<div dir="ltr"><div><i style="font-size:13px">Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the </i><i style="font-size:13px">Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send feedback.  Forward Widely.<br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px">Sending this from the excellent Mountain Connect Broadband Conference in Colorado. Shoutout to Rick Harnish, Dave Zelenok (who is presenting a keynote as I finish this) and many others who are here and read this weekly digest!</i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><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/upgrade-seattle-need-better-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-153" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Upgrade Seattle on Need For Better Access - Community Broadband Bits Episode 153</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, June 02, 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/upgrade-seattle-need-better-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-153" 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">We were excited to begin writing about the <a href="http://www.upgradeseattle.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Upgrade Seattle</a> campaign <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/seattle-grassroots-muni-initiative-kicks-campaign-survey" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">back in January</a> and this week we are presenting a discussion with several people behind the campaign for episode 153 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We are joined by <a href="http://community.brownpapertickets.com/Doers/radio.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Sabrina Roach</a>, Devin Glaser, and Karen Toering to discuss what motivates the Upgrade Seattle campaign and the impact it hopes to have on the community.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We discuss their strategy for improving Internet access, how people are reacting, and how Upgrade Seattle is already working with, learning from, and sharing lessons to, people organizing in other communities for similar goals.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/upgrade-seattle-need-better-access-community-broadband-bits-episode-153">Listen to the Show Here </a>... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-153" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript from our discussion 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/co-mo-cooperative-facing-subsidized-centurylink-missouri" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Co-Mo Cooperative Facing Off With Subsidized CenturyLink in Missouri</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, June 03, 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/co-mo-cooperative-facing-subsidized-centurylink-missouri" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-co-mo-connect.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="41" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Parts of rural central Missouri have some of the fastest Internet service available thanks to <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/co-mo-cooperative-bringing-some-fastest-speeds-nation-rural-missouri" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">fiber service from Co-Mo Electric Cooperative</a> and United Electric Cooperative. The two have worked together to bring gigabit <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 cooperative members in central Missouri. Now that they have proven that people and businesses want high capacity connectivity, CenturyLink is about to enter the scene. The company plans to use millions of dollars in Connect America Funds (CAF) to build in areas already served by the cooperatives.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">After years of planning and hard work, Co-Mo and United are not taking the threat lightly. They have filed challenges with the Wireline Competition Bureau but CenturyLink's Inside-the-Beltway power has thus far served them well. The Wireline Competition Bureau denied a challenge by Co-Mo and United but the decision appears to contradict established policy. Co-Mo and United recently appealed to the FCC asking them to review the Bureau's Order allowing CenturyLink to use over $10 million in CAF. [Read the <a href="http://apps.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/view;NEWECFSSESSION=1BC9VC4Qbc9yp27ycZ3W1WdJTNZFPMQLHhTLsZj7HhJRrXyGGGnx!1460960001!118464228?id=60001045190" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Application for Review here</a>.]</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/co-mo-cooperative-facing-subsidized-centurylink-missouri">... Read this Incredibly Frustrating 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/islesboro-maine-voters-approve-first-round-muni-funding" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Islesboro, Maine, Voters Approve First Round of Muni Funding</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, June 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="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-voters-approve-first-round-muni-funding" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-maine_0.jpg" alt="" title="" width="98" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Islesboro residents voted on May 30th to move forward with their municipal network plan. <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2015/05/30/islesboro-acts-to-become-maines-most-wired-island/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">According to the Islesboro Press Herald</a>, approximately 75 percent of voters attending the annual town meeting approved a motion to spend $206,830 on an engineering study and contractor search. Approximately 200 residents attended.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/isleboro-maine-will-vote-bond-municipal-network-may" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">we reported in March,</a> the community has been working since 2012 on a plan for a fiber network to improve connectivity for businesses and the almost 600 residents on the island. The infrastructure will belong to the Town of Isleboro; GWI will offer services via the network. The entire project estimate is $2.5 - $3 million to be funded with a municipal bond.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Many of the island's residents now obtain Internet access via <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term9" 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="Digital Subscriber Line - or Internet access offered over the phone lines.  DSL allows users to use the Internet at speeds greater than dial-up while also using the phone line for telephone conversations.  DSL uses frequencies not used by human voices.  Unfortunately, these frequencies degrade quickly over distance, meaning customers must live within a mile of the central office to get the fastest speeds.">DSL</cite></a> from Fairpoint, which has been described as spotty and unreliable, for $20 - $70 per month. GWI already operates on the island, offering wireless service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-voters-approve-first-round-muni-funding">... A Few More Details Available Here ...</a></p></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/nc-bald-head-island-releases-rfp-gigabit-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">In NC, Bald Head Island Releases RFP for Gigabit 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">Mon, June 01, 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/nc-bald-head-island-releases-rfp-gigabit-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-baldhead-island_0.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="20" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Village of <a href="http://www.villagebhi.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Bald Head Island, North Carolina</a>, recently released a Request for Proposals (RFP), in its search for an FTTP network. The Village, home to about 160 year-round residents, is accessible only by ferry. Transportation on the island is limited to feet, bikes, and electric golf carts. While they may choose slower transportation methods, the people of the island want speed when it comes to Internet access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Members of the community began working on the idea in the summer of 2013 as part of an initiative that involved several challenges facing this quiet community. They determined that the economic health of local businesses and quality of life depended on improving access, traditionally provided by AT&T and Tele-Media.