<div dir="ltr"><div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><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 style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px"><b>Have a Wonderful and Thankful Thanksgiving! <br><br></b></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div></div></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/self-financed-ec-fiber-continues-grow-community-broadband-bits-podcast-177" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Self-Financed EC Fiber Continues to Grow - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 177</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, November 17, 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/self-financed-ec-fiber-continues-grow-community-broadband-bits-podcast-177" 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">Carole Monroe is back on Community Broadband Bits for Episode 177 this week, to discuss the <a href="http://ecfiber.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">East Central Vermont Fiber network</a> and its unique financing model. Carole is now the General Manager for EC Fiber. She previously joined us for <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/carole-monroe-explains-new-hampshires-fast-roads-initiative-community-broadband-bits-36" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">episode 36 to discuss Fast Roads in New Hampshire</a>. And we previously discussed EC Fiber with <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-9-leslie-nulty-ecfiber-vermont" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Leslie Nulty in episode 9</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Years later, EC Fiber is approaching 1,200 subscribers in rural Vermont and is growing much more rapidly with some <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> dark fiber connections created by the state in a specific effort to enable <a class="" 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> connectivity.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We discuss the impact on the community, how much people in rural regions desire high quality Internet access rather than slow <a class="" 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>, and also a brief mention of some progress in New Hampshire to expand the Fast Roads network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/self-financed-ec-fiber-continues-grow-community-broadband-bits-podcast-177">Listen to the Show Here </a>... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-177">Transcript Here</a> ...</p></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-moving-forward" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority Moving Forward</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, November 16, 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/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-moving-forward" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/roanoke-valley-va_0.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="68" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">After multiple delays, the much anticipated Roanoke-Salem fiber network in Virginia has its feet on the ground. The network has <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/roanoke/broadband-authority-selects-first-executive-director/article_8e2bd520-ed8f-57d1-9826-f2aa48863e3e.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">secured an executive director</a> who will provide greater project oversight and find Internet service providers (ISPs) to operate on the <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> network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Now that the project is under way, it is moving at a rapid pace. The Broadband Authority already secured a <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/business/news/roanoke/roanoke-gives-access%E2%80%A6tion-to-proceed/article_07539583-496c-5295-8684-945b3e7367c7.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">contract for $2.9 million to lay the conduit</a> for the fiber optic cable, and crews are already at work. <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/roanoke/broadband-authority-selects-first-executive-director/article_8e2bd520-ed8f-57d1-9826-f2aa48863e3e.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">By year’s end</a>, the project should finally be complete.<br></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-moving-forward">... Read Our Full Story 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/lake-oswego-seeks-out-expert-advice-video" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Lake Oswego Seeks Out Expert Advice: Video</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, November 17, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div class="" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lake-oswego-seeks-out-expert-advice-video" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-lake-oswego-or.jpg" alt="" title="" width="100" height="100" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Lake Oswego, Oregon</a>, was pegged as a potential target for Google Fiber in 2014 but this town of 35,000 may not wait for the tech giant to bring fast, affordable, reliable connectivity. They may just do it themselves.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In order to get more information about municipal fiber networks, our Chris Mitchell visited during an October City Council meeting at the request of community leaders. The Lake Oswego Review <a href="http://www.pamplinmedia.com/lor/48-news/277994-154083-should-lo-create-its-own-internet-service-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">covered the meeting</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to the Review, the northwest community issued an <a href="http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/citymanager/webpage/22859/lake_oswego_broadband_rfp.pdf?t=1447360983056" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">RFP in June</a> and received two responses. City leaders are still pondering the responses and feelings are mixed over whether or not to make the investment.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/lake-oswego-seeks-out-expert-advice-video">... Read our Story and Watch Video of Christopher Mitchell Presenting 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/doing-thoreau-job-broadband-concord-ma" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Doing a Thoreau Job on Broadband - Concord, MA</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, November 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="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/doing-thoreau-job-broadband-concord-ma" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-concord-ma.