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<div><div><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>Missed last week's update while on vacation. In other news, Crater Lake in southern Oregon is stunning. And a bit chilly to swim in. <b>Two weeks worth of stories below!  Don't Miss our <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/comcasts-big-gig-rip">InfoGraphic on Comcast's Big Gig Rip-Off</a></b></i></div></div></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><i><br></i></div><div><h2 class="title" 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/eugene-opens-dark-fiber-commercial-connectivity" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Eugene Opens Up Dark Fiber for Commercial Connectivity</a></h2><div class="meta" 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="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, July 30, 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="content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/eugene-opens-dark-fiber-commercial-connectivity" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-eugene-or.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Businesses are now finding affordable connectivity in Eugene, Oregon, through a partnership between the city, the Lane Council of Governments (LCOG), and the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB), <a href="http://registerguard.com/rg/business/33140791-63/faster-with-fiber-downtown-eugene-businesses-are-getting-a-big-bump-in-speed.html.csp" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports the Register-Guard</a>. A new pilot project has spurred gigabit Internet access in a small downtown area for as little as $100 per month.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to the article, the city contributed $100,000, LCOG added $15,000, and EWEB spent $25,000 to fund <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term17" 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="Describes the final leg of a connection between a service provider and the customer. In DSL and cable systems, this is the most frequent bottleneck and the most expensive to resolve.  The service provider may run a faster fiber-optic network into the neighborhood but deliver the last mile (which could be considerably less than a mile -">last mile</cite></a> connections to two commercial locations. LCOG's contribution came from an $8.3 million <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term610" 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="Broadband Technology Opportunities Program - established by the 2009 stimulus legislation, a program to disburse $4.7 billion to improve broadband access and literacy throughout the country.">BTOP</cite></a> grant.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The fiber shares <a class="glossary-term" 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> space with EWEB's electrical lines; the dark fiber is leased to private ISPs who provide retail services. XS Media and Hunter Communications are serving customers; other firms have expressed an interest in using the infrastructure.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/eugene-opens-dark-fiber-commercial-connectivity">... Read the Full Story Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div><div><h2 class="title" 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/wiredwest-grows-roster-towns-22" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">WiredWest Grows: Roster of Towns Up to 22</a></h2><div class="meta" 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="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, July 20, 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="content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/wiredwest-grows-roster-towns-22" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-wired-west2012.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="28" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Momentum is growing in WiredWest territory and each town that votes takes on a fresh enthusiasm. New Salem is one of the latest communities to overwhelmingly support joining the municipal broadband cooperative. <a href="http://www.recorder.com/home/17133801-95/new-salem-voters-turn-out-to-ok-borrowing-15m-for-broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">The Recorder reported</a> that all but one of the 189 registered New Salem voters chose to authorize borrowing $1.5 million to move forward with the initiative. There are now <a href="http://wiredwest.net/2015/07/02/update-22-towns-authorize-34-5m-for-fiber-6700-deposits-on-service/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">22 towns that have joined</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to Moderator Calvin Layton, a typical town meeting draws 60 to 70 voters, far less than this one did. Apparently, investing in better connectivity is a hot button issue in places like New Salem, where Internet access is slow, scant, and expensive.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/wiredwest-grows-roster-towns-22">... Read the Full Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/longmont-gig-finds-many-takers-community-broadband-bits-episode-161" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Longmont Gig Finds Many Takers - Community Broadband Bits Episode 161</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, July 28, 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/longmont-gig-finds-many-takers-community-broadband-bits-episode-161" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" 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="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The community reaction to Longmont's NextLight gigabit municipal fiber network in Colorado has been dramatic. They are seeing major <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term25" 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 number of subscribers to a service - typically expressed in a percentage of those taking the service divided by the total number of people who could take the service.  If a community fiber network passes 10,000 people and 6,000 people subscribe, it has a take rate of 60%.  When planning the network, it will be built to be profitable at or above a certain take rate as defined in the business plan.  Generally, networks require a few years to achieve take rates due to the long time it takes to connect each customer.">take rate</cite></a>s in the initial neighborhoods, driven in part by the opportunity for a $50/month gigabit connection if you take service within three months of it becoming available in the neighborhood.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This week, Longmont Power & Communications General Manager Tom Roiniotis joins us to tell us more about their approach and how the community has responded, including a block party celebrating freedom from a well-known monopoly.