<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 style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><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/reports/secrets-behind-partnerships-improve-internet-access" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">The Secrets Behind Partnerships to Improve Internet Access</a></h2><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="line-height:18.004px;font-weight:bold;display:inline">Author(s): </div><span style="line-height:18.004px"> Patrick Lucey &</span><span style="line-height:18.004px"> Christopher Mitchell</span></div></div></div><div class="" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class=""><div class=""><a href="https://muninetworks.org/reports/secrets-behind-partnerships-improve-internet-access" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/PPP-Report-2016%20cover%20small.jpeg" alt="" title="" width="96" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong><a rel="attachment wp-att-24189" href="https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/placeholder.png" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img class="" src="https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/placeholder.png" alt="placeholder" width="1" height="1" style="border: 0px;"></a></strong>A growing number of U.S. cities have broken up monopoly control of the Internet marketplace locally. They're promoting entrepreneurship while giving residents and businesses real choice in how they connect and reach new audiences. They've put a new wrinkle in an old model: the public-private partnership.</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">"Communities desperately need better Internet access, but not all local governments are bold enough to 'go it alone'", says Christopher Mitchell with Community Broadband Networks at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. "Here, we've outlined a few remarkable cities who have demonstrated how smart strategies are helping them help themselves."</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">A city that builds its own fiber and leases it to a trusted partner can negotiate for activities that benefit the public good, like universal access. It may even require (as Westminster, Maryland did) that the partner ISP have real human beings answer the phone to solve a customer's problems.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://ilsr.org/ppp-fiber/">... More Information on OUR NEW REPORT Here ...</a> <a href="https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2016/07/PPP-Report-2016.pdf">PDF 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/community-connections-westminster-ting-how-and-why" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Connections - Westminster & Ting: The How and the Why</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, July 14, 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-westminster-ting-how-and-why" 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">More and more cities are turning to public-private partnerships (PPP's) in building Internet networks that meet the needs of 21st century homes and businesses. If a city builds its own fiber and leases it to a trusted partner, they can negotiate for activities that benefit the public good, like universal access. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In this video Christopher Mitchell interviews Dr. Robert Wack with <a href="http://www.westgov.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Westminster, Maryland</a> and Elliot Noss, CEO of <a href="http://www.tucows.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Tucows</a>, the parent of Ting. The two talk about their revolutionary public-private fiber partnership.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The video outlines a basic economic principle: <em><strong>"Ownership equals control, and control means leverage."</strong></em> If you don't have that leverage (such as ownership of infrastructure) you won't get a good deal from your private ISP.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-westminster-ting-how-and-why">... 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/westminster-muni-network-expanding" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Westminster Muni Network Expanding</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, July 15, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://muninetworks.org/users/scott" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Scott</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/westminster-muni-network-expanding" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://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">Marking another big step forward, the mayor and Common Council of <a href="http://www.westminstermd.gov/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Westminster, Maryland</a> (pop. 18,000) have hired a telecommunications, utility and government contracting firm to continue building the first two phases of the Westminster Fiber Network (WFN).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>City Hires SMC</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Westminster expects to complete this construction in 2017, providing Gigabit per second (<a class="" href="https://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>) connectivity to an additional 2,700 homes and businesses in the western part of the community,<a href="http://westminstermd.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx?AID=227" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">according to a city news release.</a> Cost of this phase is undetermined, Westminster marketing consultant Jason Stambaugh told us; the city will issue general obligation bonds to fund the entire cost of the network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">One year after Westminster celebrated lighting its municipal fiber network, the city hired SMC, Inc. to construct the expansion. Westminster is partnering with Toronto-based <a href="https://ting.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Ting </a>to provide retail services via the 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. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-muni-network-expanding">... Get the Latest Update from Westminster Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><br></div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><h2 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/fiber-lenox-iowa" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Fiber in Lenox, Iowa</a></h2><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif;color:rgb(0,0,0)"><div style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:14px;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,"DejaVu Sans",sans-serif;font-weight:normal;line-height:18.004px"><span style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, July 11, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://muninetworks.org/users/hannah" title="View user profile." target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">hannah</a></span></div><div style="font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,"DejaVu Sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px;font-weight:normal;line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/fiber-lenox-iowa" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-lennox-ia.