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="28" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Concord, Massachusetts, has a strong literary history with famous authors like Thoreau, Emerson, and the Alcott sisters, but all puns aside, the town also has a long-standing community broadband network, <a href="http://www.concordnet.org/pages/ConcordMA_LightPlant/Broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Concord Light Broadband</a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Years ago, the community voted to build its own network from their electric utility, and they have just now transitioned to high-speed fiber optics.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>From Electric to Broadband</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Concord is one of only forty Massachusetts municipalities with an electric utility and in the early 2000s, their electric thermal storage system needed an overhaul. The technology, based on the phone system’s network, was becoming obsolete. The electric utility chose to <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term629" 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="To create a network that goes into competition with an incumbent provider.">overbuild</cite></a> the existing system with fiber optics in order to create a smart-grid to automatically read electric meters. Concord recognized the opportunity presented by a fiber network backbone spread throughout town.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/doing-thoreau-job-broadband-concord-ma">... There is More than a Great Title to this Article - Finish it here! ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/upper-arlington-ohio-forges-ahead-public-partners-city-wide-fiber-optic-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Upper Arlington, Ohio Forges Ahead with Public Partners on City-wide Fiber-Optic Network</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, November 18, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/scott" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Scott</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/upper-arlington-ohio-forges-ahead-public-partners-city-wide-fiber-optic-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-upper-arlington-oh.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="41" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The City Council of <a href="http://www.uaoh.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Upper Arlington, Ohio</a> on Oct. 26 approved several contracts that will enable the community to build a municipal <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fiber-optic-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">fiber-optic network</a> to key anchor institutions for an estimated $2.5 million.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Upper Arlington’s project will provide high-speed Internet service for the city’s buildings, the Public Library, Upper Arlington city schools, and most city parks <a href="http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/upperarlington/news/2015/10/27/council-oks-citywide-fiber-optic-network.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">according to a news report from the Upper Arlington News</a>. The 30-mile fiber network will serve about 40 locations around the boundaries of the city (population 34,000).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Besides establishing better connectivity between the three public partners’ buildings, the network is expected to provide opportunities for commercial companies to lease telecommunications services. The network would allow the city to lease some of the 288 fiber strands to commercial companies, such as other Internet Service Providers (ISPs).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/upper-arlington-ohio-forges-ahead-public-partners-city-wide-fiber-optic-network">... Read Our Full Coverage of Upper Arlington 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/wally-bowen-rural-broadband-advocate-passes" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Wally Bowen, Rural Broadband Advocate, Passes</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, November 18, 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/wally-bowen-rural-broadband-advocate-passes" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/wally-bowen.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="110" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">We received the sad news today that Wally Bowen, one of the leading advocates fighting to bring affordable broadband to rural communities, especially in Appalachia, recently passed away.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In addition to many other contributions, Wally served as founder and executive director of the nonprofit <a href="http://main.nc.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Mountain Area Information Network</a> in Asheville, North Carolina. He spoke on media reform at a number of venues, including the Aspen Institute, the New America Foundation, and the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (<a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term261" 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="National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers.  NATOA is comprised of local government officials and employees that work on cable and broadband issues - from public access television to managing the community's rights-of-way.  ">NATOA</cite></a>).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/wally-bowen-rural-broadband-advocate-passes">... Read our Tribute and See what Others have Said about Wally Here ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/resource-central-tn-and-nc-appeal-fcc-decision-restore-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Resource Central: TN and NC Appeal FCC Decision to Restore Local Authority</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, November 18, 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/resource-central-tn-and-nc-appeal-fcc-decision-restore-local-authority" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-6th-circuit.jpg" alt="" title="" width="123" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Nine months ago, the FCC voted to peel back laws in Tennessee and North Carolina that eliminate local authority and discourage expansion of broadband investment. As was expected, both states filed appeals and those appeals were consolidated for review by the <a href="http://www.ca6.uscourts.gov/internet/default.