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We discuss how they have connect the schools, the history of the network, and how incumbent providers are reacting. Along the way, I make a case for why what Longmont is doing is substantially different from the upgrades that CenturyLink and Comcast are making in some areas. <a href="http://muninetworks.org/tags-216" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">See our other stories about Longmont here</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/longmont-gig-finds-many-takers-community-broadband-bits-episode-161">... Listen to the Show Here ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/illinois-munis-partner-local-isp-gigabit-network-community-broadband-bits-episode-160" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Illinois Munis Partner with Local ISP for Gigabit Network - Community Broadband Bits Episode 160</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, July 21, 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/illinois-munis-partner-local-isp-gigabit-network-community-broadband-bits-episode-160" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" 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="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The southern Illinois cities of Urbana and Champaign joined the University of Illinois in seeking and winning a broadband stimulus award to build an <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625" 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="An arrangement in which the network is open to independent service providers to offer services.  In many cases, the network owner only sells wholesale access to the service providers who offer all retail services (ie: triple play of internet, phone, tv).  Open access provides much more competition from which potential subscribers can choose.">open access</cite></a> urban <a class="glossary-term" 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. After connecting some of the most underserved neighborhoods, the <a href="http://uc2b.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Urbana-Champaign Big Broadband (UC2B) network</a> looked for a partner to expand the network to the entire community.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In this week's Community Broadband Bits podcast, we talk with UC2B Board Chair Brandon Bowersox Johnson and the private partner iTV-3's VP and Chief Operating Officer Levi Dinkla. The local firm, <a href="https://theperfectupgrade.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">iTV-3</a>, already had a strong reputation as an Internet Service Provider as well as operating other lines of business as well.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/illinois-munis-partner-local-isp-gigabit-network-community-broadband-bits-episode-160">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-160">Read the transcript here</a> ...<br><br></p></div></div></div><div><h2 class="title" 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/cambridge-broadband-advocate-summit-we-are-perfect-testbed" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Cambridge Broadband Advocate at the Summit: "We Are the Perfect Testbed"</a></h2><div class="meta" 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="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, July 21, 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="content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/cambridge-broadband-advocate-summit-we-are-perfect-testbed" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-cambridge-ma.jpg" alt="" title="" width="122" height="125" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In April, Chris spoke at the <a href="http://www.bbcmag.com/2015s/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Broadband Communities Summit in Austin</a>. If you were not able to attend, <a href="https://readfold.com/read/stannenb/connecting-cambridge-reinventing-a-free-fair-and-open-internet-Q97zNAq6" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Saul Tannenbaum's Readfold.com article</a> gives you a taste of what it was like. Tannenbaum is a member of the Cambridge Broadband Task Force, <a href="https://www.cctvcambridge.org/CambridgeMunicipalBroadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently set up</a> by the city's City Manager to investigate the possibility of municipal broadband connectivity.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Tannenbaum describes his experience there and some of the typical discussions he encounters while investigating a muni network. What role should the local or state government play in bettering connectivity? What is preventing the U.S. from excelling at ubiquitous access for all income levels? Why a municipal network? For Tannenbaum, and other residents of Cambridge, those questions are especially significant because the town is historically a place of technological innovation.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/cambridge-broadband-advocate-summit-we-are-perfect-testbed">... Read the Rest Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div><div><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-id-creates-award-winning-ultra-high-speed-app" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Ammon, ID Creates Award-Winning Ultra-High Speed App</a></h2><div class="meta" 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="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, July 23, 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="content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-id-creates-award-winning-ultra-high-speed-app" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-ammon-id.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="41" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The City of Ammon just took first place in the National Institute of Justice’s (NIJ) Ultra-High Speed Apps: Using Current Technology to Improve Criminal Justice Operations Challenge with the “School Emergency Screencast Application”.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The challenge encourages software developers and public safety professionals to utilize public domain data and ultra-high speed systems to create applications to improve criminal justice and public safety operations. Ammon’s application does just that.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Utilizing gunshot detection hardware and a school’s existing camera system, the application reports gunshot fire and provides live-video and geospatial information to dispatch and first responders. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-id-creates-award-winning-ultra-high-speed-app">.. Get More Details and See the Video Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Biloxi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Towns Pursuing Fiber Initiative</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, July 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-biloxi.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Community leaders in the city of Biloxi want to expand massive water and sewer infrastructure improvements to include broadband infrastructure. The City Attorney Gerald Blessey recently addressed members from the Leadership Gulf Coast group and during the speech he shared the idea to spread fiber throughout Biloxi.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Mayor FoFo Gilich has already spoken with the Governor who, <a href="http://www.wxxv25.com/news/local/story/City-of-Biloxi-Pushes-for-Fiber-Optic-Cables/k_xmRb39O0-1IpSbGw1Lew.cspx" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports WXXV 25</a>, is interested in the idea. Streets in town are being excavated for the water and sewer project and Gilich wants to use this opportunity to install <a class="glossary-term" 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.