<div dir="ltr"><div><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><br></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/answering-questions-about-title-ii-and-munis-community-broadband-bits-episode-138" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Answering Questions About Title II and Munis - Community Broadband Bits Episode 138</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, February 17, 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/answering-questions-about-title-ii-and-munis-community-broadband-bits-episode-138" 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">As we near the FCC open meeting at the end of next week, when it will decide on both the Chattanooga and Wilson petitions regarding their wish to expand as well as a proposal to reclassify Internet access a Title II service in order to ensure it can maintain the same open Internet we have long loved. We have mostly focused on the muni petitions, but after hearing some concerns from some munis regarding Title II, we realized we have to delve into the Title II reclassification more deeply.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Enter Chris Lewis, VP of Government of Affairs for <a href="https://www.publicknowledge.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Public Knowledge</a>. I've always enjoyed talking with Chris on various issues around telecom policy and we asked him to come on and answer some of the questions we have heard.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We talk about the prospects of rate regulation, unbundling, transparency requirements, and the process for filing complaints until Title II. Overall, our conclusion is that the rules as we understand them, are quite reasonable and should not pose a problem to munis that are already committed to providing a high quality service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">You can read a <a href="http://www.fcc.gov/document/chairman-wheeler-proposes-new-rules-protecting-open-internet" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Fact Sheet about the proposed rules here</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/answering-questions-about-title-ii-and-munis-community-broadband-bits-episode-138">... 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/time-warner-cable-successfully-blocks-funds-community-network-maine-project-continue" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Time Warner Cable Successfully Blocks Funds for Community Network in Maine; Project to Continue</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, February 12, 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/time-warner-cable-successfully-blocks-funds-community-network-maine-project-continue" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-orono-maine.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="86" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Time Warner Cable recently fought to prevent a collaborative project in Maine from receiving $125,000 in state broadband funding, <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2015/01/16/business/maine-raises-broadband-internet-standard-turns-down-orono-grant/?ref=BusinessBox" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reported the Bangor Daily News</a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/more-muni-fiber-projects-maine" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">We reported in December</a> that Old Town, Orono, the University of Maine, and GWI had been awarded ConnectME funds. The collaborators earmarked the funding for a stretch of about 4 miles of fiber which could serve about 320 subscribers and would ultimately be integrated into a much larger network for businesses and residents. The network would connect to Maine's <a href="http://www.maine.gov/connectme/documents/TRBsummaryfortheBBSC.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Three Ring Binder</a> network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Old Town and Orono <a href="https://bangordailynews.com/2014/10/07/business/orono-talking-with-maine-company-to-bring-high-speed-fiber-line-to-technology-park/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">want to establish</a> gigabit connectivity to a nearby industrial area to transform it into a technology park for economic development purposes. Several businesses, including a health clinic that, have expressed interest in setting up shop in the planned development.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/time-warner-cable-successfully-blocks-funds-community-network-maine-project-continue">... The Full Story Awaits Your Attention Here ...</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/rural-colorado-internet-access-and-mountain-connect-community-broadband-bits-episode-137" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Rural Colorado Internet Access and Mountain Connect - Community Broadband Bits Episode 137</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, February 10, 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/rural-colorado-internet-access-and-mountain-connect-community-broadband-bits-episode-137" 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">Last year was the first year I attended <a href="http://mountainconnect.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Mountain Connect</a>, an event in the Rockies west of Denver that discusses approaches to improving Internet access. Historically, they focused on rural communities but as co-chair of the event Jeff Gavlinski notes in our discussion this week, they are expanding it to include more urban issues as well.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Mountain Connect is growing in many ways and I am excited to return to it in early June.<br>As Jeff and I discuss, it is focused on all solutions to expanding access - whether private sector, coop, muni, partnership, etc.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Colorado has a lot of activity from munis and especially munis that are looking to partner, but also has a state law that requires a time-and-energy consuming referendum before the community can really do any planning or take action to improve its situation.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rural-colorado-internet-access-and-mountain-connect-community-broadband-bits-episode-137">... Listen to the Show Here ...