<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-size:13px"><i>Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the </i><i>Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send feedback.  Forward Widely.</i><br></div></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><br></div><div><b>The Institute for Local Self-Reliance is hiring a Finance and Operations Manager!</b> If interested in working with us either in Minneapolis or DC, <a href="http://www.idealist.org/view/job/knhBzD7sSW8d/" target="_blank">see our job description here</a>. </div><div><br></div><div>And in other news, I'll be in<b> New Haven, Cambridge, and Bangor</b> next week in New England for various events next week Monday - Thursday. Don't forget about the <b>Gigabit Cities Conference in Atlanta</b> in two weeks (May 13 and 14) - I'll be there talking about open access. <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-cities-live-atlanta-may-13th-and-14th">You can attend too, at no charge with the code at the bottom of this post</a>.<br><br></div><div><br></div><div><h2 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/ammon-brings-local-connectivity-idaho-schools-state-education-network-goes-dark" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Ammon Brings Local Connectivity to Idaho Schools as State Education Network Goes Dark</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, April 24, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-brings-local-connectivity-idaho-schools-state-education-network-goes-dark" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-ammon-id.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="41" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The City of Ammon's municipal fiber network recently stepped in to provide primary broadband access for <a href="http://www.d93schools.org/pages/Bonneville" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">School District 93</a> as the state's educational network went dark <a href="http://www.localnews8.com/news/local-schools-make-plans-for-own-broadband-ien-options/31348330" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reports Local News 8</a>. Watch the video of local coverage below.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">When a judge <a href="http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/02/11/3639838_judge-ien-contracts-are-void.html?rh=1" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">ruled last year</a> that the Idaho Education Network (IEN) contract between the state Department of Administration was void, an education broadband crisis loomed across the state. As the drama played out, however, local networks such as Ammon's muni, have come to the rescue to keep students connected.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Ammon Mayor Dana Kirkham described an attitude characteristic of municipal networks:</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">"I think it's just something we do in the spirit of collaboration, and I think that's always important because when we talk about the school district and the city it's all the same people, and so anytime we can keep costs down it benefits everyone involved," Kirkham said.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-brings-local-connectivity-idaho-schools-state-education-network-goes-dark" target="_blank">... Some Pretty Stunning Data on Local Solutions Compared to CenturyLink ...</a><br><br></p></div></div><div><h2 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/reedsburg-expansion-weighed-after-muni-fiber-success-community-broadband-bits-episode-147" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">In Reedsburg, Expansion Weighed After Muni Fiber Success - Community Broadband Bits Episode 147</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, April 21, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">christopher</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/reedsburg-expansion-weighed-after-muni-fiber-success-community-broadband-bits-episode-147" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-community-bb-bits_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The first gigabit city in Wisconsin, <a href="http://reedsburgutility.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Reedsburg</a>, has a municipal fiber network operated by the city-owned electric utility. This week, we talk with General Manager of the Utility Commission, Brett Schuppner. Reedsburg fiber goes back to 2003, which makes it one of the oldest <a 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)" target="_blank"><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> networks in the nation.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Located about an hour outside of Madison, Reedsburg has seen more investment from local industrial businesses because of its fiber network. They received a broadband stimulus award to expand their network into some surrounding rural areas and are now considering how they can continue expanding the network deeper into surround Sauk County without federal assistance.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We talk about what goes into these expansion discussions - what is the dynamic when one community has a great network and the County would like it to expand?</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/reedsburg-expansion-weighed-after-muni-fiber-success-community-broadband-bits-episode-147" target="_blank">Listen to the Show here</a> ... Or <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-147" target="_blank">Read the Transcript Here</a> ...</p></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 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/shutesbury-and-wendell-residents-ready-vote-wiredwest" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Shutesbury and Wendell Residents Ready to Vote on Wired West</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, April 20, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/shutesbury-and-wendell-residents-ready-vote-wiredwest" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-massachusetts.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="120" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Five months ago volunteers in Shutesbury <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/small-town-volunteers-massachusetts-begin-pole-inventory" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">gathered to inventory local poles</a> to prepare for a possible fiber deployment. Now, more than 40 percent of local households have committed to high-speed Internet access through WiredWest,<a href="http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/04/shutesbury_wendell_wired_west_broadband_40_percent.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reports MassLive</a>. Nearby Wendell is also celebrating the 40 percent milestone. According to the article, these are the first communities in the WiredWest region to reach the 40 percent milestone</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The next step will be a required two-thirds vote at a town meeting to authorize borrowing to fund the deployment in each community. After that, a majority of voters must approve a debt exclusion in Shutesbury and Wendell to invest in the capital projects as required by state law.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/shutesbury-and-wendell-residents-ready-vote-wiredwest" target="_blank">... Read More on Wired West Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/san-francisco-looks-expand-muni-fiber-and-wi-fi" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">San Francisco Looks to Expand Muni Fiber and Wi-Fi</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, April 23, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/san-francisco-looks-expand-muni-fiber-and-wi-fi" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-san-fran.