<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><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/broadband-communities-regional-conference-fast-approaching-oct-18-20" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Broadband Communities Regional Conference Fast Approaching: Oct. 18 - 20</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, September 20, 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"><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/broadband-communities-regional-conference-fast-approaching-oct-18-20" 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-bbcmag.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="81" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As you say good-bye to September, consider making your way to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to attend the <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/broadband-communities-regional-conference-fall-minneapolis" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">2016 Broadband Communities Mag Annual Conference</a>at the downtown Radisson Blu. The event is scheduled for October 18 - 20 and you can still <a href="https://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1838385" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">register online</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The Economic Development Conference Series brings <em>Fiber For The New Economy</em>to the "City of Lakes" as part of its Community Toolkit Program. The conference is full of information you can use if your community is looking for ways to improve local connectivity through fiber. There will be presentations on economic development, financing, and smart policies that help lay the groundwork for future fiber investment. There are also some special sessions that deal specifically with rural issues and a number of other specialized presentations and panel discussions.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/broadband-communities-regional-conference-fast-approaching-oct-18-20">... I'll Be (T)Here - Yeah Minnesota! More Details ...</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/local-authority-number-one-priority-congress-says-wheeler" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Local Authority "A-Number One" Priority For Congress, Says Wheeler</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, September 21, 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"><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/local-authority-number-one-priority-congress-says-wheeler" 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/wheeler-fcc.jpg" alt="" title="" width="100" height="115" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>“A-number one importance.”</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">On September 15th, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee gathered to discuss FCC oversight and telecommunications issues. Among those issues, the Committee discussed municipal networks.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Senator Cory Booker (D - NJ) asked FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler to provide his thoughts on how important it is that Congress takes action. The matter he put before Wheeler was the prospect that Congress act to allow local communities to have local authority on issues relating to Internet infrastructure and advanced telecommunications capabilities. How important is it?</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Wheeler’s answer: “A-number one importance.”</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/local-authority-number-one-priority-congress-says-wheeler">... More Background and the Video of this Interaction 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/we-just-cant-go-back-time-pinetops-calls-repeal-state-law" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">"We Just Can't Go Back In Time": Pinetops Calls For Repeal Of State Law</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, September 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="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif"><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/we-just-cant-go-back-time-pinetops-calls-repeal-state-law" 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-pinetops-nc.png" alt="" title="" width="114" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><em>In a September 22nd press release, the community of Pinetops, North Carolina, called out their Governor as they lose access to high-quality Internet access. Read the full statement here:</em></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">A state law is forcing the termination of Gigabit Internet service to the small rural town of Pinetops, NC. Last week, members of the Wilson, NC City Council expressed their deep regrets as they voted to approve the city attorney’s recommendation to disconnect Wilson Greenlight services in Pinetops under the North Carolina law commonly known as H129 (S.L. 2011-84).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Wilson was able to bring fiber-to-the-home Gigabit service to our town in April 2016, after the FCC preempted H129 on the grounds that it is anti-competitive and creates barriers to the deployment of advanced telecommunications capacity. Under Governor Pat McCrory, North Carolina challenged that ruling in May, 2015 in the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and <a href="http://www.localnetchoice.org/connections/clic-statement-on-the-sixth-circuit-decision-to-reverse-the-fccs-order-that-removed-state-broadband-barriers/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">won a reversal</a> last August.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/we-just-cant-go-back-time-pinetops-calls-repeal-state-law">... It Will be a Tragedy for the North Carolina Legislature to Force Wilson to Disconnect Pinetops ...</a><br><br></p></div></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/medina-county-aims-be-mecca-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-220" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Medina County Aims to Be Mecca of Fiber - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 220</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, September 20, 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"><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/medina-county-aims-be-mecca-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-220" 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">Medina County has built a fiber network to connect its core facilities and leases its fiber to multiple ISPs to improve connectivity in its communities. David Corrado, CEO of the <a href="http://www.medinacountyfibernetwork.