</a><br><br></p></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/local-communities-still-committed-rs-fiber-cooperative" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Local Communities Still Committed to RS Fiber Cooperative</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, February 09, 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/local-communities-still-committed-rs-fiber-cooperative" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/rsfiber-coop.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="52" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Green Isle and nine other communities have reaffirmed their commitment to the RS Fiber Cooperative, <a href="http://belleplaineherald.com/Content/News/Area-News/Article/Green-Isle-Other-Cities-Remain-Committed-to-RS-Fiber-Project/7/40/5653" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports the Belle Plain Herald</a>. The project began in 2010 as a collaboration between a number of local county and municipal government entities in south central Minnesota. Local residents rallied behind the project, which was designed to connect both towns and surrounding farms. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Unfortunately, the project faced difficulties due to incumbent intimidation and the high cost of deployment in such a large geographic area. Sibley County officials chose to back out of the project, requiring a business plan reboot. Locals, recognizing the critical need for better connectivity chose to instead form the <a href="http://www.rsfiber.coop/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">RS Fiber Cooperative</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/local-communities-still-committed-rs-fiber-cooperative">... Read the Full Story 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/want-ftth-move-north-dakota-reports-usda" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Want FTTH? Move to North Dakota, Reports USDA</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">Sun, February 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/want-ftth-move-north-dakota-reports-usda" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-north-dakota.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A recent USDA report reveals that fossil fuels are not the only thing booming in North Dakota. The state ranked 47 for population is ranked number 1 as having the highest percentage of people with access to <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>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to <a href="http://www.telecompetitor.com/report-highlights-fiber-home-deployment-data-benefits/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">a Telecompetitor article</a>, their status can be attributed to an abundance of rural cooperatives and small telecom companies. These local providers have made it their business to fill the gaps left behind by large corporate ISPs that cannot justify investing in rural deployment. Given that most of North Dakota is rural, approximately 96% of the state is served by these smaller providers. The <a href="http://broadband.nd.gov/mapping/map.htm" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">State Broadband map</a> shows a total of 41 providers, including 17 cooperatives and 24 privately owned providers of varying size.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Another advantage to rural status? These cooperatives and small providers have qualified for USDA programs aimed at improving connectivity in sparsely populated regions. The report notes that the USDA has invested $338 million in grants and loans in North Dakota through its various telecommunications programs. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/want-ftth-move-north-dakota-reports-usda">... Rest of the Story and Video Here ...</a></p></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/comcast-ghostwrites-letters-elected-officials-fcc" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Comcast Ghostwrites Letters From Elected Officials to FCC</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, February 10, 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/comcast-ghostwrites-letters-elected-officials-fcc" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-comcast-nbc.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="68" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">It is common knowledge that Comcast and a number of political leaders enjoy special relationships. Nevertheless, it was still a bit shocking to see the level at which Comcast's army has infiltrated the political process as uncovered in <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2015/1/26/7878239/comcast-twc-fcc-merger-letters-politicians-ghostwritten" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">a recent Verge article.</a></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Comcast, Time Warner Cable, AT&T, and CenturyLink lawyers and lobbyists often write legislation for lawmakers to introduce. This past summer, the puppetry went one step further when Comcast crafted letters supporting the Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger. Those letters were then submitted to the FCC from the offices of a number of politicians known to receive support from the cable giant. We applaud both Comcast and their pet lawmakers for their efficiency!</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Verge was also able to obtain email threads that document how lobbyists drafted letters of support and sent them on to local elected officials, who then made insignificant changes in the signature line or transferred the exact language on to official stationery before sending it on to the FCC.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/comcast-ghostwrites-letters-elected-officials-fcc">... Surprised?  We Aren't - More Here ...</a><br><br></p></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/minnesota-border-border-broadband-awards-announced" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Minnesota Border to Border Broadband Awards Announced</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, February 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/minnesota-border-border-broadband-awards-announced" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-minnesota.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://www.mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Minnesota Office of Broadband Development</a> recently announced the recipients of the Border to Border Broadband grants, funding established by the state legislature in 2014 to facilitate rural broadband projects. Seventeen public and private entities will share a total of $19.4 million in Greater Minnesota.