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Real estate professionals on the island noted that lack of broadband interfered with the housing market.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/nc-bald-head-island-releases-rfp-gigabit-network">... Read Our Coverage of the Story 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/lessons-learned-community-outreach-gilberts-illinois" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Lessons Learned from Community Outreach in Gilberts, Illinois</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, June 03, 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/lessons-learned-community-outreach-gilberts-illinois" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-gilberts-il.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="85" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Earlier this year, <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/small-illinois-town-will-vote-fiber-investment-april" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">we reported</a> on the Village of Gilberts, Illinois, where <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/gilberts-voters-say-no-tax-increase-muni" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">voters defeated a measure</a> to approve general obligation bonds for a municipal network project. Our story got the attention of Bill Beith, Assistant Village Administrator from Gilberts who contacted us to talk about the project and provide detail on their efforts to educate the voters prior to the election.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The project would have raised property taxes 1.8 percent or approximately $150 per year on a property with a $250,000 market value. Even though the network would have been a publicly owned asset, Beith believes the idea of any new taxes defeated the measure. As the community considered the project, voters stated repeatedly that Comcast or one of the other incumbents should pay for deployment of infrastructure. Unfortunately, the Village had approached incumbents who had no interest in building in Gilberts. They felt the investment would not pay off in a community that is home to about 6,800 people.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lessons-learned-community-outreach-gilberts-illinois">... Important Lessons Learned 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/dublin-plans-upgrade-dublink-100-gbps" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Dublin Plans Upgrade Dublink to 100 Gbps</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, June 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="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dublin-plans-upgrade-dublink-100-gbps" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-dubin-oh.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="57" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Dublin, Ohio's Dublink has been saving public dollars and spurring economic development since 2002. The gigabit fiber network is on the verge of a 100 gigabit upgrade. The<a href="http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/dublin/news/2015/05/12/council-oks-100-gigabit-broadband-plan.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> Dublin Villager reports</a> that in early May the City Council voted to implement the 100-Gigabit Dublink Ignite program.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to the Villager:</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 city has budgeted $865,000 over the next six years to complete the project, [City Manager Dana] McDaniel said, and will also use $300,000 in state funds and $360,000 from the Ohio Academic Resource Network for use of additional fiber optics for the project.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Increasing the city's fiber capability will allow the Dublin to provide fiber optics to older office buildings and make then more attractive, McDaniel said.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">In addition to bringing fiber to a greater number of office buildings, the project may even lead to "fiber to the cubicle." </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dublin-plans-upgrade-dublink-100-gbps">... This Ain't Ireland - It's OHIO! ...</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/alec-savannah-local-news-video-exposes-corrupt-process-lawmaking" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">ALEC in Savannah: Local News Video Exposes the Corrupt Process of Lawmaking</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, June 05, 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"><p style="margin:1em 0px">We have reported on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) in the past and stories about ALEC sponsored legislative retreats pop up in the news on a regulary basis. Most recently, NBC Channel 11 from Atlanta <a href="http://www.11alive.com/story/news/local/investigations/2015/05/21/investigators-legislators-and-corporate-lobbyists-meet-in-secret-at-georgia-resort/27695105/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reported on</a> the shadowy world of big corporate influence in Georgia. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">None of this will be new to anyone familiar with ALEC's shadowy way of doing business, but having it on video makes it more compelling.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Brendan Keefe visited Savannah and tried to observe one of these meetings between ALEC corporate members and state legislators. Even though Keefe and his crew had an official press pass, they were blocked from entering the meeting.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/alec-savannah-local-news-video-exposes-corrupt-process-lawmaking">... Watch the Videos Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-7" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - June 7</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, June 09, 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-june-7" 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"><a href="http://www.ibtimes.com/living-without-broadband-2015-how-55-million-americans-find-jobs-study-watch-youtube-1943615" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Living Without Broadband In 2015: How 55 Million Americans Find Jobs, Study, Watch YouTube</a> by Kerry Flynn, International Business Times</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Community Network News By State</strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Ohio</strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/ohio-electric-cooperative-provide-fiber-services-15-school-districts-local/2015-06-05" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Ohio electric cooperative to provide fiber services to 15 school districts, local businesses</a> by Sean Buckley, Fierce Telecom</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>North Carolina</strong></p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/blog/techflash/2015/06/greenlight-community-broadband-fiber-wilson-nc.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">For Wilson's Greenlight Community Broadband, fiber waiting game in full swing</a> by Lauren K. Ohnesorge, Triangle Business Journal Journal</p><p class="" style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-june-7">... Read the Full Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div><div><br></div></div>

<p></p>

-- <br />
You can always find our most recent stories and other resources at <a href="http://MuniNetworks.org">http://MuniNetworks.org</a><br />
--- <br />
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Community Networks Weekly Updates" group.<br />
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to <a href="mailto:communitynetworks-weekly+unsubscribe@ilsr.org">communitynetworks-weekly+unsubscribe@ilsr.org</a>.<br />
For more options, visit <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/ilsr.org/d/optout">https://groups.google.com/a/ilsr.org/d/optout</a>.<br />