<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.</i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div>
<div><br></div><div><br></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/little-gig-city-and-friends-go-nashville-fight-local-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">"Little Gig City" And Friends Go to Nashville to Fight for Local Authority</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 23, 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/little-gig-city-and-friends-go-nashville-fight-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-tennessee.png" alt="" title="" width="124" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As the people of Tennessee wait for the court to determine their broadband future, state and local leaders in Nashville are hearing municipal network advocates and foes.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The bipartisan <a href="https://www.tn.gov/tacir" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations</a>, anticipating <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/tennessee-bill-strike-anti-muni-laws-tabled-until-next-session" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">state legislation aimed</a> at removing state anti-muni laws next session, recently heard from advocates of municipal networks. Those in favor of keeping state barriers in place also took a seat at the table. The Commission includes state legislators and local community leaders. The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals is now considering Tennessee's petition to vacate <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/fcc-opinion-and-order-striking-down-local-authority-limits-tn-and-nc-highlights" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">FCC's February decision </a>to overturn state laws against local authority.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/little-gig-city-and-friends-go-nashville-fight-local-authority">... Lots of Details in Our Coverage of Grassroots Local Internet Choice Action in Tennessee ...</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/falmouth-saves-cape-cod-i-net" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Falmouth Saves With Cape Cod I-Net</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 27, 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/falmouth-saves-cape-cod-i-net" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-falmouth.jpg" alt="" title="" width="124" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Out on Cape Cod, municipal networks are taking hold. Public buildings throughout the town of <a href="http://www.falmouthmass.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Falmouth, Massachusetts</a>, experience great connectivity and the town <strong>saves $160,000 each year </strong>with its own <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term15" 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="Short for Institutional Network.  This is the network a municipal government requires to carry out its duties.  I-Net frequently refers specifically to a network built for city uses (connecting schools, for instance) by the cable company as part of the franchise agreement with the city.  Cities are increasingly seeing the value of owning their own network. ">Institutional network</cite></a> (I-Net).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Public Savings</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Falmouth Area Network, maintained by CapeNet, connects 17 buildings throughout the town for <a href="http://www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/gus-canty-center-could-hook-up-to-town-s-fiber/article_33fa1c0b-e2e5-5344-a012-da522e529de4.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">a total of $3,000</a> each month ($2,500 from the school; $500 from the town). Were the town to go through a private provider, it would cost <a href="http://www.capenews.net/falmouth/news/gus-canty-center-could-hook-up-to-town-s-fiber/article_33fa1c0b-e2e5-5344-a012-da522e529de4.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">$1,000 for each building</a> every month or $17,000 per month. By saving $14,000 each month, Falmouth's annual savings add up to approximately $160,000 a year. That’s a lot of money to be reinvested in the community of 31,000.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/falmouth-saves-cape-cod-i-net">... Read More About These Tremendous Public Savings 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/colorados-unique-environment-local-collaboration-community-broadband-bits-episode-178" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Colorado's Unique Environment of Local Collaboration - Community Broadband Bits Episode 178</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">Tue, November 24, 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="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/colorados-unique-environment-local-collaboration-community-broadband-bits-episode-178" 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">A few weeks back, Colorado voters <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/modest-investment-yields-results-steamboat-springs-community-broadband-bits-episode-163" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">overwhelmingly chose local authority</a> and community networks over the status quo Internet connections. Approximately 50 local governments had referenda to reclaim authority lost under the anti-competition state law originally called SB 152 that CenturyLink's predecessor Qwest pushed into law in 2005.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This week, Virgil Turner and Audrey Danner join us to discuss what is happening in Colorado. Virgil is the Director of Innovation and Citizen Engagement in Montrose and last joined us for <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/montrose-moves-toward-muni-network-community-broadband-bits-podcast-95" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">episode 95</a>. Audrey Danner is the Executive Director of Craig Moffat Economic Development and co-chair of the <a href="http://mountainconnect.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Mountain Connect Broadband Development Conference</a>. We previously discussed Mountain Connect in <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/reflections-mountain-connect-rural-broadband-conference-community-broadband-bits-podcast-105" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">episode 105</a> and <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rural-colorado-internet-access-and-mountain-connect-community-broadband-bits-episode-137" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">episode 137</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In our discussion, we cover a little bit of history around SB 152 and what happened with all the votes this past election day. We talk about some specific local plans of a few of the communities and why Colorado seems to have so many communities that are developing their own plans to improve Internet access for residents, anchor institutions, and local businesses.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/colorados-unique-environment-local-collaboration-community-broadband-bits-episode-178">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-178">Read the Transcript 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/social-media-muni-hotlists-now-available" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Social Media Muni Hotlists Now Available</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">Tue, November 24, 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/social-media-muni-hotlists-now-available" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-twitter.