Des Moines</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 30, 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/fourth-annual-iamu-broadband-conference-march-18th-19th-des-moines" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-iamu.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="54" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Spring is the time for the Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities (IAMU)<a href="http://www.iamu.org/en/services/broadband/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Broadband Conference in Des Moines</a>. This year is it scheduled for March 18th and 19th at the <a href="http://www.ramadatropicsresort.com/attractions.php" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Ramada Tropics and Resort Center</a> downtown. Don't forget your swimsuit!</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Chris will be presenting again this year. He has been there 2 out of the last 3 years and it is always a good time with lots of great energy. This year they are particularly welcoming people from outside Iowa as well - so put it on your calendar if you are nearby!</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fourth-annual-iamu-broadband-conference-march-18th-19th-des-moines">... Hope you Can Come! ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/boston-globe-latest-support-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Boston Globe the Latest to Support Local Authority</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">Wed, January 28, 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/boston-globe-latest-support-local-authority" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-boston-globe.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="17" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Yet another major news outlet has endorsed the President's position in support of local telecommunications authority. On January 26th, <a href="http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2015/01/26/congress-should-let-cities-provide-their-own-internetcongress-should-let-cities-build-their-own-broadband-high-speed-internet-access-for/Abx1YJxkzLxt4964ONDjUJ/story.html?event=event25" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the Boston Globe went on record</a> to endorse the concept, urging the FCC and Congress to work together to ensure local communities have the right to make their own connecitvity decisions.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Globe suggested that, rather than allowing the FCC to take the lead with the <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/fcc-our-best-shot-restore-local-authority" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Wilson and Chattanooga petition decisions</a>, federal lawmakers take action:</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">A better approach would be for Congress to settle the issue itself, by preventing states from interfering with cities and towns that want to start their own Internet services.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/boston-globe-latest-support-local-authority">... Read the Full Story Here ...</a></p></div></div><p style="margin:0px;font-family:Verdana"><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/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">OneCommunity Announces "Big Gig Challenge" Award Recipients</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 27, 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/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-onecommunity-2014_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="84" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last fall, nonprofit ISP OneCommunity  <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/nonprofit-isp-offers-%E2%80%9Cbig-gig-challenge%E2%80%9D-connect-northeast-ohio" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">created the "Big Gig Challenge"</a> to jump start expansion and promote gigabit applications in northeast Ohio. The organization <a href="http://www.onecommunity.org/big-gig-recipients/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently announced</a> the winners and provided some information about their projects.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The West 25th Corridor project, running through Ohio City, Tremont, Clark-Fulton, Brooklyn Centre, and Old Brooklyn is a four mile stretch that will affect small business, the Cleveland Clinic, two MetroHealth Systems campuses, and several other large employers. This project also reaches 14 sites that could be developed and over 900 properties. It is a collaborative project that includes four Cleveland Wards.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/onecommunity-announces-big-gig-challenge-award-recipients">... Read Our Full Coverage Here ...</a></p></div><p style="margin:0px;font-family:Verdana"><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/clic-presents-special-pre-conference-event-2015-broadband-summit-austin" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">CLIC Presents Special Pre-Conference Event at 2015 Broadband Summit in Austin</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 27, 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/clic-presents-special-pre-conference-event-2015-broadband-summit-austin" 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">The <a href="http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">2015 Broadband Communities Summit</a> is scheduled for April 14 - 16 in Austin, Texas. When you book your flight and reserve your room, plan on coming a day early so you can take advantage of the is year's special pre-conference event. The <a href="http://www.localnetchoice.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Coalition for Local Internet Choice</a> (CLIC) will offer a <a href="http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/pages/15CLICconference.php" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">full day's agenda</a>on the politics of local Internet choice on Monday, April 13.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Chris will speak at both events. As Senior Advisor to CLIC, he will be speaking on Monday to CLIC pre-conference attendees and then addressing economic development at the Broadband Communities Summit on Tuesday, April 14. The Summit <a href="http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/pages/15agenda-at-a-glance.php" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Agenda at a Glance</a> is now available to view.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">For a limited time, CLIC members <a href="https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1559280" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">can register online</a> for the CLIC program for $125 and attend the<strong>entire</strong> Summit for free. Choose the CODEHOLDERS button and enter the code <strong>CLIC125</strong> to receive the special rate.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">(Pssst! This is an awesome deal! You save $895!)</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/clic-presents-special-pre-conference-event-2015-broadband-summit-austin">... Link to this Post Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div></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/missoula-maps-local-fiber-assets-encourages-new-installation" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Missoula Maps Local Fiber Assets, Encourages New Installation</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 28, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/tanderson" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">tanderson</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/missoula-maps-local-fiber-assets-encourages-new-installation" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-missoula.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="53" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last August, we <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/missoula-releases-results-broadband-feasibility-study" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">wrote</a> and <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/missoula-pursues-open-access-fiber-jobs-community-broadband-bits-podcast-112" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">podcasted</a> about the results of a broadband feasibility study for the City of Missoula, which recommended developing 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>network with approximately 60 miles of underground fiber through a public private partnership. The study also demonstrated a significant need for improved connectivity in the central business district, with almost 40% of businesses saying their connections were insufficient for their needs. The study also recommended a variety of fairly small policy changes to encourage the spread of fiber optics, such as a “dig once” <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305" 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="A reinforced tube through which cabling runs. Conduit is useful both to protect fiber-optic cables in the ground and because one can place the conduit underground when convenient and later ">conduit</cite></a> policy. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Early in December, the Missoula City Council acted on at at least one of those recommendations by lowering the fee the city charges for excavating and installing new fiber optic lines in the public right-of-way by 75 percent. City Councilwoman Caitlin Copple, who has spearheaded the efforts for better connectivity in Missoula and appeared on our Broadband Bits <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/missoula-pursues-open-access-fiber-jobs-community-broadband-bits-podcast-112" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">podcast in August</a>, described lowering the fee this way to the <a href="http://missoulian.com/business/local/new-network-map-reveals-missoula-s-internet-needs/article_7b24c2e1-7927-5f8e-bc2e-323d8ac74d48.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Missoulian newspaper</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">“It’s a gesture of good will to the service providers that we want to work with them,” said Copple, who chairs the city’s Economic Development Subcommittee. “It was a unanimous vote, and it shows Missoula is serious about business.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/missoula-maps-local-fiber-assets-encourages-new-installation">... More on Their Approach 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/local-authority-restrictions-one-worst-policy-ideas-2014-according-wonkblog" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Local Authority Restrictions One of the "Worst Policy Ideas of 2014" According to Wonkblog</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">Sat, January 31, 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/local-authority-restrictions-one-worst-policy-ideas-2014-according-wonkblog" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-washington-post.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="104" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">We are well into the new year; a look back at 2014 can be instructive if we strive to learn from our mistakes. A December article from the Washington post Wonkblog listed <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2014/12/30/11-of-the-worst-policy-ideas-of-2014/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">"11 of the worst policy ideas of 2014"</a> and, of course, state barriers restricting local telecommunications authority was on the list:</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">Fed up with limited choices, high prices and shoddy service, many cities want to turn their back on large Internet providers by building their own municipal broadband service. Standing in their way are state legislatures, lobbyists for the telecom industry and even federal lawmakers who believe states should have control over what projects their cities invest in.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">Fortunately, this is something that we can change - let's educate elected officials to ensure there are no new barriers and existing barriers are repealed.</p></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

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