<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>I'm at <a href="http://freedom-to-connect.net/">Freedom to Connect</a>!  I'm presenting later this morning -<a href="http://freedom-to-connect.cleeng.com/f2c-2015/E635635429_US"> webcast here</a> for $25. F2C is well worth supporting.</i></div><div><br></div><div><b><i>What a week!  </i></b></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/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Cable Companies Lose Big at FCC, Barriers to Community Broadband Struck Down</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, February 26, 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/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-fcc-2012.PNG" alt="" title="" width="111" height="102" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>For Immediate Release</strong>: February 26, 2015</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Contact</strong>: Christina DiPasquale, 202.716.1953, <a href="mailto:Christina@fitzgibbonmedia.com" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Christina@fitzgibbonmedia.com</a></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>BREAKING: Cable Companies Lose Big at FCC, Barriers to Community Broadband Struck Down</strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px">Two southern cities today persuaded the Federal Communications Commission to recognize their right to build their own publicly owned Internet networks where existing providers had refused to invest in modern connections. The 3-2 FCC vote removes barriers for municipal networks in Chattanooga, Tennessee and Wilson, North Carolina, to extend their high-quality Internet service to nearby areas.  </p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down">... Our Statement Here ...</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/republican-tennessee-leader-endorses-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Republican Tennessee Leader Endorses 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">Thu, February 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/republican-tennessee-leader-endorses-local-authority" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/janice-bowling.jpg" alt="" title="" width="100" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.capitol.tn.gov/senate/members/s16.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Republican State Senator Janice Bowling</a> from Tennessee is once again speaking out in favor of local telecommunications authority. On Monday, she <a href="http://www.tennessean.com/story/opinion/contributors/2015/02/23/expand-high-speed-internet-small-cities/23891515/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">published an op-ed</a>in the Tennessean titled <em><strong>"Don't limit high-speed broadband to big cities,"</strong></em>noting that rural communities often have no choice but to build their own infrastructure to obtain fast, reliable, affordable Internet access for residents and businesses.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Bowling refers to Tullahoma, her own home town, where economic growth is strong and Internet access is affordable. Tullahoma has a history of increasing speeds without increasing rates and now offers <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/lighttube-lowers-price-gig-increases-speeds-free-again" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">gigabit service for around $100</a>. Unfortunately, Tullahoma is surrounded by communities it cannot help due to the state limitations.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/republican-tennessee-leader-endorses-local-authority">... Senator Bowling is a Champion of Local Choice - More Here ...</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/city-council-moves-forward-muni-project-ellsworth-maine" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">City Council Moves Forward on Muni Project in Ellsworth, Maine</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 24, 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/city-council-moves-forward-muni-project-ellsworth-maine" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-ellsworth-me.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="84" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://www.ellsworthmaine.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Ellsworth City Council</a> voted on February 9th to proceed with the first steps to <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/more-muni-fiber-projects-maine" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">developing yet another</a> municipal fiber network in Maine. Community leaders plan to develop <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 infrastructure. Five ISPs have already expressed an interest in working with the city to provide services via the network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Ellsworth is home to approximately 7,500 people and is located along the south not far from the central coast.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://www.ellsworthamerican.com/featured/council-backs-broadband-internet-project" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Ellsworth American reports</a> that council members decided unanimously to lease a parcel of land on which to place a headend facility. The Ellsworth Business Development Corporation (EBDC), which also obtained a $250,000 grant to expand high-speed Internet in Ellsworth, will lease the property. The grant came from the <a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2014/09/17/business/ellsworth-to-get-250000-to-boost-availability-of-high-speed-internet-access/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Northern Border Regional Commission in 2014</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/city-council-moves-forward-muni-project-ellsworth-maine">... Read About Yet Another Smart Maine Approach ...</a></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/mesas-focus-dig-once-and-fiber-leases-pays-community-broadband-bits-podcast-139" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Mesa's Focus on Dig Once and Fiber Leases Pays Off - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 139</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 24, 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/mesas-focus-dig-once-and-fiber-leases-pays-community-broadband-bits-podcast-139" 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">Arizona's <a href="http://www.mesaaz.gov/Home/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">city of Mesa</a> is one of the largest communities in the nation to benefit from the city taking role in ensuring <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> and fiber are available throughout the area. This week we talk with Alex Deshuk, the city's Manager of Technology and Innovation that was <a href="http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0320mr-mesatech0320.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">brought on in 2008</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We talk about how Mesa has, for longer than a decade, ensured that it was putting conduit in the ground and making fiber available to independent providers as needed to ensure they had multiple options around town and especially to select areas where they wanted to encourage development.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Having this fiber available has helped to encourage high tech investment, including the new Apple Global Command Center.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/mesas-focus-dig-once-and-fiber-leases-pays-community-broadband-bits-podcast-139">... Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-139" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript from this episode here</a>...</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/opelika-speaks-experience-support-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Opelika Speaks From Experience: 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, February 25, 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/opelika-speaks-experience-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/opelika-seal.png" alt="" title="" width="122" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Opelika has offered <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> to residents and businesses for <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rates-approved-opelika-community-fiber-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">less than six months</a>but already it is singing the praises of local choice. Mayor Gary Fuller is now speaking out in <a href="http://blog.al.com/press-releases/2015/02/how_opelika_a_town_you_may_not.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">an opinion piece in AL.com</a>, encouraging the FCC to allow Wilson, Chattanooga, and other communities to have the same opportunity as Opelika.