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="124" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">San Francisco has long been considered a modern, glittering, tech capital. For years its leaders have struggled with ensuring residents and businesses actually had next-generation Internet access as AT&T and Comcast only provide the same basic services that are available in most cities. In a <a href="https://medium.com/backchannel/san-francisco-of-all-places-has-lousy-connectivity-this-man-wants-to-change-that-439ac981196f" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">recent Backchannel article</a>, Susan Crawford discusses how the City by the Bay is taking steps to develop its vision, its long-term plan, and hopefully a network that will improve connectivity in a city of over 800,000.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">San Francisco has developed an <a href="http://sfcoit.org/modules/showdocument.aspx?documentid=2113" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Information and Communication Technology Plan</a>, which still needs approval from the City Board of Supervisors. According to the article, the plan calls on the city to take an incremental approach on its path to improved connectivity. They plan to use a similar method as Santa Monica by connecting municipal facilities - many of which are already connected via fiber - and then shedding expensive leased circuits. By eliminating that expense, the city will cut $1.3 million for Internet access and networking services from its connectivity costs.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/san-francisco-looks-expand-muni-fiber-and-wi-fi" target="_blank">... Read More on San Francisco's Approach Here ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lincoln-illinois-once-again-looking-fiber" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Lincoln, Illinois, Once Again Looking at Fiber</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, April 22, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lincoln-illinois-once-again-looking-fiber" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-lincoln-il.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="45" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Lincoln, Illinois, has contemplated investing in a <a href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)" target="_blank"><cite title="A system that uses glass (or plastic) to carry light which is used to transmit information.  Typically, each side of the fiber is attached to a laser that send the light signals.  When the connection reaches capacity, the lasers may be upgraded to send much more information along the same strand of fiber.  This technology has been used for decades and will remain the dominant method of transmitting information for the foreseeable future.">fiber-optic</cite></a> municipal network since 2009 and, while they have not taken steps to deploy yet, the community appears to be ready to dive in. The <a href="http://www.lincolncourier.com/article/20150411/NEWS/150419955/1994/NEWS" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Lincoln Courier reports</a> that the City Council recently considered investing $100,000 to deploy fiber in the downtown business district.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Lincoln, located right in the center of the state, is home to approximately 14,500 people. At the meeting, City Administrator Clay Johnson described the need as essential for economic development:</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">"Fiber optics are the sewer and water for economic development; what businesses look for when they want to locate in your area or expand in your are is, ‘do they have access to high speed internet’ and in a lot of areas, no they don’t."</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lincoln-illinois-once-again-looking-fiber" target="_blank">... Get the Rest of our Coverage on This Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lus-fiber-brings-free-wi-fi-airport" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">LUS Fiber Brings Free Wi-Fi to Airport</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, April 23, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lus-fiber-brings-free-wi-fi-airport" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-LUS_1.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="64" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">LUS Fiber is now sharing its municipal gigabit network with travelers at the Lafayette Regional Airport, <a href="http://klfy.com/2015/04/17/new-partnership-with-lus-fiber-for-wifi-at-lafayette-regional-airport/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reports KLFY News 10</a>. According to the article, free<a href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term29" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)" target="_blank"><cite title="This is a suite of protocols that allow wireless devices to exchange information using unlicensed frequencies.  Equipment carrying the Wi-Fi brand is interoperable.  Recently, a number of cities and some private companies attempted to blanket their cities with Wi-Fi but the technology is not well suited to such large scale efforts.  Wi-Fi has proved tremendously successful in homes and businesses on small cities.">Wi-Fi</cite></a> is available at the airport supported by LUS Fiber.</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">“Today’s travelers expect to stay connected when they are away from the office or home. With complimentary WiFi, guests can check important email, post to social media and browse the Internet,” said Steven Picou, Executive Director of Lafayette Regional Airport. “We recognize that to deliver complimentary Internet access contributes towards a positive customer impression of the airport, as well as Lafayette.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">LUS Fiber and the city of Lafayette has <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/three-new-companies-move-silicon-bayou" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">recently attracted</a> a number of high tech companies and understands the value of first impressions. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lus-fiber-brings-free-wi-fi-airport" target="_blank">... The Rest of the Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-25" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 25</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, April 27, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">rebecca</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-25" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/media-roundup-community-bb.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The big news this week was about the fall of the Comcast/Time Warner Cable merger. We like to think it was because of our incredibly brilliant, insightful (also: "witty", "pithy", "charming"...) <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/our-totally-not-ironic-letter-support-comcasttwc-merger" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">letter to Comcast</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/24/business/media/once-comcasts-deal-shifted-to-a-focus-on-broadband-its-ambitions-were-sunk.html?_r=0" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Once Comcast’s Deal Shifted to a Focus on Broadband, Its Ambitions Were Sunk</a>By JONATHAN MAHLER, New York Times</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">At the end of the day, the government’s commitment to maintaining a free and open Internet did not square with the prospect of a single company controlling as much as 40 percent of the public’s access to it… it didn’t really matter if Comcast and Time Warner’s cable markets overlapped. The real issue was broadband.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://recode.net/2015/04/23/blocking-comcast-is-a-start-but-if-we-want-better-broadband-we-need-much-more/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Blocking Comcast Is a Start. But if We Want Better Broadband, We Need Much More</a> by Peter Kafka, Re/Code</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-25" target="_blank">... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

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