<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><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><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/connecting-georgias-munis-community-broadband-bits-podcast-156" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Connecting Georgia's Munis - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 156</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 23, 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/connecting-georgias-munis-community-broadband-bits-podcast-156" 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">For years, we have urged municipal networks to cooperate in various ways to lower costs. For instance, by building a shared <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term456" 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="Middle mile is a term most often referring to the network connection between the last mile and greater Internet.  For instance, in a rural area, the middle mile would likely connect the town's network to a larger metropolitan area where it interconnects with major carriers.">middle mile</cite></a> network to aggregate their <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2" 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="The rate at which the network can transmit information across it.  Generally, higher bandwidth is desirable.  The amount of bandwidth available to you can determine whether you download a photo in 2 seconds or 2 minutes.">bandwidth</cite></a> and get a better deal due to the higher volume. So it came as a bit of a shock that <a href="http://www.gapublicweb.net/About%20GPW.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Georgia Public Web</a> has been helping many municipal networks in these ways for well over a decade.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">David Muschamp, President and CEO of Georgia Public Web (GPW), joins us for episode 156 of Community Broadband Bits to discuss what the member-owned nonprofit organization does to improve Internet access across the state.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">GPW operates over 3000 miles of fiber connecting businesses and even entire communities. They operate a 365-24-7 network operations center and provide consulting, focusing particularly on the needs of the nearly 30 local governments that own the company.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/connecting-georgias-munis-community-broadband-bits-podcast-156">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-156" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript from this episode 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/alabama-republican-speaks-out-favor-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Alabama Republican Speaks Out in Favor of 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">Mon, June 22, 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/alabama-republican-speaks-out-favor-local-authority" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-alabama.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As we have learned, communities with municipal networks have <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/most-municipal-networks-built-conservative-cities" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">tended to be politically conservative</a>. Nevertheless, conservative state level politicians have often supported measures to revoke local authority to encourage local Internet choice. Recently, <a href="http://www.legislature.state.al.us/aliswww/Senator.aspx?NAME=Whatley&OID_SPONSOR=85903&OID_PERSON=6695&SESSNAME=Regular%20Session%202015" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Alabama State Senator Tom Whatley</a>, a Republican from Auburn, expressed his support for local authority <a href="http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/06/broadband_investment_puts_alab.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">in AL.com.</a></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Whatley introduced <a href="http://alisondb.legislature.state.al.us/alison/searchableinstruments/2015rs/bills/SB438.htm" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">SB 438</a>, which would remove service area restrictions on municipal providers and remove the currently restriction preventing other municipalities from providing voice, video, or Internet access services. As he notes in his opinion piece, the bill did not move beyond the Transportation and Energy Committee, but he also asserts that he will be back next year to press for the measure. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Auburn is near Opelika where the community has <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/tags-382" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">deployed a FTTH network</a> to serve residents and spur economic development. If the restrictions are eliminated, Opelika could expand to Auburn and even other rural areas nearby.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/alabama-republican-speaks-out-favor-local-authority">... Read the Full Post 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/longmonts-nextlight-video-brief-look-network-and-community" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Longmont's NextLight Video: A Brief Look at the Network and the Community</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, June 23, 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/longmonts-nextlight-video-brief-look-network-and-community" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-nextlight-lpc.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="37" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">When we talk to municipal network leaders about lessons learned, they often tell us that marketing is an area where they feel a particularly vulnerability. Whenever we see a great piece of marketing from a municipal network, we like to share it.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">When Longmont rebranded its <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> network under the name NextLight, they released this awesome video. Check it out!</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/longmonts-nextlight-video-brief-look-network-and-community">... Watch the Video 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/chanutes-ftth-project-hold-indefinitely" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Chanute's FTTH Project on Hold Indefinitely</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 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="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/chanutes-ftth-project-hold-indefinitely" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/chanute.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="41" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Changes in leadership in Chanute have put the community's <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> plan in suspended animation. In April, the City Commission decided to delay financing shortly before the scheduled bond sale. It is unfortunate that residents and businesses will lose the opportunities the fiber deployment would bring. Nevertheless, they deserve the right to make their own choices, good or bad.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The community of Chanute deployed a network incrementally with no borrowing or bonding in order to improve efficiencies, save public dollars, and control connectivity for municipal facilities. Local schools and colleges, struggling to compete, began taking advantage of technology in the classroom and expanded distance learning. The network eventually created a number of <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/spirit-aerosystems-chooses-chanute" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">economic development opportunities</a> when community leaders started providing better connectivity to local businesses. We told Chanute's story in our 2013 report "<a href="http://www.ilsr.org/chanute-rural-gigabit/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><strong><em>Chanute's Gig: One Rural Kansas Community's Tradition of Innovation Led to a Gigabit and Ubiquitous Wireless Coverage</em></strong></a>." </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/chanutes-ftth-project-hold-indefinitely">... More Details and Background in the Full Post ...