<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 style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div><h2 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/st-louis-park-and-developers-ready-wires" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">St. Louis Park And Developers Ready The Wires</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, February 03, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/st-louis-park-and-developers-ready-wires" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-st-louis-park.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="21" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Community leaders in <a href="http://www.stlouispark.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">St. Louis Park, Minnesota</a>, are taking advantage of growth in apartment and condominium developments to "till the soil" for better residential connectivity. One of the smartest things a community can do to improve connectivity is prepare an environment that encourages high-speed connectivity infrastructure investment. As developers erect new buildings, the city is working with them to develop internal wiring standards and <a href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)" target="_blank"><cite title="A reinforced tube through which cabling runs. Conduit is useful both to protect fiber-optic cables in the ground and because one can place the conduit underground when convenient and later ">conduit</cite></a> installation standards for high-quality Internet access within and to their buildings.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Developers Understand The Value</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The city of approximately 45,000, located immediately west of Minneapolis has not adopted any formal building code language, but has negotiated broadband readiness specifications with several new multi-dwelling unit building developers. Savvy developers realize that high-speed connectivity is now a basic utility that tenants demand.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/st-louis-park-and-developers-ready-wires" target="_blank">... Read More - We Need More Building Codes Along These Lines ...</a><br></p></div></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div></div>
<div><h2 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/andrew-blum-decides-visit-internet-community-broadband-bits-podcast-187" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Andrew Blum Decides to Visit the Internet - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 187</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, February 02, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/christopher" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">christopher</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/andrew-blum-decides-visit-internet-community-broadband-bits-podcast-187" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-community-bb-bits_0.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">We head directly into the Internet this week with <a href="http://andrewblum.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Andrew Blum</a>, author of the book <em>Tubes: A Journey to the Center of the Internet</em>. We <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/tubes-offers-internet-tour" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">wrote about it</a> when it was published back in 2012. It is as relevant today as then - buy it from your local bookstore.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In our discussion, we talk about the physical infrastructure and geography of the Internet. Blum traveled around the planet, seeking out key Internet locations and exploring how the Internet actually works.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We discuss peering, the municipal fiber network in The Dalles of Oregon, and how squirrels have cynically targeted <a 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)" target="_blank"><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> vulnerabilities to disrupt household connections.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/andrew-blum-decides-visit-internet-community-broadband-bits-podcast-187" target="_blank">... Listen to the Show Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div><div><h2 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/fiber-home-may-be-cherry-top-traverse-city" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Fiber-to-the-Home May Be the Cherry on Top in Traverse City</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, February 04, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">hannah</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fiber-home-may-be-cherry-top-traverse-city" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-traverse-city.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="16" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In Traverse City, Michigan, big plans are underway. The <a href="http://www.traverseticker.com/story/could-tc-become-a-tech-city" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">local electric utility is considering constructing</a> a Fiber-to-the-Home (<a 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)" target="_blank"><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>) network for next-generation high-speed Internet access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">About 10,000 people call the "Cherry Capital of the World" home. The area primarily relies on tourism and high-speed Internet access can help diversify the local economy. At the moment, Traverse City Light & Power (TCLP) is holding planning meetings with community stakeholders to discuss how to build a network to meet the needs of the community.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fiber-home-may-be-cherry-top-traverse-city" target="_blank">... Find the Rest of this Story Emerging from Michigan Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-residents-flying-high-fiber-pilot" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Owensboro Residents Flying High On Fiber Pilot</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Sat, February 06, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-residents-flying-high-fiber-pilot" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-owensboro-ky.