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<div><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.</i></div></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/muni-fiber-idaho-helps-911-dispatch-and-first-responders-community-broadband-bits-episode-17" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Muni Fiber in Idaho Helps 911 Dispatch and First Responders - Community Broadband Bits Episode 173</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:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, October 20, 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:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/muni-fiber-idaho-helps-911-dispatch-and-first-responders-community-broadband-bits-episode-17" 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">Ammon, Idaho, continues to quietly build a <a href="http://b.ci.ammon.id.us/fiber-optic/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">future-looking open access fiber network</a>. Though the City won't be providing services directly to subscribers, the network it is building and the model it has created could revolutionize public safety.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">I just spent several days with them shooting our next video on community fiber networks (look for that in January). In episode 173 of our Community Broadband Bits podcast, we talk with City Technology Director Bruce Patterson and Systems Network Administrator Ty Ashcraft.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Bruce explains how they plan to finance the network as it moves from the current residential pilot phase to being available broadly to any residents that want to connect, likely using a local improvement district model. Then Ty tells us about the portal that subscribers will be able to use to instantaneously pick and change service providers offering various services.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Additionally, we talk about the public safety implications of their technological and collaborative approach, specifically around the horrifying prospect of an armed shooter in a public space like a school or mall.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/muni-fiber-idaho-helps-911-dispatch-and-first-responders-community-broadband-bits-episode-17">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-173" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript from this episode here</a> ...<br><br></p></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/nonprofit-bozeman-fiber-secures-funding-eight-local-banks" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Nonprofit Bozeman Fiber Secures Funding From Eight Local Banks</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:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, October 19, 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="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/nonprofit-bozeman-fiber-secures-funding-eight-local-banks" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-bozeman-montana.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Good news from Montana! Bozeman Fiber has secured funding to begin construction of a 23-mile <a class="" 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> community fiber network. Through an impressive partnership among eight local banks, Bozeman Fiber <a href="http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/city/bozeman-banks-rally-behind-broadband-project/article_10216b0b-ad5c-5d7a-bec6-730182f738be.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">secured $3.85 million</a>.  </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">First Interstate Bank, Rocky Mountain Bank, Big Sky Western Bank, Opportunity Bank, U.S. Bank, American Bank, First Montana Bank and Bank of Bozeman all came together to support the fledgling network. During a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tsuVvtcMbM" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">press conference</a>, First Interstate Bank President Bruce Parker described how this level of collaboration was possible. He initially approached twelve banks in April about the project. Now, six months later, eight banks have committed to providing funds. <a href="http://www.kbzk.com/story/30175851/bozeman-fiber-secured-funding" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Parker expressed</a> a high level of confidence for the network’s impact:</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"><em>The project really speaks for itself in terms of what this infrastructure will do for the Bozeman community.</em> </p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/nonprofit-bozeman-fiber-secures-funding-eight-local-banks">... Get the Full Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/after-gutting-gulf-bp-funds-pave-path-better-broadband" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">After Gutting the Gulf, BP Funds Pave Path to Better Broadband</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, October 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="" style="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/after-gutting-gulf-bp-funds-pave-path-better-broadband" class="" 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="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Communities along Mississippi's Gulf coast have recently suffered through disasters both natural and not, from Hurricane Katrina to BP's Deepwater Horizon blowout and aftermath. But they are investing some of the relief funds into infrastructure of the future to help recover. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.biloxi.ms.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Biloxi</a> and <a href="http://www.gulfport-ms.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Gulfport</a> city officials <a href="http://www.sunherald.com/news/business/article37934421.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently passed</a> resolutions approving an intergovernmental agreement to bring better connectivity to Mississippi Coastal communities. The vote was the next step in the Mississippi Gulf Coast Fiber Ring initiative <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/biloxi-and-mississippi-gulf-coast-towns-pursuing-fiber-initiative" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">announced this summer</a> by Biloxi Mayor Andrew "FoFo" Gilich to encourage municipal networks in the region.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://gulfportms.suiteonemedia.com/Web/GenFile.aspx?ad=9375" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">The agreement</a> will establish the Gulf Coast Broadband Commission, a public utility  charged with deploying, operating, and maintaining a fiber optic network in and between the two cities. The agreement also specifically grants the Commission the ability to seek out financing to perform its function. Other municipalities and counties can join the agreement as members after the Commission is established.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/after-gutting-gulf-bp-funds-pave-path-better-broadband">... Get More Details from This Interesting Approach 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/peachtree-city-georgia-approves-resolution-establish-municipal-broadband-utility" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Peachtree City, Georgia Approves Resolution to Establish Municipal Broadband Utility</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, October 22, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/tom-ernste" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Tom Ernste</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/peachtree-city-georgia-approves-resolution-establish-municipal-broadband-utility" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-peachtree-ga.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="84" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">At a September meeting, the City Council in Peachtree City, Georgia unanimously <a href="http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local/peachtree-city-approves-fiber-optic-plan/nnj4z/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">approved a resolution</a> to construct and operate a fiber-optic broadband network.  According to <a href="http://www.peachtree-city.org/DocumentCenter/View/7772" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the City Council minutes</a> from the meeting, the initial 22.54-miles of fiber will provide 1 <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term14" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Gigabits per second - or one billion bits per second.  8 Gbps means that 8 billion bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Gbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer a 1 GB (Gigabyte) file - a compressed 90 min movie, for instance.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps (Megabits)<1 Gbps">Gbps</cite></a> broadband access to various facilities in the City Service area.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In addition to providing connectivity for government buildings, utility services, and medical and educational buildings, the city will target business customers in the “high end user category.”