<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><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 style="font-size:12.8000001907349px"><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></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/introducing-our-economic-development-page" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Introducing Our Economic Development Page</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, July 15, 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="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/introducing-our-economic-development-page" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-econ-dev-community-nets_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="58" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Access to high-speed, broadband Internet facilitates economic development. Over the years, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance has documented economic successes brought about by community broadband networks. We chose some of the most compelling examples, organized them by topic, and put them in one place for easy reference.</p><div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Unfortunately, in some communities, a lack of broadband Internet continues to stunt economic growth - and has even forced businesses to relocate or shut down. In many cases, incumbent Internet service providers like AT&T and CenturyLink are not willing to provide business customers or local residents with next-generation fiber networks.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/introducing-our-economic-development-page">Here is the story</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/municipal-networks-and-economic-development">But This is the Economic Development Resource!</a> ...</p></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/did-you-miss-episode-community-broadband-bits-podcast-index" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Did You Miss An Episode? Community Broadband Bits Podcast Index!</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, July 13, 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/did-you-miss-episode-community-broadband-bits-podcast-index" 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">On June 19, 2012, we published our first Community Broadband Bits podcast. Three years and more than 150 episodes later, we are still sharing conversations with interesting people who care about local authority, connectivity, and telecommunications.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Now, each episode is indexed and cataloged by topic and guest so you can catch up on those you missed or listen again to your favorites. We have also transcribed many of the episodes. Check out the <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-podcast-index" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Bits Podcast Index.</a></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Pull out your earbuds and feel free to binge on Chris and his guests. As always, we welcome your topic and guest ideas for the show; email us at <a href="mailto:podcast@muninetworks.org" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">podcast@muninetworks.org</a>. Thanks for listening!</p></div></div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-podcast-index">... See the Index Here ...</a><br><br></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/lafayette-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-yes-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Lafayette Celebrates 10 Year Anniversary of "Yes" to 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">Tue, July 14, 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/lafayette-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-yes-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/lus-fiber-voters-say-yes_0.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="59" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In June, 2005, voters in Lafayette chose to invest in a municipal <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, now known as the only municipal gigabit network in the state, <a href="http://lusfiber.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">LUS Fiber</a>. To celebrate the milestone, City-Parish President Joey Durel has <a href="http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/news/2015/07/07/lus-fiber-marks-10-year-anniversary-voter-approval/29843857/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">declared July LUS Fiber Month</a>. Current customers' Internet access has been boosted up to gigabit speed at no extra charge for July and the city will celebrate with a series of events this week. The entire community is invited to participate onsite but most of the events will be broadcast live so if you are not there, you can be part of the celebration. See the list of events below.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In the past ten years, the network has attracted thousands of <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/publicly-owned-lus-fiber-network-attracts-another-business-lafayette" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">new jobs</a>, created better educational opportunities, and helped <a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/community-broadband-bridging-digital-divide" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">bridge the digital divide</a>. Just last fall, three high tech companies committed to bringing approximately <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/three-new-companies-move-silicon-bayou" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">1,300 new jobs</a> to the "Silicon Bayou." The presence of the network, the University of Louisiana's local top-ranked computer science program, and its quality grads were two more key factors for choosing Lafayette. <strong>In April, Standard & Poor <a href="http://theind.com/article-20800-lus-fiber-gets-an-a+.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">gave LUS Fiber an A+ bond rating</a></strong> based on the system's "sustained strong fixed charge coverage and liquidity levels, and the communication system’s improved cash flow."</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lafayette-celebrates-10-year-anniversary-yes-network">... Read the Highlights of this Wonderful Network ...</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/noanet-touches-every-county-washington-state-community-broadband-bits-episode-159" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">NoaNet Touches Every County in Washington State - Community Broadband Bits Episode 159</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, July 14, 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/noanet-touches-every-county-washington-state-community-broadband-bits-episode-159" 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">The <a href="http://www.noanet.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Northwest Open Access Network</a> in Washington has a long history of expanding high quality Internet access into rural areas and now reaches into every county in the state. NoaNet is a nonprofit organization originally formed by local governments and now operating over 2,000 miles of fiber.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This week we talk with Dave Spencer, NoaNet Chief Operating Officer, about the history of NoaNet, how it has impacted the state, and what the future holds for this organization.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We also discuss the NoaNet expansion enabled by the federal broadband stimulus, how their open access fiber network has led to improved wireless connections in many rural areas, and what it takes for a nonprofit organization to thrive in an industry that can be very competitive despite often having very few competitors.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/noanet-touches-every-county-washington-state-community-broadband-bits-episode-159">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-159" 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/cns-expanding-fiber-rural-georgia" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">CNS Expanding Fiber in Rural Georgia</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, July 16, 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/cns-expanding-fiber-rural-georgia" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-cns.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="50" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.cns-internet.com/Content/Default/7/7/0/thomasville.