<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><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="https://muninetworks.org/content/our-open-access-networks-resources-page-now-available" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Our "Open Access Networks" Resources Page Now Available</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, May 23, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/our-open-access-networks-resources-page-now-available" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-open-access2-small.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="54" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">When communities decide to proceed with publicly owned infrastructure, they often aim for <a class="" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="An arrangement in which the network is open to independent service providers to offer services.  In many cases, the network owner only sells wholesale access to the service providers who offer all retail services (ie: triple play of internet, phone, tv).  Open access provides much more competition from which potential subscribers can choose.">open access</cite></a> models. Open access allows more than one service provider to offer services via the same infrastructure. The desire is to increase competition, which will lower prices, improve services, and encourage innovation.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">It seems straight forward, but open access can be more complex than one might expect. In addition to varying models, there are special challenges and financing considerations that communities need to consider.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In order to centralize our information on open access, we’ve created the new <strong><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/open-access" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Open Access Networks</a></strong> resource page. We’ve gathered together some of our best reference material, including links to previous MuniNetworks.org stories, articles from other resources, relevant Community Broadband Bits podcast episodes, case studies, helpful illustrations, and more.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/our-open-access-networks-resources-page-now-available">... Lots of Information and Network Tracking - Learn More 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="https://muninetworks.org/content/tennessee-potential-partnership-between-morristown-muni-and-aec-co-op-community-broadband-bi" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Tennessee Potential Partnership Between Morristown Muni and AEC Co-op - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 203</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, May 25, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/tennessee-potential-partnership-between-morristown-muni-and-aec-co-op-community-broadband-bi" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://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">In Tennessee, this month marks 10 years of <a href="http://www.musfiber.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Morristown Utility Systems</a>delivering <a class="" href="https://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> <a class="" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term27" 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 three main services offered over these networks - television, phone services, and Internet access.  Turns out that many people like to get all three from the same service provider on the same bill.  Service providers frequently offer deals that will lower the cost on these packages.  Typically, television breaks even or loses money whereas the service provider makes the most profits from phone and Internet access.">triple-play</cite></a> service to the community, including great Internet access. But those living just outside the city and in nearby cities have poor access at best. MUS General Manager and CEO Jody Wigington returns to our show this week and we also welcome <a href="http://aecoop.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Appalachian Electric Cooperative (AEC)</a>General Manager Greg Williams to discuss a potential partnership to expand Morristown services to those that want them.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As we have frequently noted,<a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/fcc-opinion-and-order-striking-down-local-authority-limits-tn-and-nc-highlights" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> Tennessee law prohibits municipal fiber networks from expanding</a> beyond their electric territories. The <a href="http://muninetworks.org/tags/tags/section-706" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">FCC decision repealing that favor</a> to the big cable and telephone company lobbyists is currently being appealed. But Tennessee also prohibits electrical co-ops from providing telephone or cable TV service, which makes the business model very difficult in rural areas.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Nonetheless, MUS and AEC have studied how they can team up to use the assets of both to deliver needed services to those outside Morristown. We discuss their plan, survey results, the benefits of working together, and much more.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/tennessee-potential-partnership-between-morristown-muni-and-aec-co-op-community-broadband-bi">... Listen to the Show 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="https://muninetworks.org/content/muni-muscatine-upgrades-speeds-outperforms" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Muni In Muscatine: Upgrades, Speeds Up, Outperforms</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, May 23, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/muni-muscatine-upgrades-speeds-outperforms" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-muscatine-iowa-power.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="45" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Cedar Falls may be the Iowa city famous for its Fiber-to-the-Home (<a class="" href="https://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>) network, but that won’t stop Muscatine. This small city of approximately 29,000 people is about to upgrade its aging network. For a little over a year, the municipal utility, <a href="https://www.mpw.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Muscatine Power and Water</a> (MP&W), has planned for the move to FTTH with funding from an interdepartmental loan. Now, FTTH is coming to Muscatine's MachLink Internet access service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">MP&W expects to break ground this year on this $8.7 million FTTH project and to finish building the network in 2017. Fiber will offer speeds much faster than those available on the existing hybrid fiber-coax (<a class="" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term331" 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="Hybrid Fiber-Coax - a network that combines some fiber-optic elements (typically from the head end to a node in the field) and coaxial cable (typically the loop that connects the node to subscribers).  ">HFC</cite></a>) network. In anticipation, MP&W is increasing speeds for subcribers without raising rates.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/muni-muscatine-upgrades-speeds-outperforms">... Learn More About Muscatine's Coming Upgrade ...</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="https://muninetworks.org/content/lakeland-considering-its-next-step-florida" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Lakeland Considering Its Next Step In Florida</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, May 24, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/lakeland-considering-its-next-step-florida" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-lakeland-fl.