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.biloxi.ms.us/biloxi-accepts-bp-settlement/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Biloxi recently settled</a> a lawsuit for just under $5 million with British Petrolium (BP) for economic losses arising from the Deepwater Horizon disaster in 2010. Community leaders consider fiber a strong investment to help the area recover.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative">... See our Full Coverage of this Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/video-westminster-and-ting-kick-deployment" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Video: Westminster and Ting Kick Off Deployment</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, July 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/video-westminster-and-ting-kick-deployment" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-westminster-md.png" alt="" title="" width="83" height="82" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Westminster recently officially lit up the new fiber network with its partner Ting. They create several videos to record the event, including this montage of interviews with movers and shakers in the municipal network industry. The two partners <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">announced their agreement</a> earlier this year: the city will own the infrastructure and Ting will provide retail services to local residents and businesses via the network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In the video you will see <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/story-behind-westminsters-pending-open-access-fiber-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Dr. Robert Wack</a>, the City Council Member behind the initiative, along with leading telecom attorney <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/jim-baller-discusses-municipal-broadband-history-community-broadband-bits-episode-57" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Jim Baller</a>, Gigi Sohn from the FCC, and <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/next-century-cities-community-broadband-bits-podcast-episode-121" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Deb Socia</a> who heads up Next Century Cities.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/video-westminster-and-ting-kick-deployment">... Watch the Video Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/erie-county-new-york-will-hire-consultant-feasibility-study" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Erie County, New York Will Hire Consultant for Feasibility Study</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, July 27, 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/erie-county-new-york-will-hire-consultant-feasibility-study" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-erie-county-ny.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Erie County's leadership <a href="http://cityoflight2.com/index.php/news/erie-county-approves-study" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently decided</a> it is time to get serious about publicly owned broadband infrastructure. The Erie County Legislature approved funding to engage a consultant for a feasibility study. Patrick B. Burke spearheaded the initiative, <a href="http://www2.erie.gov/burke/index.php?q=%E2%80%9Cburke-gets-broadband-funding-approved%E2%80%9D" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports the county's website</a>. Burke 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">“Consumers, businesses, schools and government agencies need to have affordable and accessible high speed internet service in order to function in today’s world; the build out of a fiber cable network is a no-brainer. This is a win for social justice, economic development and public safety.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">In addition to funding, the county has also formed a Municipal Broadband Committee and released a policy agenda which addresses service problems in the county. Next the county will issue an RFP for a consultant.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/erie-county-new-york-will-hire-consultant-feasibility-study">... More Details on The Announcement Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><h2 class="title" 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/new-report-bandwidth-caps-open-technology-institute" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">New Report on Bandwidth Caps From Open Technology Institute</a></h2><div class="meta" 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="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Sat, July 25, 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="content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/new-report-bandwidth-caps-open-technology-institute" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-oti.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Open Technology Institute (OTI) at the New America Foundation recently released its report on <a class="glossary-term" 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> caps. "<em>Artificial Scarcity: How Data Caps Harm Consumers and Innovation</em>" is the latest warning about an issue with grave implications. The <a href="https://static.newamerica.org/attachments/3556-artificial-scarcity/DataCaps_Layout_Final.a7ef6b9029da4dd29324757e5710b903.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">PDF is now available</a> to <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8" 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.  Downstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can receive data from the Internet.">download</cite></a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last November, the Government Accounting Office (GAO) <a href="http://eshoo.house.gov/uploads/12.2.14%20GAO%20Report%20on%20Usage-Based%20Broadband%20Pricing.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">released a report [PDF]</a>with <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gao-report-warns-potential-isps-abuse-data-caps" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">serious comments</a> on how ISPs might abuse their power through bandwidth caps. In that report, the GAO strongly suggested the FCC take action.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This report by Danielle Kehl and Patrick Lucey further examines how this profit grabbing technique from the big ISPs impacts consumer decisions and usage. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/new-report-bandwidth-caps-open-technology-institute">... More on the Report Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/new-handbook-next-generation-connectivity-gigu" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">New Handbook on Next Generation Connectivity From Gig.U</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Sun, July 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/new-handbook-next-generation-connectivity-gigu" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-gig-u..PNG" alt="" title="" width="101" height="105" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.gig-u.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Gig.U</a>, a collaboration of more than 30 universities across the country has just released <em><strong>The Next Generation Network Connectivity Handbook: A guide for Community Leaders Seeking Affordable, Abundant Bandwidth</strong></em>. The handbook, published in association with the Benton Foundation, is <a href="http://www.gig-u.org/cms/assets/uploads/2012/12/Val-NexGen_design_7.9_v2.