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit</a> covering Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">It has been a long and arduous journey for the parties, their attorneys, and local authority advocates. In order to help MuniNetworks.org readers stay informed of the parties and their arguments, we gathered together a collection of resources related to the original Order and the Appeal. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/resource-central-tn-and-nc-appeal-fcc-decision-restore-local-authority">... Read All the Documents Here - I am! ...</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/while-6th-circuit-reviews-appeal-organized-attack-begins-house" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">While 6th Circuit Reviews Appeal, Organized Attack Begins In House</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, November 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="" 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/while-6th-circuit-reviews-appeal-organized-attack-begins-house" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-6th-circuit.jpg" alt="" title="" width="123" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals <a href="http://www.openinternetlaw.com/2015/08/sixth-circuit-consolidates-cases-sets-new-briefing-schedule-in-appeals-involving-municipal-broadband-laws/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">considers the</a> FCC's decision to roll back Tennessee and North Carolina anti-muni laws, elected officials opposed to local authority are mounting an assault to head off possible enabling legislation. Their first target is the House of Representatives.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Poison Pens</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley, North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam, and Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange all sent letters to the Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Committee, Fred Upton (R-MI). Their letters express derision at the thought of allowing local communities the ability to make decisions for themselves when it comes to ensuring local businesses and residents have the Internet access they need.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/while-6th-circuit-reviews-appeal-organized-attack-begins-house">... The Forces of Incumbent Monopolies are on the Move! ...</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/member-owned-networks-collaborate-rural-georgia-libraries" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Member Owned Networks Collaborate for Rural Georgia Libraries</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, November 21, 2015 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/ternste" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">ternste</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/member-owned-networks-collaborate-rural-georgia-libraries" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-north-georgia-network.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="104" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A member-owned nonprofit network and a telecommunications cooperative are <a href="http://ngn.coop/2015/ngn-provides-100-mb-symmetrical-internet-connections-to-northeast-georgia-library-system/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">helping seven regional libraries</a> in mountainous northeast Georgia improve services for patrons with fast, affordable, reliable connectivity.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Collaboration for Community</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://ngn.coop/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">North Georgia Network Cooperative (NGN)</a>, in partnership with member-owned <a href="http://www.gapublicweb.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Georgia Public Web (GPW)</a>, recently launched 100 Megabit per second (<a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Megabits per second - a measure of speed.  8 Mbps means that 8 million bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Mbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer an 1 MB (Megabyte) file - a photo, for instance.  Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Mbps, more is faster.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps<1 Gbps (Gigabits)">Mbps</cite></a>) symmetrical broadband access speeds in seven library facilities in the Northeast Georgia Regional Library system (NEGRLS). Upgrades in some of the locations were significant. At the Helen library campus, the facility switched from a 6 Mbps <a class="" 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> <a class="" 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> connection to the new service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The new initiative also enables the complementary “<a href="http://ngnconnect.coop/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">NGN Connect</a>” service which includes hosted <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term29" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="This is a suite of protocols that allow wireless devices to exchange information using unlicensed frequencies.  Equipment carrying the Wi-Fi brand is interoperable.  Recently, a number of cities and some private companies attempted to blanket their cities with Wi-Fi but the technology is not well suited to such large scale efforts.  Wi-Fi has proved tremendously successful in homes and businesses on small cities.">Wi-Fi</cite></a> service and a VoIP telephone system at each location. The upgrade extends from the cooperative's role in <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rural-cooperative-launches-educational-network-northern-georgia" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the Education Exchange</a>, Georgia's only regional 10 Gigabit per second (<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>) private <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term6" 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="Some refer to the entire Internet as a cloud - the idea being that all the information is just out there and it does not matter where.  More commonly now, cloud computing refers to services such as Amazon's S3 where users pay a fee to store information on Amazon's servers without ever really knowing the physical location.  As we gain access to faster Internet connections (particularly on the upstream) cloud services may offer cheaper means of accomplishing tasks and more reliable back ups.">cloud</cite></a> for exclusive use by school systems launched last September.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/member-owned-networks-collaborate-rural-georgia-libraries">... Read the Rest About this Great Development for Underserved Communities ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>

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