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">When community leaders in <a href="http://mferguson314.wix.com/lenox-iowa" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Lenox, Iowa</a>, gathered together to examine the community's cable TV options in the 1980s, they probably didn't expect their decision to impact local Internet access. Fast-forward 30 years, and this town of 1,400 people now has one of the most sought after forms of Internet access infrastructure: Fiber-to-the-Home (<a href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0)"><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>).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.lenoxutilities.com/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Lenox Municipal Utilities</a> owns and operates a FTTH network that offers<a href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0)"><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> speeds to hundreds of customers in town. It’s just one of <a href="https://muninetworks.org/communitymap" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">many communities around the nation</a> that have invested in this rugged, future-proof technology.</p></div></h2><div style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,"DejaVu Sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Same Utility, Changing Technology</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We spoke with the Lenox Municipal Utilities General Manager John Borland who graciously provided some of the history of the network.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/fiber-lenox-iowa" target="_blank">... Lots More of Lenox 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/minnesota-alexandria-connects-businesses-community-broadband-bits-podcast-210" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">In Minnesota, Alexandria Connects Businesses - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 210</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, July 13, 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/minnesota-alexandria-connects-businesses-community-broadband-bits-podcast-210" 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">When the cable and telephone companies refused to offer dial-up Internet service 20 years ago in Alexandria, Minnesota, the municipal utility stepped up and made it available. For years, most everyone in the region used it to get online. Now, the utility has focused its telecommunications attention on making<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> telecommunications services available to local businesses.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.alputilities.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Alexandria's ALP Utilities</a> General Manager Al Crowser joins us this week to explain what they have done and why. Like us, Al is a strong believer that local governments can be the best provider of essential services to local businesses and residents.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In the show, we talk some history and also about the difference between local customer service and that from a larger, more distant company. He discusses how they have paid for the network and where net income goes. And finally, we talk about their undergrounding project.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/minnesota-alexandria-connects-businesses-community-broadband-bits-podcast-210">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-210" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript from this show here</a> ...<br><br></p></div><h2 style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:Tahoma,Arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-jason-hardebeck-baltimore" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Connections - Jason Hardebeck, Baltimore</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, July 11, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://muninetworks.org/users/rebecca" title="View user profile." target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">rebecca</a></span></div><div style="line-height:18.004px"><div style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-jason-hardebeck-baltimore" target="_blank" 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><p style="margin:1em 0px">Residents and businesses in Baltimore have been dealing with poor access for years. In 2015 the city's mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake named a 27-member task force to address the problem and has spoken out about the need for more investment.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In this episode of Community Connections, Christopher Mitchell caught up with Broadband Coordinator Jason Hardebeck to talk about about his city's challenges and opportunities.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Hardebeck is tasked with developing a strategy that puts his city's residents and businesses first. These challenges are familiar to many cities across the United States and this interview serves as a good illustration of why owning some <a href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0)"><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> and dark fiber can be a big benefit to cities as they try to solve the problem of the digital divide. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-connections-jason-hardebeck-baltimore">... Watch the Interview 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/i-net-beginning-blossom-greenfield-wi" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">I-Net Beginning to Blossom in Greenfield, WI</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, July 14, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://muninetworks.org/users/alexander" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">alexander</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/i-net-beginning-blossom-greenfield-wi" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-greenfield-wi.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="67" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.ci.greenfield.wi.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Greenfield</a> city officials and school administrators <a href="http://www.greenfieldnow.com/news/383841941.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recently agreed</a> to cooperatively build a <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#term15" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Short for Institutional Network.  This is the network a municipal government requires to carry out its duties.  