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="95" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In August 2013, we reported on Lakeland, Florida’s <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/dark-fiber-paying-floridas-lakeland" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">dark fiber network</a> that serves local schools, government facilities, and local businesses. Over the past year or so, community leaders have discussed whether or not to expand the use of Lakeland’s fiber resources.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A <a href="https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/2489014-city-of-lakeland-broadband-opportunities.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">2015 feasibility study</a> suggested several other ways to use Lakeland’s existing 330 miles of fiber infrastructure to enhance connectivity for economic development and residential access. As the city examines its finances and its future in the coming months, city leaders are considering six avenues to meet the community’s needs. The options, some recommended by consultants, vary in type and investment and the City Commission will begin discussing the possibilities as they meet in the upcoming months.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/lakeland-considering-its-next-step-florida">... Potentially Exciting News for Another Florida Fiber Network ...</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="https://muninetworks.org/content/ok-just-what-does-open-access-mean-anymore" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">OK, Just What Does Open Access Mean Anymore?</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, May 25, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/ok-just-what-does-open-access-mean-anymore" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/open-access.jpg" alt="" title="" width="106" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In our experience, just about every community considering building a community network considers <a class="" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="An arrangement in which the network is open to independent service providers to offer services.  In many cases, the network owner only sells wholesale access to the service providers who offer all retail services (ie: triple play of internet, phone, tv).  Open access provides much more competition from which potential subscribers can choose.">open access</cite></a>. They want to enable new choices for services and often would prefer the local government avoid directly competing with existing service providers, for a variety of reasons. However, we are only tracking 30 open access networks on our just-released <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/open-access" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Open Access resource page</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Many of the communities that start off enthusiastic about open access ultimately decide to have a single service provider (themselves or a contractor) to have more certainty over the revenues needed to pay operating expenses and debt. We believe this will change as the technology matures and more communities embrace software-defined networks (SDN) -- but before tackling that topic, we think it is important to discuss the meaning of open access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">On a regular basis, I get an email from one deep-thinking person or another that says, "That network isn't really open access." They almost always make good points. The problem is that different people embrace open access for different reasons - they often have different expectations of outcomes. Understanding that is key to evaluating open access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ok-just-what-does-open-access-mean-anymore">... Different People Expect Different Outcomes From Different Open Access Notions ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-matt-rantanen-tribal-digital-village" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Connections - Matt Rantanen, Tribal Digital Village</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, May 25, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-matt-rantanen-tribal-digital-village" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://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">Tribal governments face unique problems when connecting their communities, but the need is great. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In this episode of Community Connections, Christopher Mitchell speaks with Matt Rantanen, Director of Technology for the <a href="http://www.sctca.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Southern California Tribal Chairmen's Association (SCTCA)</a> and Director of the <a href="http://sctdv.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Tribal Digital Village (TDV)</a> Initiative. Mitchell and Rantanen talk about the special challenges of deploying fiber on tribal lands.<br><br></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-matt-rantanen-tribal-digital-village">... 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="https://muninetworks.org/content/missouri-hb-2078-fails-post-mortem-play-play" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Missouri HB 2078 Fails: Post Mortem Play-By-Play</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, May 26, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/missouri-hb-2078-fails-post-mortem-play-play" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-missouri.gif" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Since <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/mo-fight-not-over-til-its-over-time-call" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">we alerted our audience</a> to the shenanigans surrounding Missouri’s <a href="http://www.house.mo.gov/billsummary.aspx?bill=HB2078" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">HB 2078</a>, a couple of other news medias have picked up the story and reported on the dramatic end of session climax. As we rest in the glow of the denouement, we want to provide a follow up for those who may have missed the final outcome and offer some words from Jim Baller, who was deep in the trenches.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Here's What Happened...</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">If you have not yet heard, the language from HB 2078 was <a href="http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/05/politicians-fail-in-bid-to-squash-municipal-broadband-in-missouri/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">ultimately not adopted</a> by the Missouri State Legislature. <em>Whew.</em> Readers probably recall that, when HB 2078 stalled on its own, the author of HB 2078, Rep. Lyndall Fraker slipped some of the more damaging language into <a href="https://legiscan.com/MO/votes/SB765/2016" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">SB 765</a>, a traffic ticket bill that had nothing to do with municipal networks.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/missouri-hb-2078-fails-post-mortem-play-play">... Another Close Call in Missouri - Stay Tuned in 2017! ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/mpls-park-board-obstructing-ftth-more-coverage" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">MPLS Park Board Obstructing FTTH: More Coverage</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, May 26, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/mpls-park-board-obstructing-ftth-more-coverage" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-mpls-park-board.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">After <a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/parks-property-right-way-refusal-slows-ftth-minneapolis" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">our article earlier this month</a> on US Internet’s problems obtaining permission to install <a class="" href="https://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)"><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> under Minneapolis Park Board boulevard property, several other articles appeared in local media.