<div dir="ltr"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px">Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the </i><i style="font-size:13px">Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send feedback.  Forward Widely.</i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br></i></div>
<div><br></div><div><h2 class="gmail-title" 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/nytimes-examines-sixth-circuit-reversal-potatoes-and-pinetops" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">NYTimes Examines Sixth Circuit Reversal: Potatoes And Pinetops</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" 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="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, August 29, 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="gmail-content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/nytimes-examines-sixth-circuit-reversal-potatoes-and-pinetops" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/newyorktimes.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="22" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/sixth-circuit-court-appeals-reverses-fcc-disappointing-ruling" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">issued their order on August 10th</a> supporting the states of Tennessee and North Carolina in their challenge from an FCC decision from <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/cable-companies-lose-big-fcc-barriers-community-broadband-struck-down" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">February 2015</a>. Both states objected to the FCC’s decision to preempt state laws preventing municipalities from providing fast, affordable, reliable connectivity via municipal Internet networks. The Appellate Court Judges reviewed the legal arguments, the precedent, and the interplay between federal authority and state sovereignty. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The impact of their ruling will affect more than a few pages in a law school text book. Access to high-quality Internet access positively impacts real people and businesses and, as Cecila Kang captures in her <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/29/technology/broadband-law-could-force-rural-residents-off-information-superhighway.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">recent article in the New York Times</a>, the people who depend on it fear the outcome if their state legislators take it away.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/nytimes-examines-sixth-circuit-reversal-potatoes-and-pinetops">... This is a BIG Deal - Important Story ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="gmail-title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/north-carolina-and-tennessee-lose-6th-circuit-community-broadband-bits-podcast-217" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">North Carolina and Tennessee Lose in 6th Circuit - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 217</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, August 31, 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="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/north-carolina-and-tennessee-lose-6th-circuit-community-broadband-bits-podcast-217" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" 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="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">It has been several weeks, but Lisa and I wanted to answer any lingering questions people may have about the results of the <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/sixth-circuit-court-appeals-reverses-fcc-disappointing-ruling" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Sixth Circuit case</a> reviewing the FCC's action to remove state-created barriers to municipal networks. We devoted Community Broadband Bits episode 217 to the case and aftermath.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Sixth Circuit ruled against the FCC narrowly - finding that while it had no dispute with the FCC's characterization of municipal networks as beneficial, Congress had not given the FCC the power to overrule state management of its subdivisions (cities). As we have often said, restricting local authority in this manner may be stupid, but states are allowed to do stupid things (especially when powerful companies like AT&T and Comcast urge them to).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Lisa and I explore the decision and explain why we are nonetheless glad that FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler and Commissioners Rosenworcel and Clyburn moved on the petitions from Chattanooga and Wilson to remove state barriers to next-generation network investment. We also reference this blog post from Harold Feld, which is a well-done <a href="http://www.wetmachine.com/tales-of-the-sausage-factory/fcc-loses-its-muni-broadband-test-case-what-comes-next/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">summary of the situation</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/north-carolina-and-tennessee-lose-6th-circuit-community-broadband-bits-podcast-217">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-217" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Read the transcript of this episode here</a> ... <br><br></p><h2 class="gmail-title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/feds-are-fed-atts-lame-excuse-abusing-e-rate" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Feds Are Fed Up With AT&T's Lame Excuse For Abusing E-rate</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, August 31, 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="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/feds-are-fed-atts-lame-excuse-abusing-e-rate" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/att-death-star.PNG" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In late July, the FCC released a Notice of Apparent Liability (NAL) in which it found the telecommunications giant AT&T Southeast liable for a $106,425 forfeiture. The agency also ordered the company to return $63,760 of E-rate funds it described as “improperly disbursed.” AT&T overcharged two school districts in Florida and, in a response released last week, are trying to justify their pilfer by blaming the E-rate rules and the schools themselves, much as a criminal blames victims for being such easy targets.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Funded By Phone Users</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">E-rate funds are collected as a surcharge on telephone bills; the funds go to schools to help pay for telecommunications costs at schools, including telephone, Internet access, and infrastructure costs like fiber network construction. The amount a school district receives depends on the number of students in the district that qualify for free and reduced lunches; schools with higher numbers of low-income students are reimbursed at a higher rate. Given that many of our schools are funded through property tax rolls, this means that schools in poorer neighborhoods that are more likely to need help with their budgets receive the higher reimbursement rates.