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Community Network Services</a> (CNS) has been serving six rural southwest Georgia communities since the late 1990s. Recently, we learned that the network added two more communities to its service area when it took over a small municipal cable system in Doerun and purchased a private cable company in Norman Park.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">CNS has been our radar since 2012 when we learned how Thomasville, Cairo, Camilla, Moultrie, Baconton, and Pelham joined together to create a regional network that reached into 4 counties. The network has brought better access to rural Georgia, improved <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-network-services-cns-brings-stem-education-and-more-rural-southwest-georgia" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">educational opportunities</a>, and helped <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/thomasville-removes-local-tax-citing-strong-broadband-revenues" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lower taxes</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Mike Scott, Moultrie City Manager, gave us details on the expansions into both of these very small communities. Scott repeated the CNS philosophy:</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">We don't look at it as a just a business plan…we look at it as economic development for the entire county.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/cns-expanding-fiber-rural-georgia">... Read the Full Details of this Muni Fiber Expansion Here ...</a><br><br></p></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/boulder-releases-rfp-broadband-feasibility-study" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Boulder Releases RFP For Broadband Feasibility Study</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, July 14, 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/boulder-releases-rfp-broadband-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-boulder-co.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="112" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In June, Boulder released a Request for Proposals (RFP) as it seeks a consultant to conduct a broadband feasibility study. A <a href="https://www-static.bouldercolorado.gov/docs/Boulder_RFP_No_43-2015_Broadband_Feasibility_Study-1-201506101525.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">PDF of the RFP</a> is available online.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The city currently has 179 miles of fiber in place serving 60 city facilities; there is an additional 36 miles of empty <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>. This network interfaces with the Boulder Valley School District's network within the city and in other areas of Boulder County. It also connects to Longmont's network and to a colocation facility in Denver. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The city is also <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/another-colorado-community-may-reclaim-local-telecommunications-authority" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">home to BRAN</a> -  the Boulder Research and Administration Network. The city, the University of Colorado at Boulder, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Department of Commerce Laboratories share ownership of the BRAN fiber network which interconnects their facilities.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/boulder-releases-rfp-broadband-feasibility-study">... More Background on this RFP 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/kentucky-city-transfers-ownership-network-still-under-local-control" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Kentucky City Transfers Ownership of Network, Still Under Local Control</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, July 17, 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/kentucky-city-transfers-ownership-network-still-under-local-control" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-franklin-ky.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="116" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The city of Franklin, KY transferred ownership of its fiber optic network to the Franklin Electric Plant Board (EPB) for $2.5 million. The Franklin City Commission <a href="http://www.franklinfavorite.com/news/local/article_19834ac4-d402-524e-9c9c-5a4bbfd5d784.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">unanimously approved a resolution</a> for the transfer of ownership at the June 8th meeting. The network, although no longer maintained by the city, is still under local control. The EPB is <a href="http://www.bgdailynews.com/news/franklin-to-sell-fiber-network-to-city-s-electric-plant/article_b9118654-b916-5fe7-a8aa-712b77f33035.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">an extension of city government</a>, but has its own board of directors. Pleased with the city’s decision, Mayor Ronnie Clark stated:</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">"Broadband is now the new utility, and who better to deliver those services than the local infrastructure experts, EPB. They have the manpower and the equipment, as well as the community's confidence in providing reliable utility service and exceptional local customer support."</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/kentucky-city-transfers-ownership-network-still-under-local-control">... Read the Full Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h1 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.2em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;padding:0px">Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 20</h1><div class="" style="min-height:21px;margin:0px 1em 5px;border:2px solid rgb(255,255,119);padding:5px 5px 5px 35px;line-height:18.003999710083px;background-image:url(http://muninetworks.org/sites/muninetworks.org/themes/munitheme/images/messages-status.png);background-color:rgb(255,255,204);background-repeat:no-repeat">Story <em>Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 20</em> has been updated.</div><div id="content-area" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div id="node-5759" class="" style="margin:0px 0px 27px;padding:0px 0px 15px;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(136,136,136)"><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:1em;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, July 21, 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=""><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><img class="" width="250" height="250" alt="" src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/media-roundup-community-bb.png?1408376134" style="border: 0px;"></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Community Network Media Roundup By State</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>California</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://smdp.com/santa-monica-cited-model-city-broadband/149309" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Santa Monica cited as model city for broadband </a>by Debbie Lee, The Santa Monica Daily Press</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">Beginning with the unveiling of a Telecommunications Master Plan in 1998, the City of Santa Monica has reduced the cost of laying fiber optic cable by nearly 90 percent by coordinating installation with other capital projects while issuing no additional debt. As of the end of 2013, the City of Santa Monica maintains 32 free <a class="" 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)"><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>hotspots along nine major commercial corridors and has managed to synchronize 80 traffic signals, according to a report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR). Additionally, generating $5 million in revenue toward the City General Fund, the city has lowered the cost of high capacity internet connections for businesses by over two-thirds.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">“We’re gratified by this recognition of Santa Monica’s success at building out digital infrastructure, which we hope can serve as an example for other communities on how to proceed incrementally, sustainably and even profitably,” said Santa Monica Mayor, Kevin McKeown.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-july-20"> ... Read the Full Community Network Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

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