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">TV station KARE 11 <a href="http://www.kare11.com/news/parks-board-halts-internet-fiber-expansion/210364655" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">ran a piece</a> on the issue and interviewed Julie Stenberg, who observed, "Technically it's park land, but people are not playing Frisbee, they're not picnicking here.” (Watch the video below.)</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Star Tribune also <a href="http://www.startribune.com/us-internet-s-high-speed-fiber-hits-a-snag-with-minneapolis-park-board/380546871/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">ran an article</a> noting that people like Julie, who live adjacent to park owned boulevards, may never have the opportunity to take Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) service from the local provider.  If US Internet wants to obtain a permit to bury conduit along the parkway in order to get to Julie's house - the only option available - they will have to shell out $27,000 in fees. People around the corner from Julie are already getting FTTH service from US Internet.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/mpls-park-board-obstructing-ftth-more-coverage">... Read the Rest and Watch a Helpful 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="https://muninetworks.org/content/push-poll-and-passion-network-will-expand-roanoke-county" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Push Poll And Passion: Network Will Expand in Roanoke County</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, May 27, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/push-poll-and-passion-network-will-expand-roanoke-county" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://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">The <a href="http://highspeedroanoke.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Roanoke Valley Broadband Authority (RVBA)</a> network is live in Virginia, and the state’s cable-<a class="" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term608" 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="Telephone company - a provider of telecommunications services such as voice (telephony) and data services.  Also called common carriers or LECs (Local Exchange Carriers); ILECs are incumbent providers, often AT&T or Verizon.  ">telco</cite></a> lobby is not happy. Despite the <a href="http://www.vcta.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Virginia Cable Telecommunications Association (VCTA</a>) attempts to turn people against the network, local leaders in Roanoke County <a href="http://www.roanoke.com/news/local/roanoke_county/roanoke-county-supervisors-pass-budget-approve-broadband-expansion/article_f05f128d-8709-5b9f-93fd-308442efa5ec.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">decided to help fund further expansion</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As part of their $183 million budget, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors included $3.4 million to bring the network into the county, with economic development driving the vote. From the Roanoke Times coverage of the vote:</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">“There is so much that is great that is going on in Roanoke County,” [Supervisor Joe McNamara] said. “Whether it’s what we’re doing for community development with our strategic planning, what we’re doing from an economic development standpoint, what we’ve done with allocating money toward storm water management. I really see broadband as just one area of the budget.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/push-poll-and-passion-network-will-expand-roanoke-county">... We Uncover the Controversy and Mention Ice Cream ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/stark-county-ohio-hires-consultant-feasibility-study" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Stark County, Ohio, Hires Consultant For Feasibility Study</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, May 27, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/stark-county-ohio-hires-consultant-feasibility-study" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-stark-county-oh.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Longtime efforts by community leaders in <a href="http://starkcountyohio.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Stark County, Ohio</a>, to create a new countywide Internet network have recently taken important steps forward.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Local Support Is Strong</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In the past few months, three local government agencies approved informal resolutions to explore building the proposed network, including the <a href="http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20160523/canton-council-voices-support-for-broadband-utility" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">City Council in Canton</a>, the Stark County commissioners, and <a href="http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20160426/jackson-township-trustees" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the trustees in Jackson Township</a>. County population is about 375,000 within the 575 square miles located in the northeast section of the state.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In May, an all-volunteer organization comprised of local leaders called the <a href="http://www.theforthutility.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Stark County Broadband Task Team</a> (SCBBTT) announced that they had raised $100,000 needed to fund a feasibility study to explore the construction of the network. The SCBBTT also <a href="http://www.cantonrep.com/news/20160523/stark-county-broadband-team-hires-consultant" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently announced</a> they hired a consultant to conduct the study.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/stark-county-ohio-hires-consultant-feasibility-study">... More Details on Yet Another Community Recognizing Its Need for Smart Strategy ...</a></p></div></div></div></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="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-30" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - May 30</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, May 30, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://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="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-30" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/media-roundup-community-bb_0_8.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Idaho</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.localnews8.com/news/Idaho-Falls-exploring-options-to-provide-fiber-optic-connections-to-homes/39629054" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Idaho Falls exploring options to provide fiber optic connections to homes</a> by KIDK-3 TV</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 city’s current fiber infrastructure has not only improved operational efficiencies for the city and its utilities, but it has also facilitated economic development, competitive internet service rates and helped maintain city rights-of-way.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.localnews8.com/news/ammon-moves-to-create-fiber-optic-district/39645338?mc_cid=36d989683a&mc_eid=2910c7b52b" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Ammon moves to create fiber optic district</a> by KIDK-3 TV</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-may-30"> ... Read the Full Community Broadband Media Roundup ...</a></p></div></div></div>

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