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Medina County Fiber Network</a>, joins us to discuss their approach on Community Broadband Bits episode 220.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We discuss how the Port Authority became the lead agency in building the network and the challenges of educating potential subscribers on the benefits of using a full fiber network rather than the slower, less reliable connections they were used to.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Medina's approach allows carriers to buy lit services or dark fiber from the county network. And as we have seen elsewhere, the biggest challenge can be getting the first and second carriers on the network. After that, it can really pick up steam as other carriers realize they are missing out if not using it.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/medina-county-aims-be-mecca-fiber-community-broadband-bits-podcast-220">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-220">Read the Transcript 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/ammon-model-louisiana-ask-voters" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Ammon Model In Louisiana? Ask The Voters!</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Tue, September 20, 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"><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/ammon-model-louisiana-ask-voters" 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-west-feliciana-parish.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="68" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Voters in <a href="http://www.wfparish.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana</a>, will get the chance in December to decide if they wish to invest in a <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, <a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/st_francisville/article_5ecf0dba-7692-11e6-bc93-d31e3ea00de9.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">reports the Advocate</a>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Louisiana Looks At Idaho</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/news/communities/st_francisville/article_40984e8c-4d17-11e6-82c3-dbac390704a2.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">This past summer</a>, Parish President Kevin Couhig presented the plan to create a new parish fiber optic utility. His plan includes an <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/open-access" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">open access network</a> to draw competition that will be based on the Software-Defined Network (SDN) of the Ammon model:</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">Couhig’s plan would get away from single Internet service providers, which control speed, innovation,<a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term2" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted 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>, data limits and price. Instead, the ISPs would compete through the parishwide network. Each consumer could control what they would have available through the open access such as internet, phone, video and interactive gaming.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ammon-model-louisiana-ask-voters">... Read More Here and Watch our Video Explaining the Ammon Model ...</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/designing-faster-anacortes-starts-noanet" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Designing A Faster Anacortes Starts With NoaNet</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, September 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="gmail-content" style="font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif"><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/designing-faster-anacortes-starts-noanet" 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-anacortes.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="33" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.cityofanacortes.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Anacortes, Washington</a>, is officially on the road to better connectivity via publicly owned infrastructure. Community leaders <a href="http://www.goskagit.com/news/local_news/anacortes-to-start-designing-fiber-optic-network/article_72e1bcaa-1a19-5336-80cc-93c1f8035587.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">voted on September 19th</a> to collaborate with the statewide <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term456" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Middle mile is a term most often referring to the network connection between the last mile and greater Internet.  For instance, in a rural area, the middle mile would likely connect the town's network to a larger metropolitan area where it interconnects with major carriers.">middle mile</cite></a> network, Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet), to get the project started.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>One Piece At A Time</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Public Works will be the first to use the fiber backbone to monitor and control its facilities; the community’s current radio-based system is prone to frequent failure. Water and sewer utility funds will pay for the design and construction of this section of the network. Officials estimate the fiber backbone will cost around $3 million.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/designing-faster-anacortes-starts-noanet">... NoaNet Remains an Important Asset in Expanding Fiber in Washington, Go Anacortes! ...</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/coverage-pinetops-hear-us-prx" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Coverage Of Pinetops: Hear Us On PRX</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, September 21, 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"><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/coverage-pinetops-hear-us-prx" 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/microphone-blue.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="83" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">As part of our coverage on the events in Pinetops, North Carolina, we recently published "<em>Rural Pinetops Disconnected from Internet Thanks to Telecom Monopolies</em>" on PRX. The audio story runs for 3:28.