<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px">Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the </i><i style="font-size:13px">Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send feedback.  Forward Widely.<br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><b>We are Hiring</b>!  Looking for someone excited to write for us on community networks in our Minneapolis office! <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/were-hiring-internet-policy-research-associate-writer-journalist" target="_blank">Job description here</a> - please circulate! </i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px">We are excited about the <b>upcoming AnchorNETS Broadband Summit for Schools, Health, and Libraries on November 16 & 17</b> in Mountain View, California. </i><span style="font-size:10pt">Developed
by the SHLB Coalition, </span><a href="http://www.anchornets.com/"><b><span style="font-size:10pt">AnchorNETs</span></b></a><span style="font-size:10pt"> is designed to educate leadership from
schools, health and library organizations; introduce them to partners,
solutions providers and capital sources; and provide a strategic road map to
bring gigabit connectivity and all the benefits of this</span><span style="font-size:10pt"> </span><span style="font-size:10pt">21st century infrastructure to
constituents, communities and people. <a href="http://www.anchornets.com/"><i>More Details here!</i></a></span></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10pt"> </span></p><br>
<div><h2 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/spanish-fork-upgrading-fiber-utah" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Spanish Fork Upgrading to Fiber in Utah</a></h2><div 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:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, September 21, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-upgrading-fiber-utah" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-spanish-fork-network.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="90" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.sfcn.org/sfcn/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Spanish Fork Community Network</a> (SFCN) recently announced it is upgrading its cable network to a fiber optic network. The network has already started improving services by increasing speeds for the highest tiers at no extra cost<a href="http://www.heraldextra.com/news/local/south/spanish-fork/spanish-fork-upgrades-to-fiber-network/article_49e735ea-1526-5dd6-be26-171ffd76aead.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reports the Herald Extra</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Residents and businesses in the town of approximately 37,000 have relied on the municipal cable network since 2001. Over the past 14 years, the network has come to provide <a href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term27" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)" target="_blank"><cite title="The three main services offered over these networks - television, phone services, and Internet access.  Turns out that many people like to get all three from the same service provider on the same bill.  Service providers frequently offer deals that will lower the cost on these packages.  Typically, television breaks even or loses money whereas the service provider makes the most profits from phone and Internet access.">triple-play</cite></a> to 80 percent of Spanish Fork homes.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Officials kicked off construction on September 3rd:</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’re excited this is the next step for the SFCN network," [SFCN Director John] Bowcut said. "We’ve always planned on doing fiber to the home, and now we’re in the fiscal position where we can go ahead and install that for our customers."</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/spanish-fork-upgrading-fiber-utah" target="_blank">... Read the Full Exciting Story Here ...</a></p></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 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/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Westminster Homes Now Receiving Gig Internet Access From Ting</a></h2><div 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:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, September 21, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-westminster-md.png" alt="" title="" width="83" height="82" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-marylands-fiber-pilot-project-grows" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">After several years</a> of planning, deployment, and the formation of a <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">partnership with Ting</a>, Westminster's fiber network is now serving its citizens. In August, local CPA Tim Redmond and his wife Allison were the first to get gigabit Internet access, according to a <a href="https://ting.com/blog/the-first-home-in-westminster-md-to-get-crazy-fast-fiber-internet/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Ting press release</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Apparently, Redmond has been waiting for some time to be able to access such speeds online:</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">Redmond has followed along with Westminster’s efforts to get the gig for city residents. He first learned of gigabit fiber Internet coming to town in a pretty low-tech way. “We got our water bill and there was an enclosure. It described that fiber optic Internet was coming to Westminster” and introduced Ting Internet as the service provider for Westminster.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">It was welcome news; Redmond has been following fiber since his college days when Verizon started to push <a href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term11" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)" target="_blank"><cite title="Verizon is the only large carrier building a ftth network.  This network is called FiOS.  Though FiOS is similar technologically to community fiber networks, we believe communities should have a strong voice in how the network is run and Verizon does not offer this.">FiOS</cite></a> in Baltimore. When it became clear that big providers aren’t willing to go anywhere but a major metro, he became despondent. OK, despondent might be a slight overstatement. “I was bummed,” is what he actually said.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting" target="_blank">... A few more Details from Westminster here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-network-saving-money-generating-revenue-burbank" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Dark Fiber Network Saving Money, Generating Revenue in Burbank</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, September 22, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-network-saving-money-generating-revenue-burbank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-burbank-water-power.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="99" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://www.burbankwaterandpower.com/fiber-optics/one-burbank-services" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">ONE Burbank</a>, the dark fiber network that has provided connectivity for studios since 1997, is bringing a number of benefits to Burbank schools and taxpayers,<a href="http://www.burbankleader.com/news/tn-blr-internet-service-provider-for-studios-schools-uses-fiber-optic-network-20150908,0,1723865.story" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reports the Burbank Leader</a>. The network is saving public dollars, generating revenue, and providing better connectivity to schools and public facilities.