I-Net frequently refers specifically to a network built for city uses (connecting schools, for instance) by the cable company as part of the franchise agreement with the city.  Cities are increasingly seeing the value of owning their own network. ">institutional network</cite></a> (I-Net). The Milwaukee suburb of about 37,000 expects to trim thousands of dollars from its annual network bill and bring its students, teachers, and local government up to speed.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Dig Now, Save Now</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Just like many communities across the U.S., Greenfield realized that it was paying too much to connect its <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/institutional-networks" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">community anchor institutions</a> (CAIs) to the Internet. In April 2015, Greenfield school district approved a <a class="" href="https://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> upgrade with a private provider that would cost the schools $45,588 annually. Within half a year, they had already hit their new bandwidth limit. In November 2015, they needed to upgrade again to the tune of $119,141 per year. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/i-net-beginning-blossom-greenfield-wi">... More Information on Expected Savings and Efficiencies ...</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="https://muninetworks.org/content/get-your-applications-ready-minnesotas-35-million" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Get Your Applications Ready For Minnesota's $35 Million</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, July 13, 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/get-your-applications-ready-minnesotas-35-million" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-minnesota.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Land of 10,000 Lakes wants to become The Land of 10,000 Lakes With High-Speed Internet Access. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The <a href="http://mn.gov/deed/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED)</a>will begin taking<a href="https://mn.gov/deed/programs-services/broadband/grant-program/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> applications for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Program</a> on <strong>July 22, 2016</strong>. The program offers a total of $35 million in funding for projects in unserved and underserved areas. The application submission period closes on <strong>October 3, 2016</strong>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>The Grant Program</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Border-to-Border program will pay for up to 50 percent of project development costs, awarding a maximum of $5 million per grant. This round of funding sets aside $5 million specifically for underserved areas, and $500,000 will be set aside for areas that contain a significant proportion of low-income households. Officials estimate this year's $35 million in funding will impact an additional 2,000 Minnesotans.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/get-your-applications-ready-minnesotas-35-million">... More Information on Minnesota's State Broadband Grant Program ...</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/broadband-communities-magazine-spotlights-study-rural-electric-cooperatives" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Broadband Communities Magazine Spotlights Study on Rural Electric Cooperatives</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, July 16, 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/broadband-communities-magazine-spotlights-study-rural-electric-cooperatives" class="" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-digital%20policy-inst.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="115" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In the 1930s, rural communities joined together through electric cooperatives to bring electricity to their homes and businesses. Today, rural electric co-ops may have the power to bring Internet access to these same communities.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A recent <a href="http://www.bbcmag.com/2016mags/May_June/BBC_May16_ElectricCoops.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Broadband Communities Magazine article highlights this potential for rural electric co-ops</a>. In the article, Dr. Robert Yadon and D. Bracken Ross of the<a href="http://www.digitalpolicyinstitute.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Digital Policy Institute</a> at Ball State University explain the results of their recent study. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Electric Co-Ops as Regional Networks</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Yadon and Bracken looked into 30 private sector 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>) providers in Indiana and 16 rural electric co-ops providing Internet service around the nation. After predicting engineering costs, the researchers highlighted a dozen Indiana rural electric co-ops that could serve as regional hubs of connectivity.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/broadband-communities-magazine-spotlights-study-rural-electric-cooperatives">... Co-ops Are Incredibly Important for Rural Internet Access ...</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-broadband-media-roundup-july-19" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - July 19</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">Tue, July 19, 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="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-july-19" 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_14.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>California</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/op-ed/soapbox/article89188327.html" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Refund program to help expand broadband Internet service</a> by Rachelle Chong and Lloyd Levine, Sacramento Bee</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"> </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Colorado</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.dailycamera.com/news/boulder/ci_30116487/big-choices-ahead-boulder-pursues-faster-cheaper-broadband" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Big choices ahead as Boulder pursues faster, cheaper broadband</a> by Alex Burness, Boulder Daily Camera</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.coloradohometownweekly.com/news/superior/ci_30121910/erie-superior-weigh-municipal-broadband-ballot-question" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Erie, Superior weigh municipal broadband ballot question</a> by Anthony Hahn, Colorado Hometown Weekly</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-july-19">... Read the Full Community Network Media Roundup...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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