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Readers are familiar with the small rural community that could only get high-quality Internet access from Greenlight, a nearby municipal electric utility. Wilson, the home of Greenlight, was <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/wilson-forced-turn-service-pinetops" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">forced to cut off service</a> to Pinetops due to restrictive state laws. We talk a local business owner and community leader, to Suzanne Coker Craig, about the situation. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="https://beta.prx.org/stories/187465" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Get more details at PRX ...</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/go-west-young-isp-ting-moving-centennial-colorado" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">"Go West, Young ISP!" Ting Moving Into Centennial, Colorado</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Wed, September 21, 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"><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/go-west-young-isp-ting-moving-centennial-colorado" 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-ting.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="89" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">What do Maryland’s <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/westminster-homes-now-receiving-gig-internet-access-ting" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Westminster</a>; <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/tings-next-stop-greater-sandpoint-idaho" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Sandpoint</a> in Idaho; <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ting-holly-springs-nc-get-gig" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Holly Springs</a>, North Carolina; <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/ting-offer-fiber-internet-service-charlottesville" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Charlottesville</a>, Virginia; and now Centennial, Colorado, all have in common? Ting's "crazy fast fiber" Internet access.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">In a press release, the Toronto Internet Service Provider (ISP) announced that as of today, it is <a href="https://ting.com/internet/town/centennial" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">taking pre-orders</a> to assess demand in Centennial. The results will determine if the company will take the next step and offer Fiber-to-the-Home (<a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted 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>) Internet access to Centennial’s 107,000 residents and its local businesses. Ting estimates residential <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term24" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><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> Gigabit Internet access (1,000 Megabits per second <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream.  Downstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can receive data from the Internet.">download</cite></a> and <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term28" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream.  Upstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can send data to the Internet.  DSL and cable networks frequently offer upload speeds at only 1/10 of the downstream speeds.  This is one of the main reasons DSL and cable networks are insufficient for the modern Internet.">upload</cite></a>) will cost approximately $89 per month; business subscriptions will cost about $139 per month. According to the Ting blog, they are also planning to offer a low-cost option of 5 Megabits per second (<a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Megabits per second - a measure of speed.  8 Mbps means that 8 million bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Mbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer an 1 MB (Megabyte) file - a photo, for instance.  Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Mbps, more is faster.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps<1 Gbps (Gigabits)">Mbps</cite></a>) symmetrical Internet access for $19.99 per month.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/go-west-young-isp-ting-moving-centennial-colorado">... Ting Continues Tradition of Leasing Muni Fiber to Rapidly Expand Its Investments ...</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/iowa-knows-co-op-connectivity" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Iowa Knows Co-op Connectivity</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Thu, September 22, 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"><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/iowa-knows-co-op-connectivity" 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-WCTA.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">Once again we return to Iowa to learn about community networks and high-speed connectivity. Home to municipal networks such as in Cedar Falls, Lenox, and Harlan, Iowa also grows publicly owned networks of a different kind - cooperatives’ networks. The <a href="http://www.wctatel.net/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Winnebago Cooperative Telecom Association (WCTA)</a>provides next-generation connectivity to rural areas, and is now upgrading infrastructure in its service area. WCTA uses Fiber-to-the-Home (<a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term13" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted 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>) technology to provide Internet access of 100 Megabits per second (<a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Megabits per second - a measure of speed.  8 Mbps means that 8 million bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Mbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer an 1 MB (Megabyte) file - a photo, for instance.  Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Mbps, more is faster.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps<1 Gbps (Gigabits)">Mbps</cite></a>). </p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Small Towns and Cities To Get An Upgrade</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">WCTA is now installing fiber in <a href="http://www.cityofforestcity.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Forest City</a>, home to about 4,000 people and the county seat of Winnebago County.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/iowa-knows-co-op-connectivity">... More Information About a Community Getting Co-op Fiber ...