<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><b><i>Last week was huge for rural models!  See all the stories on better Internet access for rural regions below.</i></b></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/rs-fiber-fertile-fields-new-rural-internet-cooperative" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for New Rural Internet Cooperative</a></h2><div class="" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:0.8em;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"></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="margin-bottom:1em"><div class=""><div class=""><div class="" style="font-weight:bold;display:inline">Publication Date: </div> <span class="">April 18, 2016</span></div></div></div><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/reports/rs-fiber-fertile-fields-new-rural-internet-cooperative" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/rs-fiber-report-2016-cover-small.jpg" alt="" title="" width="96" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">A new trend is emerging in rural communities throughout the United States: Fiber-to-the-Farm. Tired of waiting for high-quality Internet access from big companies, farmers are building it themselves. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Communities in and around Minnesota’s rural Sibley County are going from worst to best after building a wireless and <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> cooperative. While federal programs throw billions of dollars to deliver last year’s Internet speeds, local programs are building the network of the future. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In “<a href="https://ilsr.org/report-mn-rural-fiber/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><strong><em>RS Fiber</em></strong><strong><em>: Fertile Fields for New Rural Internet Cooperative</em></strong></a>,” the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) and Next Century Cities documents a groundbreaking new model that’s sprung up in South Central Minnesota that can be replicated all over the nation, in the thousands of cities and counties that have been refused service by big cable and telecom corporations.  </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://ilsr.org/report-mn-rural-fiber/">... Read the Report or Fact Sheet 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/new-cooperative-model-fiber-farm-community-broadband-bits-podcast-episode-198" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">A New Cooperative Model for Fiber to the Farm - Community Broadband Bits Podcast Episode 198</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 19, 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="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/new-cooperative-model-fiber-farm-community-broadband-bits-podcast-episode-198" 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">When we launched this podcast in 2012, we kicked it off with an <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/first-community-broadband-bits-podcast-sibley-county-fiber-farm" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">interview from Minnesota's farm country</a>, Sibley County. We were excited at their passion for making sure every farm was connected with high quality Internet access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">After the project took a turn and became a brand new cooperative, we interviewed them again in 2014 for <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/catching-rs-fiber-coop-minnesota-community-broadband-bits-podcast-99" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">episode 99</a>, but they hadn't finished financing. They broke ground 2015 and today we discuss the model and the <a href="https://ilsr.org/report-mn-rural-fiber/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">new Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) case study</a> that details how they built it.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">City of Winthrop Economic Development Authority Director Mark Erickson and Renville-area farmer Jake Rieke are both on the board of <a href="http://rsfiber.coop/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">RS Fiber Cooperative</a> and they join us to explain how their model works.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We at ILSR believe this model could work in much of rural America, in any community that can summon a fraction of the passion of the citizens from Sibley and Renville counties. Having watched this project for all the years it was being developed, I cannot express how impressed I am with their dedication. And because they own it, I'm thrilled to know that no one can take it away from them.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/new-cooperative-model-fiber-farm-community-broadband-bits-podcast-episode-198">Listen to this Show Here</a> ... <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-198">Read the Transcript 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/berkman-center-releases-report-wiredwest-cooperative-mbi" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Berkman Center Releases Report on WiredWest Cooperative, MBI</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 20, 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/berkman-center-releases-report-wiredwest-cooperative-mbi" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-wired-west2012.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="28" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In 2010, communities in rural western Massachusetts began a group that would evolve into the <a href="http://wiredwest.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">WiredWest Cooperative</a>. Over the past six years, the group, formed to bring better last-mile connectivity to the unserved and underserved areas of the state, has faced a number of challenges. Most recently, disagreements with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI), the state agency tasked with distributing funds for last-mile connectivity, have threatened WiredWest's regional cooperative model.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In a new report released by the Berkman Center, authors David Talbot, Waide Warner, and Susan Crawford share the story of these communities' attempt to band together to establish a <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.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In <strong><em><a href="https://cyber.law.harvard.edu/publications/2016/wiredwest_case_study" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">WiredWest: a Cooperative of Municipalities Forms to Build A Fiber Optic Network</a></em></strong>, we learn not only how this region came together, but how they developed their business plan and procured funding, how they anticipate the network to affect affordability, and the ways they have adjusted the plan as circumstances required. The authors also take the time to share some history of cooperatives, and address how the cooperative model - used in the past for electricity and telephone - can benefit the communities in rural western Massachusetts.