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Five years ago, we <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/publicly-owned-fiber-connects-hollywood-studios" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reported on Burbank's asset</a> and its primary customers - Hollywood studios. That trend has continued but now the network generates even more revenue. As a result, all electric customers served by Burbank Water and Power save with lower utility bills:</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">Last year, ONE Burbank generated $3.4 million in revenues for the utility, [General Manager Ron] Davis said in May. That’s compared to roughly $205,000 in 1997 and about $1.5 million five years ago, according to data Davis presented to the City Council.</p></blockquote><blockquote style="margin:1em 2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em;font-style:italic"><p style="margin:1em 0px">“The bulk of that [$3.4 million] is all margin and helps keep electric rates down,” Davis said. “[We do] basically zero marketing and collect that margin.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-network-saving-money-generating-revenue-burbank" target="_blank">... Read More About the Incredible Benefits of their Network ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/explaining-right-way-basics-community-broadband-bits-episode-169" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Explaining Right-of-Way Basics - Community Broadband Bits Episode 169</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, September 22, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">christopher</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/explaining-right-way-basics-community-broadband-bits-episode-169" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-community-bb-bits_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">For this week's Community Broadband Bits, we are delving into an area of law and practice that is quite important for Internet network deployment but tends to be dry and confusing. Not for us today though, we have Sean Stokes, a Principal at Baller Herbst Stokes & Lide, joining us to explain Right-of-Way basics.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We talk about what the public Right-of-Way (ROW) is, who is responsible for maintaining it, how entities can get access to it and how poles are distinct from the ROW. We discuss how much power local governments and pole owners have to deny access to these assets and some of the costs associated with make-ready. If you don't know what make-ready is, you'll know in less than thirty minutes.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We finish our discussion by exploring the "Municipal Gain" policy in Connecticut, where munis are entitled to some space on the poles for any purpose they choose to use it. Historically, this was used only for public safety, but it was recently broadened. Sean also explores how he believes we should simplify access for <a 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)" target="_blank"><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>s rather than basing access on the particular end service being offered.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/explaining-right-way-basics-community-broadband-bits-episode-169" target="_blank">... Listen to the Show Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Orono and Old Town Receive Funding for Fiber in Maine</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, September 24, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-maine_0.jpg" alt="" title="" width="98" height="125" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Old Town-Orono Fiber Corporation (OTO Fiber), the entity created by the cities of Old Town and Orono in Maine to design, install, maintain and manage a planned fiber network, recently received a grant for $250,000.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The funds, awarded by the Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC), will help the communities commence their <a 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)" target="_blank"><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> network project. <a href="http://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/collins-king-announce-northern-border-regional-commission-investments-in-six-maine-communities-totaling-more-than-13-million_" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">According to a statement</a> released by Maine Senators Angus King and Susan Collins, this was one of six awards to Maine communities. The other grants included road, sewer, and other municipally-owned facilities needed to maintain or grow jobs in the northern counties of Maine.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Congress created NBRC in 2008 as a state-federal partnership to encourage job growth in several northern counties of Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and New York that experience economic distress. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine" target="_blank">... Learn More About these Communities here ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/albany-ny-proposes-feasibility-study-municipal-broadband-service" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Albany, NY Proposes Feasibility Study for Municipal Broadband Service</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, September 23, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/tom-ernste" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Tom Ernste</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/albany-ny-proposes-feasibility-study-municipal-broadband-service" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-albany-ny.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In July, <a href="http://www.albanyny.org/NewsandEvents/RFPs/15-07-02/RFP_2015_08_Provision_of_a_City_of_Albany_Broadband_Assessment_Feasibility_Study.aspx" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">the city of Albany, NY released a Request for Proposals (RFP)</a> seeking qualified consulting firms to conduct a feasibility study for a municipal broadband service. As the RFP states, the study will look to develop strategies, find gaps in service and adoption, and develop a business plan to explore partnerships between the city and private ISPs.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://bbpmag.com/wordpress2/2015/07/albany-commissions-broadband-study-to-assess-community-needs/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">According to Broadband Communities magazine</a>, a working group comprised of several important community organizations and business groups in Albany will help to steer plans for the possible municipal broadband initiative. Jeff Mirel, a technology professional in Albany and a member of the working group, explains the group’s goals for the feasibility study:</p><blockquote style="margin:1em 2em;color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em;font-style:italic"><p style="margin:1em 0px">“The first step is asking the right questions, which is what we want this study to do. What are the real broadband needs and issues that both businesses and residents experience here? Is it infrastructure, technology, education, affordability? How do we address the gaps to not only keep and attract companies, but bring these employers and a connected local workforce together? By taking a deep, comprehensive look at broadband access and usability, along with best practices, we can move towards meaningful, actionable strategies.