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<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><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/latest-wired-west-rural-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-149" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">The Latest on Wired West Rural Fiber - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 149</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, May 05, 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/latest-wired-west-rural-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-149" 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">Our <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-2-wired-west-podcast" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">second episode</a> of Community Broadband Bits featured an interview with Monica Webb, Chair of the Wired West Board and Spokesperson. Three years later, we are excited to have Monica on the show again to update us on their recent progress.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As we <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/shutesbury-and-wendell-residents-ready-vote-wiredwest" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently noted</a>, the state has decided to contribute significantly to the capital costs of a network connecting these rural towns and the towns are currently voting on whether to move forward.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In our discussion, we discuss Wired West and what it is like to live with very poor Internet access in 2015. You can read all of our <a href="http://muninetworks.org/tags-312" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">coverage of Wired West here</a>. Keep an eye on <a href="https://twitter.com/wired_west" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">@Wired_West</a> on Twitter for breaking news - 2 more communities voted to move forward with overwhelming majorities last night!</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/latest-wired-west-rural-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-149">... 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/dakota-county-expanding-fiber-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Dakota County Expanding Fiber Network</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, May 07, 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/dakota-county-expanding-fiber-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-dakota-county.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="83" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Minnesota's Dakota County community leaders are planning to expand their existing fiber optic network, <a href="http://blandinonbroadband.org/2015/04/21/dakota-county-approves-1-million-for-more-fiber/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports Blandin on Broadband's Ann Treacy</a>. She attended a recent County Commissioner's meeting in which commissioners approved $1.2 million to add another 500,000 feet to the network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Dakota County plans to perform some upgrades in addition to the expansion. They hope to collaborate with municipal and state government as well as a local school district. In addition to connecting more public facilities, a key benefit of this expansion will be to improve traffic signals along several busy corridors. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Dakota County is taking advantage of transportation projects and its <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/dakota-county-fiber-rich-thanks-dig-once-approach-community-broadband-bits-podcast-117" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">dig once policy</a> to install <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. This project will also add redundancy and capacity to the existing network and create potential connections to an industrial park. By sharing the cost of the expansion and the maintenance, each participating entity will see many benefits at a fraction of the cost from leasing from an incumbent provider.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dakota-county-expanding-fiber-network">... More Details from Dakota County in our Full Story ...</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/ecfiber-adds-1000th-customer-continues-expand-vermont" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">ECFiber Adds 1,000th Customer; Continues to Expand in Vermont</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, May 06, 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/ecfiber-adds-1000th-customer-continues-expand-vermont" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-ecfiber-new.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="45" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In April, ECFiber connected it 1,000th customer in Thetford Hill. Users at the First Congregational Church, described as the oldest meeting house in the state, have nothing but kudos for ECFiber and their new high-speed <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24" 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="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream.  When the two speeds are comparable, the connection is termed symmetric.  Fiber-optic networks more readily offer symmetrical connections than DSL and cable, which are inherently asymmetrical.  Ultimately, purely symmetrical connections are less important than connections which offer robust connections in both ways.  However, modern asymmetrical connections via DSL and cable networks offer upload speeds that are too slow to take advantage of modern applications.">symmetrical</cite></a>Internet access. From <a href="http://ecfiber.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/04/2015-04-23-press-release.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the press release</a> [PDF]:</p><blockquote style="margin:1em 2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em;font-style:italic"><p style="margin:1em 0px">“The service has been great so far,” said David Hooke, Chair of the Board of Trustees, “and we really appreciate that ECFiber is a community owned organization committed to bringing state of the art connectivity to rural east central Vermont. This will be a boon for the whole region.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">To celebrate the milestone, ECFiber Chairman Irv Thomae presented a special certificate to the Church.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ecfiber-adds-1000th-customer-continues-expand-vermont">... Read the Rest of the This Story Here ...</a></p></div></div></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Paul Bunyan Communications Spreading Fiber Across Northern MN</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, May 04, 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/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-paulbunyan-coop.