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="121" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Last fall, Owensboro, Kentucky, began <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-kentucky-developing-muni-ftth-pilot" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">constructing its pilot program</a> to bring Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) to a limited number of residents. Construction is complete and now the municipal utility is serving subscribers, much to the delight of folks in the city's Town & County neighborhood. There are 570 households and approximately 1,500 people living in the pilot area.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As of late January, 80 households had signed up for service with 15 now being served at a rated of about eight installations completed every week. Chris Poynter, superintendent of <a href="http://omu.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Owensboro Municipal Utilities</a> (OMU) telecommunications division <a href="http://www.messenger-inquirer.com/news/local/internet-pilot-program-launched/article_1536eb97-558d-5ea8-915f-667b453442b3.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">reported to the Board</a> that feedback has been positive and that customers have been "…very happy with their speeds and the installation process."</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/owensboro-residents-flying-high-fiber-pilot" target="_blank">... See the Price Points and More Information about Owensboro Here ...</a></p></div></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 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/holding-their-breath-bradley" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Holding Their Breath in Bradley</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, February 02, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/holding-their-breath-bradley" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-bradley-co-tn.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Cleveland Utilities (CU), serving Bradley County, is carefully searching for the best way to improve connectivity for its southeast Tennessee customers. After exploring a number of possibilities, CU sees a partnership with Chattanooga's EPB as the brightest opportunity but their collaboration rests on lawmakers in Nashville or the U.S. Court of Appeals.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>The Need Is There, The Neighbors Are Close</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">CU President, Ken Webb knows the community needs and wants something better than AT&T for Internet access or cable TV from Charter Spectrum, especially in rural areas. Residents and business owners have <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/tn-fibers-new-video-family-life-bradley-county" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">gathered at community meetings</a>. Local community leaders <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/bradley-county-urges-tennessee-lawmakers-high-speed-internet-now" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">have passed resolutions</a> asking the state to roll back restrictions and contacted CU directly but the utility's hands are tied as long as state barriers remain in place.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/holding-their-breath-bradley" target="_blank">... Read the Full Story on the Continuing Tennessee Struggle Here ...</a></p></div></div><div><br></div><div><h2 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/seniors-low-income-disabled-communities-pay-price-st-paul" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Seniors, Low-Income, Disabled Communities Pay the Price in St. Paul</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, February 01, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/seniors-low-income-disabled-communities-pay-price-st-paul" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-saint-paul-mn.png" alt="" title="" width="62" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">For seniors, low-income residents, and the disabled in Saint Paul, Minnesota, a Comcast discount within the city's <a 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)" target="_blank"><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 is not all it was cracked up to be. The Pioneer Press <a href="http://www.twincities.com/localnews/ci_29161162/st-pauls-comcast-centurylink-cable-deals-clarified-sort" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">recently reported</a> that, as eligible subscribers seek the ten percent discount guaranteed by the agreement, they are finding the devil is in the details - or lack of them.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This is a warning to those who attempt to negotiate with Comcast for better service. Comcast may make deals that it knows are unenforceable. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>"No Discount For You!"</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">For years, Comcast held the only franchise agreement with the city of St. Paul. In 2015, the city entered into a new agreement with the cable provider and, as in the past, the provider agreed to offer discounts for low-income and senior subscribers. Such concessions are common because a franchise agreement gives a provider easy access to a pool of subscribers.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/seniors-low-income-disabled-communities-pay-price-st-paul" target="_blank">... Read the Full Story for Lessons on Any Deals with Comcast ...</a><br><br></p><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/speeds-prices-steady-or-down-ec-fiber" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Speeds Up, Prices Steady (or Down!) With EC Fiber</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, February 05, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/speeds-prices-steady-or-down-ec-fiber" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-ecfiber-new.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="45" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://ecfiber.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">East-Central Vermont Community Fiber-Optic Network</a> (EC Fiber) recently<a href="http://ecfiber.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/ECFiber-Increases-Speeds-Press1.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">announced plans</a> to increase speeds across tiers with no increase in prices.