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/feds-are-fed-atts-lame-excuse-abusing-e-rate">... Celebrate Lisa's Great Title by Reading Her Story! ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div></div><div><h2 class="gmail-title" 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/port-lewiston-crossing-bridges-network-forges-ahead" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Port of Lewiston Crossing Bridges: Network Forges Ahead</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" 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="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, August 30, 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="gmail-content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/port-lewiston-crossing-bridges-network-forges-ahead" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/logo-port-lewiston.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="39" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Port of Lewiston’s <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term625" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted 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> dark fiber network continues to move toward completion. Construction crews are burying fiber lines at multiple project sites around Lewiston. In the past few weeks, the network crossed to the north side of Clearwater River via the Memorial Bridge, where it will link to Whitman County’s fiber network. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://portoflewiston.com/lewiston-port-working-to-complete-fiber-optic-network-to-serve-region-thursday-july-21-lewiston-tribune/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">A recent article from the Port of Lewiston</a> listed completed sections of the network, </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">“So far, it reaches major employers such as St. Joseph Regional Medical Center, Lewis-Clark State College, Regence and the Vista Outdoor plant at 11th and Snake River avenues.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px">The article also outlined the projects to be completed by September 1st,</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">“They will reach the industrial district by the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport, Clearwater Paper, Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and the Southway Bridge. At the bridge, the lines will connect with an Asotin County network built by the Port of Clarkston.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/port-lewiston-crossing-bridges-network-forges-ahead">... Take the Bridge to Our Story Here ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="gmail-title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ghost-towns-fiber-towns-texas-cooperative-looks-future" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">From Ghost Towns to Fiber Towns, A Texas Cooperative Looks to the Future</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Sat, September 03, 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="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ghost-towns-fiber-towns-texas-cooperative-looks-future" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/Logo-Brazos-Coop-2015.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="52" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Amid Ghost Towns in northern Texas, a local telephone cooperative looks to bring next-generation technology to rural communities. In August 2015, Brazos Communications, based out of Olney, Texas, announced its plans to build a fiber network throughout its sparsely populated service area.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A year later, in August 2016, the project is well underway. Brazos Communications has completed construction in two of the more populous towns (<a href="http://www.brazosnet.com/brazos-continues-construction-fiber-premise-archer-city/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Archer City</a> and <a href="http://www.brazosnet.com/brazos-begins-construction-fiber-premise-olney/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Olney</a>) and has begun<a href="http://www.brazosnet.com/brazos-begins-construction-of-fiber-to-the-premise-in-newcastle/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"> installing fiber in the community of Newcastle</a>. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>The Fiber Project</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Brazos Communications keeps locals apprised of the details of the project through their <a href="http://www.brazosnet.com/brazos-blog/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">blog on BrazosNet.com</a> and their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/brazoscommunications/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">social media accounts</a>. The telephone cooperative’s service area covers many small communities, the largest of which is Olney with about 3,000 people. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ghost-towns-fiber-towns-texas-cooperative-looks-future">... Another Co-op Solution for Improving Internet Access ...</a><br><br></p></div><h2 class="gmail-title" style="line-height:1.3em;margin:0px 0px 0.5em;font-family:tahoma,arial,sans-serif"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/california-bill-maps-existing-fiber-requires-conduit-construction" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">California Bill Maps Existing Fiber, Requires Conduit Construction</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, September 02, 2016 | Posted by <a href="https://muninetworks.org/users/katesvitavsky" title="View user profile." style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">KateSvitavsky</a></span></div><div class="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/california-bill-maps-existing-fiber-requires-conduit-construction" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-california.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Legislation improving rural Internet access and reducing telecommunications outages is headed to the Governor’s office after unanimously passing in the California State Assembly and Senate. <a href="http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billVersionsCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=201520160AB1549" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">AB 1549</a> creates a comprehensive statewide map of all <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term305" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted 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> and fiber cables in California and requires new conduit to be laid during public works projects. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">“We need better connectivity in our rural communities, bottom line,” said California Assembly Member James Wood, who introduced the legislation, <a href="http://asmdc.org/members/a02/news-room/press-releases/broadband-map-act-now-mandates-new-conduits" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">in a June press release</a>.</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">“In past decades the public sector invested heavily to deliver copper telephone lines and electricity across the country. This is a drop in the bucket compared to those investments, but it will make a world of difference for our communities in this 21st Century economy.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Improving Service, Lowering Prices</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Internet Service Providers (ISPs) have cited the cost of laying fiber cable and conduit as a major deterrent for investing in infrastructure, especially in rural communities. That cost is mostly incurred when companies have to dig into the ground. AB 1549 helps ISPs lower these costs by mandating that CalTrans, the state’s department of transportation, notify ISPs when it is opening a trench that could house conduit. If no ISPs are interested in installing conduit at that time, CalTrans is required to install it for future use.  </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/california-bill-maps-existing-fiber-requires-conduit-construction">... Get the Rest of the Story Here ...</a><br><br></p></div></div></div><div><h2 class="gmail-title" 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/feld-breaks-down-6th-circuit-fcc-reversal" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Feld Breaks Down 6th Circuit FCC Reversal</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" 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="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, September 01, 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="gmail-content" style="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/feld-breaks-down-6th-circuit-fcc-reversal" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><img src="https://muninetworks.org/sites/www.muninetworks.org/files/imagecache/teaser/seal-sixth-circuit-court-of-appeals.png" alt="" title="" width="124" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">In our last <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/north-carolina-and-tennessee-lose-6th-circuit-community-broadband-bits-podcast-217" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Bits podcast</a>, Christopher and I discussed the August 10th U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/sixth-circuit-court-appeals-reverses-fcc-disappointing-ruling" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">decision to reverse</a> the FCC’s February 2015 ruling against state barriers. We mentioned Harold Feld’s article about the ruling posted on his website. In keeping with most matters of importance in the municipal Internet network field, Harold expertly sums up the history of the case, the arguments, and what the outcome could mean for the future.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Feld gets down into the crux of the argument that won over the three judges in the Sixth Circuit - the need to establish if it is states or federal agencies that make the decisions regarding whether or not local governments can provide telecommunications.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/feld-breaks-down-6th-circuit-fcc-reversal">... Well Worth Reading and Sharing ...</a><br><br></p><h2 class="gmail-title" 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-september-5" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - September 5</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, September 05, 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="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;line-height:18.004px"><div class="gmail-field gmail-field-type-filefield gmail-field-field-image" style="float:left;margin:0px 10px 1em 0px"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-september-5" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser gmail-imagecache-linked gmail-imagecache-teaser_linked" 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_17.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" 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.davisenterprise.com/local-news/internet-improvements-to-go-before-city-council/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Internet improvements to go before City Council</a> by Felicia Alvarez, Davis Enterprise</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://americancityandcounty.com/smart-cities/fiber-pioneers" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">The fiber pioneers</a> by Timothy Downs, American City and County</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">“Santa Monica is a great example of how a local government can develop a long-term vision and create significant economic benefits with low risk investments,” Christopher Mitchell of the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, a proponent of municipally owned networks, says. “Without spending any new money, it built a great <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term10" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted 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 along major <a href="http://americancityandcounty.com/public-works/roadways?intlink=autlink" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">streets</a> and ultimately began generating revenue from fiber leases and operating a free <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term29" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="This is a suite of protocols that allow wireless devices to exchange information using unlicensed frequencies.  Equipment carrying the Wi-Fi brand is interoperable.  Recently, a number of cities and some private companies attempted to blanket their cities with Wi-Fi but the technology is not well suited to such large scale efforts.  Wi-Fi has proved tremendously successful in homes and businesses on small cities.">Wi-Fi</cite></a> network in popular tourist destinations.”</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-september-5"> ... Read the Full Community Network Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div></div></div>

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