<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><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/more-colorado-communities-shut-out-state-barriers-voting-booth" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">More Colorado Communities Shut Out State Barriers At The Voting Booth</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, April 06, 2016 | 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/more-colorado-communities-shut-out-state-barriers-voting-booth" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-colorado.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Once again, local communities in Colorado chose to shout out to leaders at the Capitol and tell them, <strong>"We reclaim local telecommunications authority!"</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><em>Nine more towns</em> in the Centennial State voted on Tuesday to opt out of 2005's SB 152. Here are the unofficial results from local communities that can't be any more direct at telling state leaders to let them chart their own connectivity destiny:</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.townofakron.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Akron</a>, population 1,700 and located in the center of the state, passed its ballot measure with 92 percent of votes cast supporting the opt-out.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.buenavistaco.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Buena Vista</a>, also near Colorado's heartland, chose to approve to reclaim local authority when 77 percent of those casting votes chose to opt out. There are approximately 2,600 people in the town located at the foot of the Collegiate Peaks in the Rockies. Here is Buena Vista's <a href="http://www.buenavistaco.gov/2390/2016-Sample-Ballot" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">sample ballot</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/more-colorado-communities-shut-out-state-barriers-voting-booth">... Colorado Continues to Lead on Restoring Local Authority - More Details ...</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/local-media-covers-mn-donut-hole-phenomenon-video-editorial" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Local Media Covers The MN "Donut Hole" Phenomenon: Video, Editorial</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, April 08, 2016 | 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/local-media-covers-mn-donut-hole-phenomenon-video-editorial" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/donut.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="117" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As Minnesota's Legislature decides on funding for the state's <a href="http://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/grant-program/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program</a>, local media is calling on state leaders to prioritize local connectivity in the Capitol Chambers. This year, Governor Dayton's office is recommending allocating $100 million to the program.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Blended Is Better</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In the past, the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program has granted funding to areas of only the greatest need, which has resulted in Internet infrastructure deployment in very rural areas. That's great for municipalities, businesses, and residents in those areas who certainly need and deserve better connectivity. Towns where there is some coverage, such as old <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term9" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Digital Subscriber Line - or Internet access offered over the phone lines.  DSL allows users to use the Internet at speeds greater than dial-up while also using the phone line for telephone conversations.  DSL uses frequencies not used by human voices.  Unfortunately, these frequencies degrade quickly over distance, meaning customers must live within a mile of the central office to get the fastest speeds.">DSL</cite></a> networks, have typically not qualified. As a result, rural areas of the state are developing "donut holes" of inadequate connectivity. In the long term, this could spell disaster for these towns because businesses have no reason to locate in places where they can't get the Internet access they need for operations. A blended approach will allow investment in both unserved areas and areas where some networks already exist so centers of economic activity can still compete with their neighbors.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/local-media-covers-mn-donut-hole-phenomenon-video-editorial">... Watch the Video Here! Excellent Story! ...</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/sweet-sixteen-waverly-utilities-hooks-first-fiber-customers" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Sweet Sixteen: Waverly Utilities Hooks Up First Fiber Customers</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, April 07, 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/sweet-sixteen-waverly-utilities-hooks-first-fiber-customers" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-waverly-power-iowa.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="55" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">This week in Waverly, Iowa, the local electric utility, Waverly Utilities, hooked up the <a href="http://kchanews.com/2016/04/06/waverly-to-introduce-one-gigabit-fiber-optic-high-speed-internet/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">first customers for its new Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network</a>. It’s been a long time coming for the town of 10,000 people. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>16 Years Ago: A Vision</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The community first had the idea back in 2000 when they voted to form a municipal telecommunications utility after incumbent providers proved a letdown.  Reacting to the vote, those incumbent providers improved their networks a bit, so Waverly Utilities decided to hold off on building a fiber network. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sweet-sixteen-waverly-utilities-hooks-first-fiber-customers">... More Details, Including How Many Pre-subscriptions They Have 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/service-unavailable-failure-competition-community-broadband-bits-podcast-196" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Service Unavailable: The Failure of Competition - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 196</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, April 06, 2016 | 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/service-unavailable-failure-competition-community-broadband-bits-podcast-196" 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">If you are paying close attention to discussions about broadband policy, you may have come across Fred Pilot's reminders that competition is not a cure-all for our Internet access woes across the United States. The blogger and author joins us for episode 196 of Community Broadband Bits.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Fred Pilot's new book, <a href="https://store.bookbaby.com/book/service-unavailable" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Service Unavailable: America's Telecommunications Infrastructure Crisis</a>, discusses some of the history behind our current challenges and proposes a solution centered around federal funding and cooperatives.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We discuss the switch from telecommunications as a regulated utility, to which everyone was guaranteed access, to a system relying on competition, in which some people have many choices but others have no options. We also discuss the merits of a national solution vs encouraging more local approaches with federal financial assistance.