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Changes will look like this:</p><ul style="margin:1em 0px;padding-left:2em"><li style="margin:0px 0px 1em 20px;padding:0px;list-style:disc">"Basic" will increase from 7 to 10 Megabits per second (<a 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)" target="_blank"><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>)</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 1em 20px;padding:0px;list-style:disc">"Standard" will increase from 20 to 25 Mbps</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 1em 20px;padding:0px;list-style:disc">"Ultra" will double from 50 to 100</li><li style="margin:0px 0px 1em 20px;padding:0px;list-style:disc">The new "Wicked" plan will increase from 100 to 500 AND will include a price decrease. (Current subscribers to the Wicked tier who pay for 400 Mbps will also get the bump up to 500 Mbps and the price decrease.)</li></ul><p style="margin:1em 0px">All speeds from EC Fiber are <a 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)" target="_blank"><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> so both <a 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)" target="_blank"><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> and upload are equally fast.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/speeds-prices-steady-or-down-ec-fiber" target="_blank">... Learn More About This Self-Funded Approach ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div><div><h2 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/local-media-loves-opelika-gigabit-fiber-network" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Local Media Loves Opelika Gigabit Fiber Network</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, February 02, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/hannah" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">hannah</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/local-media-loves-opelika-gigabit-fiber-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/opelika-seal.png" alt="" title="" width="122" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><div><p style="margin:1em 0px">We love when community networks are celebrated for their accomplishments and potential. <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rates-approved-opelika-community-fiber-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Opelika, Alabama</a>, started to build a network in 2010, and now local news proudly showcases the community as a Gig City.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Fiber-to-the-Home network in Opelika turned out to be a great investment for the community. After five years of work and $43 million, the network now boasts 3,000 customers. With such incredible high-speed Internet access, Opelika hopes to attract new businesses and encourage young people to stay. For more of the history of the network, check out <a href="http://www.muninetworks.org/content/opelika-builds-first-full-fiber-network-alabama-community-broadband-bits-episode-40" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">our interview with Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller in Episode 40 of Broadband Bits.</a></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/local-media-loves-opelika-gigabit-fiber-network" target="_blank">... Watch the Video Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div><div><h2 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/mr-and-mrs-monopoly-seek-treatment-competify" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Mr. and Mrs. Monopoly Seek Treatment with Competify</a></h2><div 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 style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, February 03, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/lgonzalez" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">lgonzalez</a></span></div><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/mr-and-mrs-monopoly-seek-treatment-competify" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-competify.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="50" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Check out this new video from the <a href="http://trycompetify.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Competify coalition</a>. The short 2-minute feature introduces viewers to Mr. and Mrs. Broadband Monopoly, who are clearly suffering from "chronic broadband access control."</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Meet Mr. and Mrs. Broadband Monopoly</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Competify focuses on raising awareness about the long term damage caused by lack of high-quality Internet access competition. Our livelihoods suffer when a small number of huge corporate telecommunications providers control connectivity. The coalition provides hard information on how these de facto monopolies and duopolies negatively impact our lives and how a more competitive environment can help.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/mr-and-mrs-monopoly-seek-treatment-competify" target="_blank">... Read the Rest of the Statement Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 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-february-8" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Community Broadband Media Roundup - February 8</a></h2><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, February 08, 2016 | Posted by <a href="http://muninetworks.org/users/nick" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Nick</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div><div><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-8" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/media-roundup-community-bb_0_1.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" style="border:0px"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Tennessee</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/government/state/state-house-speaker-harwell-expects-rural-broadband-bill-delay-to-next-year-2ad20fec-fee7-30f7-e053--367445371.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">State House Speaker Harwell expects rural broadband bill delay to next year</a> by Richard Locker, Commercial Appeal</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/39e5bfcc734c42d1b86721811a9640c8/TN--Municipal-Broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">Supporters of a bill seeking to allow municipal broadband providers to expand high-speed Internet service to rural areas are calling the measure long overdue</a>by Erik Schelzig, Daily Journal</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/02/att-is-the-villain-in-city-broadband-fight-republican-lawmaker-says/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none" target="_blank">'AT&T is the villain' in battle over rural broadband access, Republican lawmaker says</a> by Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-february-8" target="_blank">... Read the Full Community Broadband Networks Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div>

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