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="67" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The northern half of Minnesota, despite its rural character, is rapidly improving in high quality Internet access. <a href="http://www.paulbunyan.net/index.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Paul Bunyan Communications</a>, the cooperative serving much of the Bemijdi area, began work on its GigaZone network last fall and the network is snaking its way across the region. According to <a href="http://www.paulbunyan.net/cooperative/news/index.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">an April 20th press release</a> from the cooperative, GigaZone is now available to 500 more locations from the rural areas near Lake George to Itasca State Park. This brings the number of customers with access to GigaZone to 5,000.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Rates for <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24" 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="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream.  When the two speeds are comparable, the connection is termed symmetric.  Fiber-optic networks more readily offer symmetrical connections than DSL and cable, which are inherently asymmetrical.  Ultimately, purely symmetrical connections are less important than connections which offer robust connections in both ways.  However, modern asymmetrical connections via DSL and cable networks offer upload speeds that are too slow to take advantage of modern applications.">symmetrical</cite></a> Internet access range from <strong>$44.95 per month for 20 <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></strong> to <strong>$74.95</strong> <strong>per month for 50 Mbps</strong>. Higher speeds are available, including gigabit Internet access, but the cooperative asks potential customers to call for pricing.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn">... Read Our Full Story 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/seattle-times-supports-universal-affordable-municipal-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Seattle Times Supports Universal, Affordable Municipal Network</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:14px;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, May 08, 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-times-supports-universal-affordable-municipal-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-seattle-times.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="38" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><em>The Editorial Board of the Seattle Times wants Mayor Ed Murray and his administration to put affordability and ubiquitous access near the top of the list as it considers a municipal fiber network. In a <a href="http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/mayor-murray-should-bring-universal-broadband-service-to-seattle/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">May 7th editorial</a>, the Board acknowledged that Internet access in the City is available, but apparently not at affordable rates for everyone. </em></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">One of the next topics for Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to address is whether taxpayers in Software City should support a new broadband network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/seattle-times-supports-universal-affordable-municipal-network">... This is an Excellent Sign of Support for Seattle Muni Fiber ...</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/video-available-connecticut-gigabit-state-event" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Video Available: Connecticut Gigabit State Event</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:14px;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Sun, May 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/video-available-connecticut-gigabit-state-event" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-connecticut.jpg" alt="" title="" width="97" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">On May 5th, Christopher participated in a panel conversation presented by the City of New Haven and the Connecticut Office of Consumer Counsel. Video of the event,<em>Moving Towards A Gigabit State: Planning & Financing Municipal Ultra-High-Speed Internet Fiber Networks Through Public-Private Partnerships</em>, is now available.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">You can watch it from <a href="http://ct-n.com/ondemand.asp?id=11499" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the Connecticut Network website</a>. The final panel has, in order of appearance, Bill Vallee, Joanne Hovis, Christopher, Monica Webb, and Jim Baller. It begins around 3:18 and Christopher begins his presentation at 3:36. The entire video is approximately 4 hours, 30 minutes.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/video-available-connecticut-gigabit-state-event">... Link to This 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/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-8-2015" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - May 8, 2015</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, May 10, 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="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-may-8-2015" 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"><strong><em>State-by-State Community Network Coverage</em></strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Maine</strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/29/business/bangor-panel-argues-state-must-invest-in-broadband-or-fall-behind/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Bangor panel argues state must invest in broadband or fall behind</a> by Nick McCrea, Bangor Daily News</p><blockquote style="margin:1em 2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em;font-style:italic"><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px">Broadband’s influence on economic development is an “academic marvel, because it’s the only thing that all economists agree on,” according to [Tilson Tech broadband consultant, Aaron] Paul. He argued the infrastructure is “fundamentally cheap,” when compared with investments, such as natural gas connections, because fiber optic cables can be hung on utility poles.</p></blockquote><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Maryland</strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://technical.ly/baltimore/2015/04/27/baltimore-broadband-coalition-seeks-input/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Baltimore Broadband Coalition wants your input</a> by Stephen Babcock, Technical.ly</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-8-2015">... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><br></div></div>

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