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/berkman-center-releases-report-wiredwest-cooperative-mbi">... Read the Report, Get More 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/rs-fiber-ignites-community-connections-video-podcast" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">RS Fiber Ignites - Community Connections Video Podcast</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 20, 2016 | 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/rs-fiber-ignites-community-connections-video-podcast" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/icon-muninetworks-video.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="124" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">On Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Christopher Mitchell sat down with Bill Wallace of <a href="https://www.us-ignite.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">US Ignite</a> and Mark Erickson of the <a href="http://www.winthropminnesota.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">city of Winthrop, Minnesota,</a> to talk about the exciting applications communities can develop if they have the connectivity they need.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This interview is paired with ILSR's report, <a href="https://ilsr.org/report-mn-rural-fiber/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><strong><em>RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for New Rural Internet Cooperative</em></strong></a>. The report documents a groundbreaking new model that’s sprung up in South Central Minnesota that can be replicated all over the nation, in the thousands of cities and counties that have been refused service by big cable and telecom corporations.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Stay tuned for Part 2 of this video podcast on RS Fiber, to be released Thursday as part of our ongoing series featuring community and policy leaders in the field.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rs-fiber-ignites-community-connections-video-podcast">... Watch the Video 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/rs-fiber-ignites-community-connections-video-podcast-part-2-2" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">RS Fiber Ignites - Community Connections Video Podcast Part 2 of 2</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 21, 2016 | 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/rs-fiber-ignites-community-connections-video-podcast-part-2-2" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/icon-muninetworks-video.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="124" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">On Wednesday, November 18, 2015 Christopher Mitchell sat down with Bill Wallace of US Ignite and Mark Erickson of the city of Winthrop, Minnesota. In part 2 of our ongoing series, Chris, Bill and Mark talk more about the "nuts and bolts" of building a network. Come back each Wednesday for new video content!</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">This interview is paired with ILSR's report, <a href="https://ilsr.org/report-mn-rural-fiber/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><strong><em>RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for New Rural Internet Cooperative</em></strong></a>. The report documents a groundbreaking new model that’s sprung up in South Central Minnesota that can be replicated all over the nation, in the thousands of cities and counties that have been refused service by big cable and telecom corporations.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rs-fiber-ignites-community-connections-video-podcast-part-2-2"><span id="goog_38713110"></span>... Watch Part 2 Here ...<span id="goog_38713111"></span></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/grass-will-be-greener-fairlawngig-ohio" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Grass Will Be Greener With FairlawnGig In Ohio</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 22, 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/grass-will-be-greener-fairlawngig-ohio" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-fairlawn-ohio.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="59" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Fairlawn, Ohio, a quaint little city in Northern Ohio, it is about to get a big Gig – lightning fast Internet speeds of up to one Gigabit (1000 Megabits) per second (<a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term14" 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="Gigabits per second - or one billion bits per second.  8 Gbps means that 8 billion bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Gbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer a 1 GB (Gigabyte) file - a compressed 90 min movie, for instance.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps (Megabits)<1 Gbps">Gbps</cite></a>) – for $75 a month. The city has considered the prospect of such a network since last year, and now the community is moving forward.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">On April 4th,<a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160404006704/en/City-Fairlawn-Passes-Ordinances-Authorizing-FairlawnGig-Broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> </a>Fairlawn City Council <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160404006704/en/City-Fairlawn-Passes-Ordinances-Authorizing-FairlawnGig-Broadband" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">unanimously approved several ordinances</a> to build a Fiber-to-the-Home network (<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>) called “FairlawnGig.” For financing, the network will use revenue bonds in an agreement with the Development Finance Authority of Summit County.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>A New FTTH Muni</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fairlawn-ohio-pursuing-design-plan-muni-broadband-utility-0" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">November 2015, Fairlawn hired a consultant</a> and envisioned a public-private partnership for the FTTH plan of FairlawnGig. Now, however, these ordinances ensure that the $10 million network that will begin construction in May 2016 will in fact be a municipal network. The ordinances enable the city to enter into a contract with a firm to design and construct the network in the way that best meets the community’s needs.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/grass-will-be-greener-fairlawngig-ohio">... See the Expected Prices for Next-Gen Connectivity Here ...</a><br><br></p></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/savings-and-connectivity-allegheny-county-pennsylvania-schools" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Savings and Connectivity for Allegheny County Pennsylvania Schools</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 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="line-height:18.004px"><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/savings-and-connectivity-allegheny-county-pennsylvania-schools" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-penn.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In Pennsylvania, many of Allegheny County’s schools are about to experience new and improved high-speed Internet access. This summer, school districts throughout Allegheny County will<a href="http://www.post-gazette.com/news/education/2016/02/12/New-regional-network-coordinated-by-Allegheny-Intermediate-Unit/stories/201602040001" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> get better connectivity and save public dollars</a>with a new Regional Wide Area Network. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Allegheny Intermediate Unit struck a deal with a new contractor to deliver better connectivity for less. The Allegheny Intermediate Unit, a branch of the Pennsylvania Department of Education, provides services to 42 schools and five career and technical centers in the county surrounding Pittsburgh.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/savings-and-connectivity-allegheny-county-pennsylvania-schools">... Learn More About the Savings Here ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-rfp-fttp-out-there" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Islesboro, Maine: RFP For FTTP Is Out There!</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 20, 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/islesboro-maine-rfp-fttp-out-there" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-isleboro-me.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="73" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Islesboro is moving forward with plans to join <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rockport-builds-maine%E2%80%99s-first-municipal-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Rockport</a>, <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sanford-maine-plans-largest-municipal-network-state" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Sanford</a>, and other Maine communities that want to improve connectivity for residents and businesses. They have released a <a href="http://townofislesboro.com/fileadmin/Committees/broadband/Town_of_Islesboro_OPM_RFP_and_Appendix_03-28-2016.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Request for Proposals (RFP)</a> to take them into the construction phase. From the Isleboro website:</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 Town of Islesboro, Maine is seeking a contractor to manage the construction of a Fiber-to-the-Premise (FTTP) network spanning approximately 50 miles connecting 750 properties including a wireless component connecting outlying islands.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Town is seeking bids for an Owner's Project Manager (OPM) to oversee fiber optic and wireless construction, network equipment installation, and inside wiring and customer premise installation.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Bids are due April 28th, 2016</strong>. </p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">The island town has also published a <a href="http://townofislesboro.com/fileadmin/Committees/broadband/OPM_RFP_Questions.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Question and Answer update</a> to address common concerns.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/islesboro-maine-rfp-fttp-out-there">... Learn More Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></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/2016-municipal-technology-conference-may-5-augusta-me" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">2016 Municipal Technology Conference May 5, in Augusta, ME</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, April 23, 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/2016-municipal-technology-conference-may-5-augusta-me" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="http://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-2016-network-me-conf.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="66" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://memun.org/2016TechnologyConference/Agenda.aspx" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">2016 Municipal Technology Conference</a> is coming up on <strong>Thursday, May 5th, 2016</strong> at the Augusta Civic Center in the state capital. The conference is sponsored by the <a href="https://www.memun.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Maine Municipal Association</a> (MMA) and the <a href="http://megug.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Maine GIS UserGroup</a> (MEGUG) in cooperation with Maine’s <a href="http://www.maine.gov/connectme/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">ConnectME Authority</a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The conference title - “<strong><em>Ready. Set. Grow!</em></strong>” - captures one of the major themes of the conference, where several panel sessions will focus on the topic of municipal networks. Several Maine communities, including <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/rockport-builds-maine%E2%80%99s-first-municipal-network" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Rockport</a>, <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/sanford-maine-plans-largest-municipal-network-state" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Sanford</a>, <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/orono-and-old-town-receive-funding-fiber-maine" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Orono and Old Town</a>, and <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/bar-harbor-maine-studies-muni-fiber-replace-time-warner-cable-franchise" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Bar Harbor</a>, have made progress in the past couple of years toward creating locally-grown fiber networks. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/2016-municipal-technology-conference-may-5-augusta-me">... We Enjoyed This Show Last Year ...</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-25-0" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - April 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, April 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-april-25-0" 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_12.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Iowa</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Mediacom-is-Suing-Iowa-City-to-Prevent-Broadband-Competition-136725" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">MediaCom is suing Iowa City to prevent broadband competition</a> by Karl Bode, DSL Reports</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"> </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Massachusetts</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.masslive.com/business-news/index.ssf/2016/04/holyoke_innovation_district_looks_to_tak_1.html?mc_cid=a4debabc2c&mc_eid=2910c7b52b" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Holyoke Innovation District looks to take advantage of valley broadband Internet capacity</a> by Jim Kinney, MassLive</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/massachusetts-government-stymies-wiredwest-municipal-broadband-initiative-r/2016-04-22" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Massachusetts government stymies WiredWest municipal broadband initiative, report says</a> by Samantha Bookman, FierceTelecom</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-april-25-0"> ... Read our Full Community Broadband Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div>

<p></p>

-- <br />
You can always find our most recent stories and other resources at <a href="http://MuniNetworks.org">http://MuniNetworks.org</a><br />
--- <br />
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Community Networks Weekly Updates" group.<br />
To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to <a href="mailto:communitynetworks-weekly+unsubscribe@ilsr.org">communitynetworks-weekly+unsubscribe@ilsr.org</a>.<br />
For more options, visit <a href="https://groups.google.com/a/ilsr.org/d/optout">https://groups.google.com/a/ilsr.org/d/optout</a>.<br />