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According the the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) <a href="http://mn.gov/deed/newscenter/press-releases/newsdetail.jsp?id=466-155088" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">press release</a>, the projects will help bring better connectivity to 6,095 households, 83 community institutions, and 150 businesses in areas of the state considered unserved or underserved. This funding pays for up to 50 percent of the cost of each project. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The need in rural areas of the state is intense; 40 projects submitted applications for a total of $44.2 million in requests. Among the recipients are some familiar projects.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/minnesota-border-border-broadband-awards-announced">... Read our Full Coverage Here ...</a><br><br></p></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/38-next-century-cities-leaders-sign-letter-fcc-supporting-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">38 Next Century Cities Leaders Sign Letter to FCC Supporting Local Authority</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">Fri, February 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/38-next-century-cities-leaders-sign-letter-fcc-supporting-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-next-century-cities.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="47" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/national-press-follows-president-obama-cedar-falls-iowa" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">President Obama suggested</a> restoring local telecommunications authority while visiting Cedar Falls in January and a number of local elected officials were ready to back him up. Leaders from <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/2015/01/29/over-40-elected-officials-sign-ncc-letter-to-the-federal-communications-commission-in-support-of-local-choice/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">38 members of Next Century Cities</a> recently submitted a public letter to the FCC urging commissioners to consider local autonomy as they consider the Chattanooga and Wilson, North Carolina, petitions.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last summer, <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/fcc-our-best-shot-restore-local-authority" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">both communities filed with the FCC</a> seeking relief from restrictive state laws that prevent their broadband utilities from serving surrounding communities. FCC Chairman Wheeler has<a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fccs-wheeler-forging-ahead-support-grows-restore-local-decision-making" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">spoken in support</a> of local authority more than once. Next Century Cities, a coalition of communities that was formed specifically to advance better connectivity, writes:</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">We write only to urge that, as you consider these petitions, you take proper account of the importance of local choice and autonomy. The benefits of high-quality broadband are now beyond dispute: these projects have stimulated local innovation and economic development, enhanced education, improved government services, and opened new worlds of opportunity to communities and citizens. It is our hope that federal policy will support the realization of these outcomes in our communities and in towns and cities across the country, by empowering every community to meet the needs of their residents.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">You can read the <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/FCC-Letter.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">full letter [PDF]</a> online to see if your elected officials signed on.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The FCC's decision on the petitions is <a href="http://www.multichannel.com/news/policy/fcc-vote-chattanooga-wilson-petitions-feb-26/386916" style="color:rgb(25,82,122);text-decoration:none">expected in February</a>.</p></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/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-13-2015" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - February 13, 2015</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, February 17, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">rebecca</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/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-13-2015" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/media-roundup-community-bb.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px">The FCC’s decision to change the definition of broadband continues to make ripples in the muni broadband world. With the speed increased from 4 <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18" 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="Megabits per second - a measure of speed.  8 Mbps means that 8 million bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Mbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer an 1 MB (Megabyte) file - a photo, for instance.  Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Mbps, more is faster.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps<1 Gbps (Gigabits)">Mbps</cite></a>down, 1 Mbps up, to 25 Mbps down, 3 Mbps up, 75% of the country is now classified as having either no service, or no choices for their Internet connection. The change also means more underserved communities may be able to access to grant money to build networks, it also highlights a more realistic view of the importance of Internet speed for economic development:</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/shaming-cable-giants-fcc-demands-faster-internet-20150129" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Shaming Cable Giants, FCC Demands Faster Internet</a> Republicans complain that increasing the definition of "broadband" is meant to justify power grabs, by Brendan Sasso, National Journal.</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.telecompetitor.com/dsl-new-dial/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">DSL The New Dialup?</a> by Bernie Arneson, Telecompetitor</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-13-2015">... Woof - Lots of Links Here ...</a></p></div></div><div><br></div></div>

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