<div dir="ltr"><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><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/grassroots-springing-holyoke-massachusetts" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Grassroots Springing Up In Holyoke, Massachusetts</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">Thu, January 21, 2016 | 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/grassroots-springing-holyoke-massachusetts" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-holyoke-ma.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="124" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">For years, the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, has built up a treasure trove of fiber which the municipal buildings use to connect to the Internet. Now, some residents want to share in the bounty. The newly-formed Holyoke Fiber Optic Group plans to drum up grassroot support for a fiber-to-the-home (<a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13" 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="Fiber-to-the-home.  As most telecommunications networks use fiber in some part of it, FTTH is used to specify those that use fiber to connect the subscriber.  Some claim they have a fiber-optic network because they use fiber to the node even when they use phone lines or a cable network over the last mile.  FTTH may be more expensive to install currently, but offers significant savings in terms of maintenance when compared to copper alternatives.">FTTH</cite></a>) project to bring high-speed Internet to the 40,000 residents of Holyoke. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The group recently spoke with members of the city utility and are now on their way to the mayor's office in an effort to bring better connectivity to the city. The meeting with the mayor's office is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/HolyokeFiberOptic/permalink/446868662174325/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">scheduled for next Tuesday</a>. The Holyoke Fiber Optic Group aims to form an exploratory committee of community stakeholders to dive into the <a href="http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2015/12/holyoke_fiber_optic_group_hopi.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">possibility of a FTTH project</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Grassroots Effort</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The group formed in November of 2015 and hosted its first meeting in early December. Members highlighted their frustration with the lack of access to high-speed Internet and pointed to the April 1999 Master Plan for the city. It specifically stated the need to capitalize on the fiber available.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/grassroots-springing-holyoke-massachusetts">... Get the Full Story on Holyoke's Consideration 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/urban-renewal-bozeman-fiber-required" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Urban Renewal In Bozeman: Fiber Required!</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">Wed, January 20, 2016 | 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/urban-renewal-bozeman-fiber-required" 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">Bozeman, Montana, continues to move forward toward a future of fiber optics connectivity. Last we checked in, the community had <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/bozeman-city-commission-votes-create-nonprofit-bozeman-fiber" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">formed a nonprofit</a>, Bozeman Fiber, to own and operate the community network, had started to<a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/nonprofit-bozeman-fiber-secures-funding-eight-local-banks" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">secure private funding</a>, and were well on their way to their end goal.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">City leaders have now approved an update to the Downtown Bozeman Urban Renewal Plan to allow Tax Increment Financing (TIF) as a way to fund the project. This is an important step to ensure that the fiber infrastructure project maintains a sustainable funding source.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Amending the Plan</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Ten years ago the city adopted an ordinance creating the Urban Renewal Plan and the TIF districts. The plan uses 9 principles to guide the development and growth of the community. City leaders approved amendments to the ordinance this past December to better prioritize the current needs of businesses and residents. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/urban-renewal-bozeman-fiber-required">... More on the Financing and Context 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/rural-kansas-cooperative-continues-fiber-network-expansion" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Rural Kansas Cooperative Continues Fiber Network Expansion</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, January 22, 2016 | 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/rural-kansas-cooperative-continues-fiber-network-expansion" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-columbus-tele-coop.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="63" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In July, the Columbus Telephone Company (CTC), a cooperative in rural Cherokee County, Kansas, <a href="http://columbus-telephone.com/ctc-expands-network-to-pittsburg-ks/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">announced</a> plans to expand its fiber-to-the-home network to the nearby city of Pittsburg. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">When CTC <a href="http://columbus-telephone.com/about-us/our-history/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">built</a> the fiber network in 2004, it was the first 100% <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="A system that uses glass (or plastic) to carry light which is used to transmit information.  Typically, each side of the fiber is attached to a laser that send the light signals.  When the connection reaches capacity, the lasers may be upgraded to send much more information along the same strand of fiber.  This technology has been used for decades and will remain the dominant method of transmitting information for the foreseeable future.">fiber-optic</cite></a>network in the state. This expansion marks the first time the coop has expanded outside Cherokee County, located in the southeast corner of the Sunflower State. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>New Branding for New Expansion</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last year, CTC announced the creation of Optic Communications, a new brand the company started to expand beyond their original footprint. The news of the expansion to Pittsburg comes after the network’s first expansion project last year. They <a href="http://columbus-telephone.com/ctc-announces-further-network-expansion/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">built</a> a fiber-optic ring that now links together Cherokee County’s three major cities: Columbus, Galena, and Baxter Springs. The coop has also acquired <a href="http://parcomllc.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Parcom, LLC</a>, the leading Verizon retailer in the region.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rural-kansas-cooperative-continues-fiber-network-expansion">... See the Rates and Additional Information 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/full-speed-and-price-list-ahead-roanoke-valley-broadband-authority" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Full Speed (and Price List) Ahead for the Roanoke Valley Broadband 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">Sat, January 23, 2016 | 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/full-speed-and-price-list-ahead-roanoke-valley-broadband-authority" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-roanoke-valley-broadband-auth.