<div dir="ltr"><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><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/speedy-holiday-gift-tullahoma" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Speedy Holiday Gift in Tullahoma</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">Sat, December 12, 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/speedy-holiday-gift-tullahoma" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-lightTUBe.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="48" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Tullahoma Utilities Board <a href="http://www.tub.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">LightTUBe</a> customers are once again receiving a special holiday gift via the municipal fiber network. As of December 5th, subscribers got a boost in speeds with no boost in price.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">From the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TUB-LightTUBe-69707771514/?fref=ts" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">LightTUBe Facebook</a> page:</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/lightube-fast-speed-fb-2015.png" width="500" height="210" alt="lightube-fast-speed-fb-2015.png" style="border: 0px;"> </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">More good news is on the way after the first of the year. According to General Manager Brian Skelton, rates for the two highest tiers will <em>decrease</em>. <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24" 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.  When the two speeds are comparable, the connection is termed symmetric.  Fiber-optic networks more readily offer symmetrical connections than DSL and cable, which are inherently asymmetrical.  Ultimately, purely symmetrical connections are less important than connections which offer robust connections in both ways.  However, modern asymmetrical connections via DSL and cable networks offer upload speeds that are too slow to take advantage of modern applications.">Symmetrical</cite></a> gigabit Internet service will drop from $99.95 per month to $89.95 per month and 200 Megabits 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 Internet service will decrease from $79.95 per month to $74.95 per month.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/speedy-holiday-gift-tullahoma">... Higher Capacities, Lower Prices - Another Benefit of Community Networks ...</a></p></div></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/maine-house-representative-pushes-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-18" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Maine House Representative Pushes for Better Internet Access - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 180</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, December 08, 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/maine-house-representative-pushes-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-18" 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">Eleven months ago, we noted the incredible <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/maine-legislature-all-about-broadband-2015" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">energy in the Maine Legislature around improving Internet access</a>. Maine State Representative Norm Higgins joins us this week for Community Broadband Bits Podcast episode 180.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Rep. Norm Higgins, a newcomer to the Legislature, pushed hard for legislation to encourage municipal <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> networks as well as removing barriers to increased investment including a tax on the Three-Ring Binder project. He was part of a large majority that moved some key bills forward despite <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/time-warner-cable-takes-maine-lawmakers-exclusive-hotel-lobbying-tryst" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">fierce opposition from Time Warner Cable</a> and others.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We talk with Rep. Higgins about the various bills, including <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/graphic-ld-1185-proposes-planning-grants-munis-maine" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">LD 1185</a>, which would have created planning grants for community owned open access networks but passed without any funding.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/maine-house-representative-pushes-better-internet-access-community-broadband-bits-podcast-18">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-180" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript from this episode 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/island-community-builds-their-own-network-coverage-ars-and-video-scene" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Island Community Builds Their Own Network: Coverage in Ars and Video From The Scene</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, December 10, 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/island-community-builds-their-own-network-coverage-ars-and-video-scene" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-dbiua.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="69" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Island living has its perks - the roar of the waves, the fresh breeze, the beauty of an ocean sunset - but good Internet access is usually not one of them.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A <a href="http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2015/11/how-a-group-of-neighbors-created-their-own-internet-service/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">November Ars Technica article</a> profiles Orcas Island, located in Washington state. Residents of the island's Doe Bay chose to enjoy the perks of island living<strong>and</strong> do what it took to get the Internet they needed. By using the natural and human resources on the island, the community created the nonprofit <a href="http://dbiua.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Doe Bay Internet Users Association</a> (DBIUA). The wireless network provides Internet access to a section of the island not served by incumbent CenturyLink. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/island-community-builds-their-own-network-coverage-ars-and-video-scene">... Watch the Video and Get the Rest of the Story Here ...</a></p></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/whats-next-southern-tier-network" style="color:rgb(37,98,121);text-decoration:none">What's Next For Southern Tier Network?</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, December 07, 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="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/whats-next-southern-tier-network" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-southern-tier-network.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="77" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">With construction of a major community broadband network behind them, local leaders in New York State’s Southern Tier region are now considering the potential for the recently completed dark fiber network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Since becoming operational in 2014, the <a href="http://www.southerntiernetwork.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Southern Tier Network</a> (STN) is already serving over 100 industrial and government service entities across the region. STN is a not-for-profit, local development corporation that built, owns, and manages the network for the region.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Jack Benjamin, president of economic development organization, <a href="http://3riverscorp.