</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/west-texas-hub-city-conducts-fiber-feasibility-study" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">In West Texas, "Hub City" Conducts Fiber Feasibility Study</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 25, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/phineas" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">phineas</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/west-texas-hub-city-conducts-fiber-feasibility-study" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-lubbock.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="83" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A feasibility study conducted by the Lubbock Power & Light (LP&L) Electric Utility Board this April discussed several potential benefits of installing a fiber optic cable in the <a href="http://www.mylubbock.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">City of Lubbock, Texas</a>. Charles Dunn, a member of the Utility Board, proposed installing fiber optic cables alongside the city’s utility lines, which are currently being buried underground as part of a three-phase, $1.9 million <a href="http://lubbockonline.com/business/2015-01-24/downtown-lubbock-redevelopment-plan-being-executed-slowly-surely#.VYB_rPlVikp" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">downtown redevelopment initiative</a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A fiber optic cable, <a href="http://www.myfoxlubbock.com/news/local/story/lpl-fiber-optic/Kj7v8yZX2kOus1vwqybz4w.cspx" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Dunn contended</a>, could increase Internet speeds hundredfold (from a max speed of around 10 <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> to one above 1 <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term14" 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="Gigabits per second - or one billion bits per second.  8 Gbps means that 8 billion bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Gbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer a 1 GB (Gigabyte) file - a compressed 90 min movie, for instance.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps (Megabits)<1 Gbps">Gbps</cite></a>), attract high tech companies to the city, and induce Texas Tech University students to stay in Lubbock after they graduate. In Lubbock, where Internet speeds run about 35 percent slower than they do in the rest of the state, a fiber network could be a boon for businesses and residents alike.</p></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/west-texas-hub-city-conducts-fiber-feasibility-study">... Don't Mess with Muni Fiber in Texas ...</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/ketchum-will-install-conduit-only-coxs-role" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Ketchum Will Install Conduit Only; Cox's Role?</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 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="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ketchum-will-install-conduit-only-coxs-role" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-ketchum-idaho.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In Idaho, Ketchum appears to have abandoned <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/idaho-town-calls-fiber-investment-cable-and-dsl-not-good-enough" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">its flirtation with a municipal fiber optic network</a>, choosing instead to lay <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> as a way to encourage private investment. The decision is an interesting result that suggests incumbent Cox Communications has considerable power over local decision making.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Readers may recall how in May 2013 the local broadband advisory committee<a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/ketchum-idaho-no-tolerance-cox-push-polls" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">booted Cox representatives off</a> the roster. Residents began to receive telephone calls which amounted to push polls from the incumbent cable provider; the then-Mayor would would have none of that. Even though communities leaders had not stated they were considering a municipal network, they were put off by Cox's underhanded approach.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Since then, the administration has changed and it appears this time Cox has successfully shanghaied the decision. Cox is back on the committee establishing a plan and pressing for the result we would expect. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ketchum-will-install-conduit-only-coxs-role">... Get the Rest of these Frustrating Developments Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></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/gigabit-internet-north-central-ohio-schools" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Gigabit Internet for North Central Ohio Schools</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 24, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">hannah</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/gigabit-internet-north-central-ohio-schools" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-consolidated-electric-coop.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="42" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a title="Consolidated Electric Coop" href="http://www.consolidated.coop/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Consolidated Electric Cooperative</a>, a nonprofit, member-owned cooperative, will soon offer gigabit broadband in rural North Central Ohio. They intend to first offer the gigabit to local schools and then to businesses.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to eSchoolNews, Consolidated Electric Cooperative will <a href="http://www.eschoolnews.com/2015/06/03/ohio-gigabit-broadband-672/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">provide 15 school districts with gigabit connectivity</a>. The school districts will then have greater access to online resources and be better able to comply with mandated online testing in Ohio. In the article, Doug Payauys, vice-president of information systems for Consolidated Electric Cooperative, described the need for improved Internet access in schools:</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">"Technology is creating a shift in today’s classroom, and it’s transforming the way teachers educate and students learn. As the country becomes a more digital-based society, schools must work to transform lesson plans and accommodate new technologies” </p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-internet-north-central-ohio-schools">... Many More Details in Our Full Story ...</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/tennessee-fiber-optic-communities-video-gig-freedom" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Tennessee Fiber Optic Communities - Video on Gig Freedom</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, June 27, 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"><p style="margin:1em 0px">In a <a href="http://www.tn4fiber.org/home/2015/6/10/support-fiber-optic-expansion" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">video calling for "Broadband Equity,"</a> the Tennessee Fiber Optic Communities have released a video explaining why communities must have their local Internet choice restored.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We encourage you to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tennessee-Fiber-Optic-Communities/875323889215062" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Like and Follow their campaign on Facebook</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/tennessee-fiber-optic-communities-video-gig-freedom">... Watch the Video Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

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