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="47" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">After a rocky start and a <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/roanoke-valley-broadband-authority-moving-forward" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">long period of transition</a>, the <a href="http://highspeedroanoke.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority</a> in Virginia is preparing for the years ahead. Hoping to snag schools, hospitals, government offices, and Internet carriers with their prices, the<a href="http://wsls.com/2016/01/14/rate-structure-released-for-broadband-in-roanoke-valley/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Broadband Authority just released</a> its proposed rate structure. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">They expect to complete construction of five major sections of the fiber network by early March. Starting in mid-April, customers will have service. The proposed rates are as follows:</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/full-speed-and-price-list-ahead-roanoke-valley-broadband-authority">... See the Rates and Watch a Video Here ...</a></p></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/minnesotas-arrowhead-region-points-high-speed-internet" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Minnesota's Arrowhead Region Points to High-Speed Internet</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, January 19, 2016 | 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/minnesotas-arrowhead-region-points-high-speed-internet" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/mn-ne-service-coop.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="32" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Welcome to high-speed Internet on the Iron Range! This past fall, the Northeast Service Cooperative (NESC) completed a multi-year project, a fiber optic network spanning <a href="http://blandinonbroadband.org/2015/09/11/northeast-service-cooperative-completes-massive-fiber-optic-project/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">nearly 1,000 miles</a>, on Minnesota’s north shore.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The project, the Northeast Fiber Network, <a href="http://www.virginiamn.com/news/local/million-broadband-project-to-be-celebrated/article_9a965e6c-6661-11e5-a5ad-43e614062f27.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">connects public buildings</a>, such as health care facilities, community libraries, colleges and universities, tribal facilities, and government offices. The fiber provides the opportunity for next-generation connectivity in many <a href="http://www.hometownfocus.us/news/2015-09-11/Business/Celebration_planned_for_Sept_30_in_Mt_Iron_Northea.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">unserved and underserved areas of eight counties</a>: St. Louis, Cook, Lake, Pine, Itasca, Koochiching, Carlton, and Aitkin. It’s exciting to see this rural project finally come to fruition.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/minnesotas-arrowhead-region-points-high-speed-internet">... We get to the Point in our Story 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/education-week-shines-light-rural-schools-plight" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Education Week Shines Light on Rural Schools' Plight</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, January 18, 2016 | 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/education-week-shines-light-rural-schools-plight" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/student-computer.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="89" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A recent series of in-depth articles from Education Week brings to light a persistent aspect of the digital divide: the lack of fast, affordable, reliable connectivity in rural schools. Throughout the country, schools struggle to pay exorbitant fees for aging copper networks. Teachers and students are cut off from digital learning opportunities as whole regions fall farther behind. Education Week brings these issues to the forefront - and community-owned <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>s could be the answer.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Education Week articles describes the harsh impact of these grim statistics. The nonprofit EducationSuperHighway found that for rural schools, the median price for connectivity <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2015/11/progress_hurdles_school_connectivity_erate.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">is more than double</a> that of urban or even suburban schools. Although the number of students without access to sufficient <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2" 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="The rate at which the network can transmit information across it.  Generally, higher bandwidth is desirable.  The amount of bandwidth available to you can determine whether you download a photo in 2 seconds or 2 minutes.">bandwidth</cite></a> has been cut in half since 2013, at least 21 million students do not have access to adequate connections. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/education-week-shines-light-rural-schools-plight">... 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/community-broadband-media-roundup-january-25" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - January 25</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, January 25, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/nick" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Nick</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/community-broadband-media-roundup-january-25" 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_4.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>California</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.govtech.com/dc/articles/Huntington-Beach-Calif-Considers-Offering-Broadband-as-a-Utility.html?mc_cid=578a10095f&mc_eid=2910c7b52b" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Huntington Beach, Calif., considers offering broadband as a utility</a> by Anthony Clark Carpio, GovTech</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"> </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Colorado</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_29386150/guest-commentary-colorado-should-let-communities-decide-broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Colorado should let communities decide on broadband options</a> by Karen Sheek, David Romero and Dennis Coombs, The Denver Post</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.steamboattoday.com/news/2016/jan/20/our-view-more-connected-community/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Most connected community</a> by Steamboat Today Editorial Board</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 project ushers in a new era of connectivity for local institutions and could also open up new opportunities for local Internet service providers to use the new fiber to improve and expand private broadband service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In our opinion, there’s not anything that can have a bigger impact on our community’s future than having better broadband service.</p></blockquote><span style="color:rgb(51,51,51);font-size:0.9em;line-height:1.5em"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-january-25">... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...</a></span><br></div></div><div><br></div></div>

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