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Mayor Fuller points out that local telecommunications authority is an organic outgrowth of local self-reliance:</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">Cities have always been at the heart of economic expansion, entrepreneurialism, and local connection to citizens, charged with ensuring high-quality education for our children, caring for our sick and elderly neighbors, and laying the foundation for shared prosperity. As we look to the years ahead, high-speed broadband will only become more and more important to the quality and vitality of our community. </p></blockquote><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">That's why in Opelika, I led the charge to become the first city in Alabama to offer this cutting edge technology, both to residential and business customers. As a result, Opelika citizens now have access to fast, reliable broadband speeds that will turn possibilities into real opportunities. Businesses now have more opportunities to expand and grow, work more effectively and efficiently, and compete in a larger market. </p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/opelika-speaks-experience-support-local-authority">... Read the Full Coverage Here ...</a></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/mitchell-speak-syracuse-march-4th" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Mitchell to Speak in Syracuse on March 4th</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, February 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/mitchell-speak-syracuse-march-4th" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-syracuse.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="123" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Chris will travel to Syracuse, New York to speak on March 4th as part of Syracuse MetroNet's Broadband Speaker Series. If you are in the area and interested in attending, the lecture will be at 7 p.m. at Grewen Auditorium at the <a href="http://www.lemoyne.edu/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Le Moyne College</a> campus. A <a href="http://www.syracusemetronet.com/MitchellPressRelease.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">PDF of the press release</a> is available online.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.syracusemetronet.com/index.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Syracuse MetroNet</a> serves fifteen community anchor institutions, including hospitals, educational institutions, government agencies, and community organizations. Unfortunately, the connectivity situation for businesses and residents needs a better solution.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last fall, Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/calls-grow-community-network-syracuse" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">expressed interest</a> in developing a municipal network to improve connectivity in this community of 147,000. Residents now depend on Time Warner Cable for service and do not treasure the idea of dealing with an even bigger behemoth, should the merger with Comcast come to pass.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... Come on Out! ...</p></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/rochester-pursues-business-case-study-muni-network-minnesota" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Rochester Pursues Business Case Study for Muni Network in Minnesota</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 23, 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/rochester-pursues-business-case-study-muni-network-minnesota" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-rochester-mn.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://www.rochestermn.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Rochester</a> City Council recently voted unanimously to move forward with a study on the possibilities of publicly owned broadband in this southeastern city. Rochester will then decide whether to move forward with bids to form a public-private partnership for a network, or pursue another path.</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px">After receiving dozens of calls from his constituents, City Councilman <a href="http://www.rochestermn.gov/departments/citycouncil/biographys/michaelwojcik.asp" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Michael Wojcik</a> is asking his colleagues to consider a municipal network. Rochester’s area holds a population of about 110,000, and is home to the world-famous <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Mayo Clinic</a>. </p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/rochester-considers-city-operated-broadband/article_20930d2e-db74-5d97-a830-29ed61b512f7.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">According to the Rochester Post-Bulletin</a>, Charter Communications operates its cable TV and Internet services under a <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term12" 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 cable company wishing to provide television services in a community historically signed a franchise agreement with the municipal government.  The agreement would specify what the community would receive from the cable company in return for access to rights of way (such as telephone poles).  However, this arrangement has changed in many states recently, where states have preempted local control.  Cities now are not permitted to offer exclusive franchises.">franchise</cite></a> agreement with the city. That agreement is up for a renewal on March 31.</p></div></div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rochester-pursues-business-case-study-muni-network-minnesota">... Read our Full Coverage Here ...</a></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/benton-foundation-article-dives-upcoming-fcc-decision-and-section-706" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Benton Foundation Article Dives Into Upcoming FCC Decision and Section 706</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 25, 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/benton-foundation-article-dives-upcoming-fcc-decision-and-section-706" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-fcc-2012.PNG" alt="" title="" width="111" height="102" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Kevin Taglang, recently published an excellent explanatory post for the Benton Foundation entitled <em><a href="https://www.benton.org/blog/what-section-706-means-net-neutrality-municipal-networks-and-universal-broadband?utm_campaign=Newsletters&utm_source=sendgrid&utm_medium=email" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">What Section 706 Means for Net Neutrality, Municipal Networks, and Universal Broadband</a>. </em>He provides just the right amount of detail to get one up top speed on the upcoming decision and why it promises to be so influential. Additionally, he summarizes many federal programs relating to Internet access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We already know that February 26th will be an historic day in telecommunications. On that day, the FCC's decision on new network neutrality rules and municipal broadband networks has the potential to literally change millions of lives. The decision will impact education, economic development, jobs, healthcare, communications, utilities - you name it. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/benton-foundation-article-dives-upcoming-fcc-decision-and-section-706">... This is a Great Resource from Benton ...</a></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/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-27" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - February 27</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">Sat, February 28, 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-27" 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 style="margin:1em 0px">This week, the FCC made an historic decision in favor of municipal networks in Chattanooga, TN and Wilson, NC. Chris was in Washington, DC to witness the vote, hear the testimony, and celebrate the hard work of several organizations.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As Brendan Sasso with the National Journal reported, "The issue is one of the most controversial that the FCC will vote on this year. But it was largely overshadowed Thursday by the even more explosive debate over net-neutrality regulations." We have full coverage of both decisions this week. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Municipal Broadband Decision</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/the-future-of-broadband/feds-nullifies-state-laws-on-city-internet-20150226" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><em><strong>Feds Nullify State Laws on City Internet</strong></em></a>: Net neutrality may get more attention, but the FCC is also making a major push for community Internet service—a priority for Obama. This by Brendan Sasso, National Journal...</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-27">... See all the Statements here in the Roundup ...</a></p></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div> </div></div>
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