</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Officials estimate the network will cost $3.23 million. To pay for the project, the Peachtree City Public Facilities Authority, an independent local government authority created by the state legislature in 2011, will enter into an intergovernmental agreement with Peachtree City. According the <a href="http://www.peachtree-city.org/DocumentCenter/View/7772" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">August 2015 Fiber Initiative</a> plan, capital for the project will come from the Authority; the city will issue a bond and pay installments to the Authority under an Agreement of Sale.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/peachtree-city-georgia-approves-resolution-establish-municipal-broadband-utility">... More on Peachtree City's Fiber-to-the-Biz Approach 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/sanford-maine-plans-largest-municipal-network-state" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Sanford, Maine Plans Largest Municipal Network in the State</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, October 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">Tom Ernste</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sanford-maine-plans-largest-municipal-network-state" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-sanford-maine.png" alt="" title="" width="124" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A lot has happened in Sanford, Maine <a href="http://muninetworks.org/tags/tags/sanford-me" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">since our last report</a> on their municipal fiber optic network discussions. After a year of deliberations over different proposals, the city recently <a href="http://www.pressherald.com/2015/09/28/sanford-plans-to-built-biggest-municipal-fiber-optic-network-in-maine/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">announced plans to begin building a 32-mile municipal fiber-optic network</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The city of Sanford is inside York County, situated about 35 miles southwest of Portland. The network will provide connectivity to businesses, government entities, non-profit organizations, and residences in Sanford along a limited route where there is sufficient customer density. City leaders plan to also provide a foundation for future expansion of the network to additional residential areas in the city. The network will be <a class="" 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>, allowing multiple ISPs to provide services via the publicly owned infrastructure.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sanford-maine-plans-largest-municipal-network-state">... More on this Exciting Development for Maine ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/117000-broadband-service-disaster-charter" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">$117,000 Broadband Service Disaster From Charter</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:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, October 20, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/tom-ernste" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Tom Ernste</a></span></div><div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/117000-broadband-service-disaster-charter" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-charter.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="48" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Shocking horror stories about <a href="http://www.cio.com/article/2925965/consumer-technology/my-own-personal-comcast-customer-service-horror-story.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">incumbent ISPs reaching new lows for poor service</a>are now <a href="http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-comcast-time-warner-0212-biz-20150211-story.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">so common that they have become routine</a>. A<a href="http://arstechnica.com/business/2015/09/man-builds-house-then-finds-out-cable-internet-will-cost-117000/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> story from Ars</a> that recently went viral puts a human face on the frustration millions of Americans endure just trying to determine if Internet access is available where they choose to live. First, here is the gist of the story.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Cole Marshall, a work-from-home web developer, decided he wanted to build a new home on the outskirts of Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. While scouting properties, he confirmed with local incumbent ISPs Comcast and Frontier online and by phone that they could offer sufficient Internet access to his favored lot.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/117000-broadband-service-disaster-charter">... More on the Scary Status Quo 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/video-next-century-cities-digital-new-england-conference" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Video: Next Century Cities' Digital New England Conference</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Sat, October 24, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/stumo-langer" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">stumo-langer</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/video-next-century-cities-digital-new-england-conference" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-next-century-cities.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="47" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">On September 28th, Christopher participated in the Digital New England regional broadband summit in Portland, Maine sponsored by <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/about-ncc/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Next Century Cities</a>and the <a href="http://www.ntia.doc.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">NTIA</a> (National Telecommunications and Information Administration). In the morning, he moderated a panel focusing on regional approaches to improve Internet access, and in the afternoon he moderated a panel that included incumbent providers on their preferences for partnerships.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">If you were unable to attend the event or did not see the live stream, Next Century Cities has released a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcCXiI8Av-E7NQr2t5XeLxG1zc1Dv_ksK" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">video playlist</a> of the two day long event. Christopher can be found moderating the morning panel in the main room during part three. The full agenda <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Digital-New-England_AGENDA_20150921_public.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">is available online</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/video-next-century-cities-digital-new-england-conference">... Watch the Videos 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/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-23" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - October 23</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span class="" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, October 26, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">rebecca</a></span></div><div class="" style="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-23" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/media-roundup-community-bb.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Colorado</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_28997931/colorado-cities-voting-taxes-pot-broadband-and-bees" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Colorado cities voting on taxes, pot, broadband and bees this year </a>by Joey Bunch, The Denver Post</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">Ten towns and cities already have approved — by wide margins — the push for faster Internet under a 10-year-old Colorado law that restricts how municipalities provide broadband.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">"Today it's viewed very much as a utility, a basic, fundamental service," Mamet said of Internet service. "It's also very much an economic-development issue in cities large and small."</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/story/opinion/2015/10/18/letter-need-municipal-broadband-vote-yes/74201988/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">We need municipal broadband; vote yes on 2B </a>by Edgar Peyronnin, The Coloradoan</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong style="line-height:18.004px">Delaware</strong><br></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://technical.ly/delaware/2015/10/16/reason-newark-municipal-broadband/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">What Reason.com got wrong about Newark’s municipal broadband project </a>by Tony Abraham, Technical.ly</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-23">... Read our Full Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div>

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