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/albany-ny-proposes-feasibility-study-municipal-broadband-service" target="_blank">... Read the Full Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/avoid-partisan-fights-personal-face-economic-development" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Avoid Partisan Fights with a Personal Face on Economic Development</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, September 25, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">christopher</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/avoid-partisan-fights-personal-face-economic-development" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/family-computer-key.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="104" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><em>The following commentary comes from Mike Smeltzer, one of the key people responsible for the UC2B network in the Illinois twin cities of Urbana and Champaign. Mike had this comment after a question about how we can elevate local bipartisan conversations from the local level to the state and federal level without getting lost in political bickering. He wrote this and gave us permission to republish it.</em></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Urbana City Council could be confused for Madison's, while Champaign's Council is far more conservative. I spoke to both of them on a regular basis in the early days of UC2B seeking their support. I learned early on that I could not tell Urbana's Council what they wanted to hear on Monday night, and then change the message to better please Champaign's Council on the next night. Those dedicated public servants watch each other's meetings on the <a href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term22" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)" target="_blank"><cite title="PEG is an acronym for Public Access, Educational, and Government video programs.  These are common programming options made available to the community by the cable company in return for access to the community's rights of way.">PEG</cite></a> channels.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/avoid-partisan-fights-personal-face-economic-development" target="_blank">... Read the Full Commentary Here - Good Advice! ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-wins-award-gigazone" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Paul Bunyan Communications Wins Award for GigaZone</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Sat, September 26, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">hannah</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-wins-award-gigazone" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-paulbunyan-coop.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="67" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Sometimes we just want to celebrate a small victory for local communities. Back in June, <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-spreading-fiber-across-northern-mn" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Paul Bunyan Communications</a> won the 2015 <a href="http://www.lightreading.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Leading Lights</a> National Award for Most Innovative Gigabit Broadband Service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This small cooperative from rural northern Minnesota beat both innovative local firms like C Spire and national companies like Google. Whereas Comcast is rolling out Gigabit Pro in Silicon Valley, Paul Bunyan Communications is serving sparsely populated, often-ignored, rural areas. Gary Johnson, the Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager was honored to accept the award and <a href="http://paulbunyancommunications.com/cooperative/news/index.html#Leading-Lights-Award" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">explained their approach</a> to gigabit access</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-wins-award-gigazone" target="_blank">... More on the Award Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/join-mag-net-campaign-prison-phone-rates-and-lifeline-program-funding" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Join MAG-Net Campaign on Prison Phone Rates and Lifeline Program Funding</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, September 23, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/join-mag-net-campaign-prison-phone-rates-and-lifeline-program-funding" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-mag-net.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="67" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Media Action Grassroots Network recently launched a fall campaign, <a href="http://mag-net.org/2015/09/fight-for-our-righttoconnect/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Fight for Our #RightToConnect</a>, an appeal to the FCC to expand the Lifeline program to include coverage for broadband and to place a cap on prison phone rates. From MAG-Net:</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">Right now the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is working on two issues that could dramatically help close the gap on some of these disparities.  First, the FCC is considering reforms to the prison telephone industry that would establish an affordable flat rate for all phone calls out of jails, prisons and detention facilities, ending a practice of price gouging.  Second, the FCC is planning on modernizing a low-income program known as Lifeline, which would help low-income families afford an Internet connection at home.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We want to urge the FCC to move forward on both of these issues, which is why members of the Media Action Grassroots Network are kicking off a “Right to Connect” initiative.  During the next few weeks, we’ll be educating our communities on Lifeline and Prison Phones and encouraging people to take action on both of these issues.  Our activities will culminate with a 15-person delegation that will travel to Washington D.C. to meet with members of Congress and the FCC to demand they support our communities. Want to join us? </p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">Take a few moments to <a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/o/6220/c/1313/p/dia/action3/common/public/index.sjs?action_KEY=20921" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">sign MAG-Net's petition</a>, which will be delivered to the FCC on October 6th-7th.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">MAG-Net has produced a <a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s7V_JNgDpujkRGVf5o_4J_0KdnsjwKfVPDkOphE-pVs/edit#" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">#RightToConnect Outreach Kit</a> with sample blasts, social media suggestions, and images that can help raise awareness.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Share the campaign on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fmag-net.org%2F2015%2F09%2Ffight-for-our-righttoconnect%2F#.VffBTVSZ5OM.facebook" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Facebook</a> and <a href="http://org2.salsalabs.com/dia/track.jsp?v=2&c=5RCatiJ7ay%2F4ZBu23Pmyc94i1RhVjJ6z" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Twitter</a> to get the word out. For more information on what you can do, contact Steven Renderos at <a href="mailto:steven@mediajustice.org" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">steven@mediajustice.org</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div></div>

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