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">available as a PDF online</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">One of the authors, Blair Levin, has been a guest several times on the Community Broadband Bits podcast, last visiting in January 2015 to <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/public-or-private-ownership-community-broadband-bits-episode-132" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">weigh in on public vs. private ownership</a> of broadband networks. As many of our readers know, Levin was one of the primary authors of the FCC National Broadband Plan in 2010.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/new-handbook-next-generation-connectivity-gigu">... More on the Handbook here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/holyoke-case-study-berkman-center-explores-massachusetts-muni-fiber" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Holyoke Case Study from Berkman Center Explores Massachusetts Muni Fiber</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, July 29, 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/holyoke-case-study-berkman-center-explores-massachusetts-muni-fiber" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/holyoke-berkman-report.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="67" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A few weeks ago, Harvard’s Berkman Center for Internet and Society <a href="https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/sites/cyber.law.harvard.edu/files/2015-07_broadbandVERTICAL_0.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">released a report that documents the achievements of Holyoke Gas & Electric (HG&E) Telecom</a>, a municipal electric utility that now provides <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="A system that uses glass (or plastic) to carry light which is used to transmit information.  Typically, each side of the fiber is attached to a laser that send the light signals.  When the connection reaches capacity, the lasers may be upgraded to send much more information along the same strand of fiber.  This technology has been used for decades and will remain the dominant method of transmitting information for the foreseeable future.">fiber-optic</cite></a> broadband Internet to local businesses in several western Massachusetts towns. The utility’s move into fiber-optics has led to municipal savings for the City of Holyoke, as well as increased high-speed access in neighboring cities, and driven economic development. We interviewed Holyoke's Senior Network Engineer, Tim Haas, <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/western-mass-holyoke-gas-and-electric-brings-broadband-community-broadband-bits-episode-65" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">in a previous episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Because the state of Massachusetts has no barriers that prevent the creation of municipal Internet networks, HG&E has been able to compete on a level playing field with incumbent ISPs Comcast and Charter. HG&E is among 12 MLPs (Municipal Light Plants) out of 41 in the state to offer fiber Internet services. Researchers at the Berkman Center believe that MLPs could play a large role in expanding Internet access and business opportunities throughout the state as electricity revenues experience diminishing returns and data needs grow. For example, HG&E’s fiber connection was a factor in the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center’s decision to open a $90 million data center in Holyoke. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/holyoke-case-study-berkman-center-explores-massachusetts-muni-fiber">... More on this Excellent Report Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/att-comcast-lies-hurt-homeowners" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">AT&T, Comcast, Lies Hurt Homeowners</a></h2><div class="meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.003999710083px"><span class="submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, July 31, 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="content" style="line-height:18.003999710083px"><div class="field field-type-filefield field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item odd"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/att-comcast-lies-hurt-homeowners" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser imagecache-linked imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/att-death-star.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="imagecache imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-13-2015" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">As of this January</a>, the FCC defines broadband as 25 <a class="glossary-term" 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> <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8" 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.  Downstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can receive data from the Internet.">downstream</cite></a> and 3 Mbps <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term28" 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.  Upstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can send data to the Internet.  DSL and cable networks frequently offer upload speeds at only 1/10 of the downstream speeds.  This is one of the main reasons DSL and cable networks are insufficient for the modern Internet.">upstream</cite></a>, but in some rural areas in the United States, people are still struggling to access <a class="glossary-term" 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> speeds of 768 <a class="glossary-term" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term16" 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="Kilobits per second - a measure of speed.  8 Kbps means that 8 thousand bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Kbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer a 1 KB (Kilobyte) file - a text file, for instance.  Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Kbps, more is faster - but anyone on the modern internet better measure their connection in Mbps.  1 Kbps<1 Mbps (Megabits)<1 Gbps (Gigabits)">kbps</cite></a>. In a few extreme cases, individuals who rely on the Internet for their jobs and livelihoods have been denied access completely. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The sad state of affairs for many Americans who subscribe to the major Internet service providers like AT&T and CenturyLink was recently <a href="http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/06/internet-nightmare-att-sells-broadband-to-your-neighbors-but-not-to-you/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">chronicled in an article on Ars Technica</a> that examined AT&T’s stunning combination of poor customer service, insufficient infrastructure, and empty promises to subscribers. It tells the unfortunately common story of the little guy being systematically overlooked by a massive corporation focused solely on short-term profit maximization. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/att-comcast-lies-hurt-homeowners">... Get the Full Scoop Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>

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