</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/connectivitys-community-impact-looking-numbers" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Connectivity's Community Impact: Looking At The Numbers</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Sat, September 24, 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"><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/connectivitys-community-impact-looking-numbers" 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-CTCcoop.jpg" alt="" title="" width="125" height="46" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">People rave about next-generation connectivity’s possibilities in rural economies, but what does that mean for locals? A recent survey quantified the actual impact of a reliable high-speed Internet connection in an underserved area.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Central Minnesota telephone cooperative, Consolidated Telephone Company (CTC), <a href="https://blandinonbroadband.files.wordpress.com/2016/08/ctc-broadband-impact-study-final-report.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">released the results of an impact survey</a> on their newest fiber Internet service customers. CTC had extended their <a href="http://www.connectctc.com/broadband-grant/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network to an underserved area south of Brainerd</a>, with funding from a 2015 state broadband grant.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/connectivitys-community-impact-looking-numbers">... Read the Full Post Here and Watch Accompanying Video ...</a></p></div></div></div></div></div></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/att-gets-snagged-giant-loophole-attempting-avoid-merger-responsibility" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">AT&T Gets Snagged In Giant Loophole Attempting To Avoid Merger Responsibility</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, September 19, 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="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px"><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/att-gets-snagged-giant-loophole-attempting-avoid-merger-responsibility" 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">They're at it again. Recently, they have been called out for <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/feds-are-fed-atts-lame-excuse-abusing-e-rate" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">taking advantage of E-rate</a>; now they are taking advantage of their own lack of infrastructure investment to worm their way out of obligations to serve low-income residents. Fortunately, a nonprofit group caught up with AT&T's shenanigans and held their feet to the fire.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>"Nah, We Don't Have To Do That..."</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">As part of <a href="https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-94A1.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">FCC-mandated conditions</a> under which AT&T was allowed to acquire DirecTV in 2015, the telecommunications conglomerate created the "Access from AT&T" program, offering discount Internet access to low-income households. The program consists of tiered services - <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term8" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Internet connections have two components - a downstream and upstream.  Downstream refers to the rate at which the user's computer can receive data from the Internet.">download</cite></a> speeds of 10 Megabits per second (<a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term18" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Megabits per second - a measure of speed.  8 Mbps means that 8 million bits are transferred each second.  Using an 8 Mbps connection, it would take 1 second to transfer an 1 MB (Megabyte) file - a photo, for instance.  Don't get lost in the details - when it comes to Mbps, more is faster.  1 Kbps (Kilobits)<1 Mbps<1 Gbps (Gigabits)">Mbps</cite></a>) for $10 per month, 5 Mbps for $10 per month, and 3 Mbps for $5 per month.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/att-gets-snagged-giant-loophole-attempting-avoid-merger-responsibility">... More Details on Just One of the MANY Ways AT&T Harms Communities ...</a><br><br></p></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/community-broadband-media-roundup-september-26" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - September 26</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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Mon, September 26, 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="color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif;font-size:14px"><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-26" 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>Colorado</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.denverpost.com/2016/09/22/centennials-gigabit-internet-service-pre-orders/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Centennial's gigabit Internet service now taking pre-orders</a> by Tamara Chuang, Denver Post</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">Centennial was one of the first communities in the state to opt out of a 2005 state law known as SB152, which restricts municipalities from using taxpayer money to build broadband networks. By the time Centennial voted in 2013, the city of Longmont was alreadygetting its gigabit Internet service up and running. In Colorado, 71 cities and counties <a class="gmail-glossary-term" href="https://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term20" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom:1px dotted rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="Residences or businesses that have access to the network.  As a ftth network is constructed, it will generally be built through a neighborhood before individual houses or businesses are connected via a drop cable (which is also a fiber-optic cable).  When a house or businesses is" for="">passed</cite></a> a measure freeing them to look into municipal broadband. Another 14 will try on the Nov. 8 ballot, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Iowa</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.nhtrib.com/news/community-gets-broadband-update" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Community gets broadband update</a> by Brittany Bierle, New Hampton Tribune</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-september-26">... Read the Full Community Network Media Roundup Here ...</a></p></div></div><div><br></div></div>

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