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Three Rivers Development Corporation</a>, explained the value of the network to the region in <a href="http://www.stargazette.com/story/news/local/2015/07/10/southern-tier-network-internet-connections/29967837/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">a July Star Gazette article</a>:</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/whats-next-southern-tier-network">... See the Quote and Rest of the 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/two-fiber-networks-collaborate-aim-bridge-digital-divide-georgia" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Two Fiber Networks Collaborate: Aim to Bridge Digital Divide in Georgia</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, December 09, 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/two-fiber-networks-collaborate-aim-bridge-digital-divide-georgia" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/partnership.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In October, the <a href="http://ngn.coop/about-north-georgia-network/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">North Georgia Network</a> (NGN) cooperative <a href="http://ngn.coop/2015/ngn-and-georgia-public-web-partner-to-bridge-the-digital-divide-and-expand-broadband-availability-to-underserved-areas-of-georgia/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">announced </a>the formation of a new partnership with <a href="http://www.gapublicweb.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Georgia Public Web</a> (GPW), a pairing that will conjoin two large fiber optic networks that together cover most of the State of Georgia. The newly announced partnership will enable the two organizations to more effectively confront their shared mission to improve broadband access across the state. Paul Belk, president and CEO of NGN, expressed his enthusiasm for the new partnership:</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">GPW is a great company for NGN to work with, as we have similar goals to serve communities challenged with ‘the digital divide.’ The companies are great links to each other because GPW serves most of the state with the exception of NGN’s footprint. Together we create a complete solution.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Two Networks Become One</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This partnership connects GPW’s nearly 3,500 mile fiber optic network that stretches across most of the state to NGN’s 1,600 mile network. As Mr. Belk noted, a look at <a href="http://ngn.coop/technology/interactive-network-map/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">NGN’s network map</a> shows that it covers one of the few remaining service areas in Georgia that <a href="http://www.gapublicweb.net/Network_Map%202.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">GPW’s massive network map</a> does not reach.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/two-fiber-networks-collaborate-aim-bridge-digital-divide-georgia">... Read our Full Coverage 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/piloting-positive-tennessee" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">PILOTing Positive in Tennessee</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, December 11, 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/piloting-positive-tennessee" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-clarkesville-cde-tn.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="31" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/resource-central-tn-and-nc-appeal-fcc-decision-restore-local-authority" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reviews</a> the FCC's <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">February decision</a> to scale back state anti-muni laws in Tennessee, at least two munis in the Volunteer State are giving back by saving dollars. Networks are also contributing substantially to  public coffers via Payment in Lieu of Taxes.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Clarksville, Tennessee, Network Becomes Revenue Positive in 2015</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As of June 2015, the city’s utility provider CDE Lightband <a href="http://www.theleafchronicle.com/story/news/2015/10/21/cde-lightband-black-year/74339806/?mc_cid=077a563f51&mc_eid=e00c29a42c" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">paid off</a> all outstanding expenses related to their fiber optic network. General manager Brian Taylor described how the network has improved the city’s utility services and overall economic picture:</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/piloting-positive-tennessee">... See the Actual Amounts These Networks Raise in Lieu of Taxes ...</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/flipping-switch-santa-fe" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Flipping the Switch in Santa Fe</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, December 11, 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/flipping-switch-santa-fe" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-SantaFe.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In May, <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/santa-fes-targeted-fiber-investment-community-broadband-bits-podcast-152" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Chris introduced you</a> to Sean Moody from Santa Fe's Economic Development Division, to explain how the community was investing in <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/santa-fe-ready-improve-local-internet-choice" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">a new fiber link </a>to better serve the local business community. With a little competition, Santa Fe officials expect more choice, better connectivity, and improved services.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">CenturyLink controls the community's only connection to the Internet and the line bringing access to the web into the downtown district. Santa Fe's $1 million investment creates another path to encourage other providers to compete. Residents in Santa Fe pay approximately $50 per month for average speeds of 5 Megabits 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>) while nearby Albuquerque pays the same for 10 Mbps.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/flipping-switch-santa-fe">... The Switch Has Been Flipped ...</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/community-broadband-media-roundup-december-8" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - December 8</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, December 08, 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-december-8" 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_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Community Broadband Stories By State</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Colorado</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.coloradoan.com/story/news/2015/12/01/fort-collins-municipal-broadband/76637816/?from=global&sessionKey=&autologin=" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Voters ask city to continue broadband conversation</a> by Darin Atteberry, The Coloradoan</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 month, 83 percent of Fort Collins voters chose to overturn Senate Bill 152, removing legal barriers to the city of Fort Collins’ direct or indirect involvement in providing high-speed broadband. That vote allows us to spend the next several months carefully exploring possibilities in order to identify and begin planning for an appropriate model in Fort Collins.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">It is clear that this community wants next-generation high-speed broadband access. City Councilmembers and I regularly hear from residents and businesses that the status quo is not working, and that faster speeds and greater reliability are crucial moving forward.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-december-8"> ... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div>

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