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/service-unavailable-failure-competition-community-broadband-bits-podcast-196">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-196">Read the Transcript 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/theres-magic-westminster" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">There's "MAGIC" In Westminster</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, April 04, 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="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/theres-magic-westminster" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-westminster-md.png" alt="" title="" width="83" height="82" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">It was just last year when the City Council in Westminster, Maryland voted to <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/gigabit-muni-fiber-partnership-westminster-and-ting" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">begin a partnership</a> with private ISP company Ting Internet. Ting now delivers high quality Internet access via the citywide, publicly owned fiber network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A new collaborative initiative, facilitated in part by the <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/%E2%80%9Ccrazy-fast%E2%80%9D-connectivity-expands-westminster-maryland" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">still expanding Westminster Fiber Network</a>, is bringing new cultural opportunities and economic benefits to city residents. “Tech Incubation” aims to give local students hands-on experience exploring their interests in technology.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Incubating Talent, Innovation</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">For the first project within the Tech Incubation initiative, 15 students from local high schools spent several weeks learning to create and operate an actual temporary wireless network. The city then used the network for its annual <a href="http://www.westminstermd.gov/celtic" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Celtic Canter and Downtown Irish Celebration</a> in March, providing attendees of the celebration with unprecedented levels of <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> and broadband speeds.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/theres-magic-westminster">... Click Here to Magically Get the Rest of the Post ...</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/sun-prairie-utilities-pilot-project-shows-way-better-connectivity" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Sun Prairie Utilities' Pilot Project Shows Way to Better Connectivity</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, April 09, 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/sun-prairie-utilities-pilot-project-shows-way-better-connectivity" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-sun-prairie-sp-utilities.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="107" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Welcome back to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. This town has brought to light the<a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/117000-broadband-service-disaster-charter" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">shocking stories of slack service from incumbent providers</a>, the <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sun-prairie-ponders-fiber-network-investment-wisconsin" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">complicated decisions of community representatives</a>, and the <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sun-prairie-passes-resolution-begin-initial-stage-fiber-project" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">hopeful beginning of a fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network</a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The City Council has just approved $16,000 to <a href="http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/article_92927762-cf40-11e5-a386-8fe2bbb55287.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">hire an engineering consultant</a> for the estimated $27-35 million citywide plan. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>In the Pilot Project, So Much Demand!</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In July 2015, City Council <a href="http://www.hngnews.com/sun_prairie_star/news/government/article_c43b4b1e-320a-11e5-b79c-b304c709cca2.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">approved the $624,000 plan for the pilot project</a>, but several factors brought the actual cost up to about $653,000. The pilot project area included the neighborhood Smith's Crossing, the Main Street Corridor, and the TIF District 9 area. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sun-prairie-utilities-pilot-project-shows-way-better-connectivity">... Many More Details Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/mayor-charlotte-north-carolina-local-leadership-must" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina: Local Leadership a Must!</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, April 05, 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/mayor-charlotte-north-carolina-local-leadership-must" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-charlotte-nc.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="80" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">High-speed Internet access can bring new industries, reinvigorate rural communities, and provide educational opportunities. We know the importance of high-speed Internet, and no one should be left behind because of the cost of service. In December, <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/NCC-Lifeline-Letter1.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">44 city leaders joined together</a> through <a href="http://nextcenturycities.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Next Century Cities</a> to push for reform of a national connectivity program called “Lifeline”- among them was Mayor Jennifer Roberts.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In February on NextCity.org, <a href="https://nextcity.org/daily/entry/mayors-increase-broadband-internet-access" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Mayor Roberts of Charlotte, North Carolina, wrote</a> that it’s the duty of local leaders to advocate for an end to the digital divide. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/mayor-charlotte-north-carolina-local-leadership-must">... Read the 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-april-11" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 11</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, April 11, 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-april-11" 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_5.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Colorado</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Colorado-Towns-Keep-Voting-Down-State-Ban-on-Municipal-Broadband-136668" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Colorado towns keep voting down state ban on municipal broadband</a> by Karl Bode, DSL Reports</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2016/04/9-colorado-citiesvote-tuesday-on-municipal.html?ana=e_den_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2016-04-04&u=rFuEtNnpCoSO1qd%2BFguvKNdYeb8&t=1459781073&j=72022272" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">9 Colorado cities vote Tuesday on municipal broadband Internet; pot also on local ballots</a> by Mark Harden, Denver Business Journal</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.reporterherald.com/news/loveland-local-news/ci_29730047/larimer-county-study-broadband-possibility" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">County to study broadband possibility</a> by Saja Hindi, Loveland Report Herald</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">Forty-four Colorado cities and counties joined several others last November to allow their local governments to offer broadband Internet, including Loveland, and Larimer County officials want to give their voters that same opportunity. Nine other Colorado cities also asked voters for that option Tuesday. Senate Bill 152, <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term20" 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="Residences or businesses that have access to the network.  As a ftth network is constructed, it will generally be built through a neighborhood before individual houses or businesses are connected via a drop cable (which is also a fiber-optic cable).  When a house or businesses is" for="">passed</cite></a> in 2005, prevents local governments from engaging directly or indirectly in broadband service unless voters repeal it locally.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">"This ballot initiative is just to restore the county's ability to facilitate the provision of these services in partnership with a public or private entity or through the county itself," said Drew Davis, a business analyst with Larimer County Public Works.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-11"> ... Read our Full Community Network Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div>

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