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="102" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Want instant updates on the world of community networks, broadband and Internet policy, or fiber-to-the-home? We have compiled several Twitter lists and a list of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lists/1089973547679409" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><strong>community networks' Facebook pages</strong></a>. Use these as resources to connect with advocates, to find new groups, or just to learn about community networks.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Subscribe to the lists of your choice on the left of each Twitter list. If you follow people, groups, or entities that you think we should add, let us know:</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong><a href="https://twitter.com/MuniNetworks/lists/community-networks" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Community Networks</a><br></strong>Check out this list if you want to get the low-down from local publicly-owned networks that tweet.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/social-media-muni-hotlists-now-available">... See our our Lists here! Muni Network Twitter organized! ...</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/small-city-fights-comcast-over-institutional-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Small City Fights Comcast Over Institutional 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 25, 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/small-city-fights-comcast-over-institutional-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-west-bloomfield-mi.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="123" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Reports have recently surfaced from <a href="http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/oakland-county/2015/11/14/west-bloomfield-comcast-lawsuit-fiber-optic-network/75815060/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">The Detroit News </a>and <a href="http://patch.com/michigan/westbloomfield/township-comcast-spar-over-fiber-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Patch.com</a> that a town in Michigan is now fighting Comcast over who owns their network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>The Backstory</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Fifteen years ago, West Bloomfield, Michigan, population about 65,000, wanted an <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term15" 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="Short for Institutional Network.  This is the network a municipal government requires to carry out its duties.  I-Net frequently refers specifically to a network built for city uses (connecting schools, for instance) by the cable company as part of the franchise agreement with the city.  Cities are increasingly seeing the value of owning their own network. ">Institutional Network</cite></a> (I-Net) to connect all the important services, like emergency response, police, fire, and water, with a dedicated high-speed network. The town entered into a <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term12" 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 cable company wishing to provide television services in a community historically signed a franchise agreement with the municipal government.  The agreement would specify what the community would receive from the cable company in return for access to rights of way (such as telephone poles).  However, this arrangement has changed in many states recently, where states have preempted local control.  Cities now are not permitted to offer exclusive franchises.">franchise</cite></a> agreement in order to share the construction costs with the incumbent cable company, which at the time was MediaOne. According to the township, MediaOne offered to contribute $400,000 to the cost of construction as part of that agreement.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/small-city-fights-comcast-over-institutional-network">... Negotiating with Comcast is a Dangerous Game ...</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/nc-partners-fiber-will-give-region-green-light-gig" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">NC Partners: Fiber Will Give Region A Green Light to A Gig</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 28, 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/nc-partners-fiber-will-give-region-green-light-gig" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-trigig-nc.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="65" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://www.ptrc.org/index.aspx?page=611" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Tri-Gig High Speed Broadband Initiative</a>, an effort by communities and universities within Greensboro's Piedmont Triad Region, recently announced plans to release an RFP in an effort to improve regional connectivity.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to the <a href="http://www.greensboro.com/business/regional-governments-looking-for-way-to-light-up-the-fiber/article_50959775-15a7-5e6c-bc6d-3e183cb73ae9.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">News & Record</a>, the partners are searching for a partner equipped to develop, operate, and provide Internet services over a new <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. Hemant Desai, Chief Information Officer for Guilford County, hopes the project will spur innovative ideas from the private sector:</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 goal of this project is not to restrict but enhance the deployment. Let them come back to us and say, ‘Here’s what we’ll provide you if you provide this to us.’ </p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">The project is a joint effort of the City of Greensboro, Guilford County, the City of High Point, the City of Burlington, North Carolina A&T State University, the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, and the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. Collectively, these entities have a population of nearly 700,000 people.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/nc-partners-fiber-will-give-region-green-light-gig">... More on Transit Giving Fiber a Green Light 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"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/introducing-scott-carlson" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Introducing Scott Carlson</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">Tue, November 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="" 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/introducing-scott-carlson" 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-networks.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Readers will soon be noticing a new author in the byline. Scott Carlson has joined the Institute for Local Self-Reliance as part of the Community Broadband Networks team and is already contributing stories.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Scott, our newest Researcher, has spent most of his career as a journalist working for among others, the St. Paul Pioneer Press as an award-winning business reporter and local editor for AOL’s Patch.com.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">An honors graduate in journalism from the University of Minnesota and holder of a juris doctor’s degree from William Mitchell College of Law, Scott has a deep interest in public affairs and current events. He and his wife Betsy have two adult children. Scott’s hobbies include playing competitive amateur tennis, singing in church choir, and going to the movies. He believes a successful life is achieved by a daily commitment to optimism.</p></div></div></div></div>

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