<div dir="ltr">
<div><div style="font-size:12.8px"><div style="font-size:12.8px"><i style="font-size:13px">Recent Stories from MuniNetworks.org - a project of the </i><i style="font-size:13px">Institute for Local Self-Reliance. Instructions for unsubscribing appear at bottom.  Send feedback.  Forward Widely.</i></div><div><i style="font-size:13px"><br><br></i></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/reports/north-carolina-connectivity-good-bad-and-ugly" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">North Carolina Connectivity: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly</a></h2><div class="gmail-meta" style="color:rgb(85,85,85);font-size:0.8em;font-style:italic;margin-bottom:10px;font-family:verdana,tahoma,"dejavu sans",sans-serif"></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-date gmail-field-field-pubdate" style="margin-bottom:1em"><div class="gmail-field-items"><div class="gmail-field-item gmail-odd"><div class="gmail-field-label-inline-first" style="font-weight:bold;display:inline">Author(s): </div> H. R. Trostle, Christopher Mitchell</div></div></div><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/reports/north-carolina-connectivity-good-bad-and-ugly" 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/NCPaper_v4_0.jpg" alt="" title="" width="97" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">North Carolina's digital divide between urban and rural communities is increasing dangerously in a time when high quality Internet access is more important than ever. Rural and urban areas of North Carolina are essentially living in different realities, based on the tides of private network investment where rural communities are severely disadvantaged. The state has relied too much on the telecom giants like AT&T and CenturyLink that have little interest in rural regions.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NC-Broadband-Report_10_2016-1.pdf" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Download the Report</a></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The state perversely discourages investment from local governments and cooperatives. For instance, electric co-ops face barriers in seeking federal financing for fiber optic projects. State law is literally requiring the city of Wilson to disconnect its customers in the town of Pinetops, leaving them without basic broadband access. This decision in particular literally took the high-speed, affordable Internet access out of the hands of North Carolina's rural citizens.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/reports/north-carolina-connectivity-good-bad-and-ugly">... Read Our New Report 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/authors-discuss-nc-report-prx" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Authors Discuss NC Report 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">Thu, October 13, 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/authors-discuss-nc-report-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">We have extensively studied the connectivity situation in North Carolina and just released our report, “<a href="https://ilsr.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/NC-Broadband-Report_10_2016-1.pdf" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none"><strong>North Carolina Connectivity: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly</strong></a>.” Now you can hear from the report authors, H.R. Trostle and Christopher Mitchell, in our most recent PRX coverage.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">We spoke with both authors who gave us a recap of the situation in urban and rural North Carolina. They explained how they examined the data and came to the conclusion that, while urban areas are served relatively well by big private providers, the same cannot be said in rural areas. Unless a muni or rural telephone or electric cooperative offers Internet access in a rural region, odds are rural residents and businesses just don’t have access to FCC defined broadband speeds. Audio coverage runs 5:22.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="https://beta.prx.org/stories/188881" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Listen to the story on 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/update-utahs-open-access-utopia-community-broadband-bits-podcast-223" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Update on Utah's Open Access UTOPIA - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 223</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, October 13, 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/update-utahs-open-access-utopia-community-broadband-bits-podcast-223" 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-networks.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">In the north central region of Utah, eleven communities are now served by a regional <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> <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 operated by the Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency or <a href="http://www.utopianet.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">UTOPIA</a>. UTOPIA’s Executive Director, Roger Timmerman, and Mayor Karen Cronin from member community, Perry City, take time to speak with us for Community Broadband Bits episode 223.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">One of the great advantages UTOPIA has brought the region is the element of competition. Rather than facing a choice of only one or two Internet Service Providers like most of us, people in UTOPIA cities sign up for a connection to the network and then choose from multiple providers who offer a range of services via the infrastructure. Competing for business brings better products, better prices, and better customer service.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/update-utahs-open-access-utopia-community-broadband-bits-podcast-223">Listen to the Show Here</a> ... <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/transcript-community-broadband-bits-episode-223">Read the Transcript Here</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/loveland-trail-better-connectivity" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Loveland On The Trail Of Better 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">Wed, October 12, 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/loveland-trail-better-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-loveland-co.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="114" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Loveland, Colorado</a>, was one of nearly 50 communities that voted to opt out of SB 152 last fall. Ten months later, they are <a href="http://bbpmag.com/wordpress2/2016/09/magellan-to-conduct-a-broadband-feasibility-study-for-loveland-co/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">working with a consultant</a> to conduct a feasibility study to assess current infrastructure and determine how best to improve connectivity for businesses and residents.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Examining Assets, Analyzing Options</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According to <a href="http://www.ci.loveland.co.us/home/showdocument?id=29939" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">the Request for Proposals</a> (RFP) released in April, the city has some of its own fiber that’s used for traffic control. Loveland also uses the <a href="http://www.prpa.org/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Platte River Power Authorit</a>y (PRPA) fiber network but wants to enhance service all over the community, focusing on economic development, education, public safety, healthcare, and “overall quality of life.” Community leaders also want recommendations on which policies would encourage more and better service throughout Loveland.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/loveland-trail-better-connectivity">... Read Our Full 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/duck-river-co-op-considering-rural-fiber-future" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Duck River Co-op Considering Rural Fiber 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"><span class="gmail-submitted" style="font-size:0.9em">Fri, October 14, 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/duck-river-co-op-considering-rural-fiber-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-duck-river-REMC.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="106" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://www.dremc.com/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Duck River Electric Membership Corporation</a> (DREMC) in Tennessee announced in September that it has launched a feasibility study to investigate ways to use a proposed <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 to bring better connectivity to members.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Exploring Added Value</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">According <a href="http://www.dremc.com/duck-river-emc-launches-broadband-feasibility-study/" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">to the announcement</a>, DREMC is considering investing in a fiber-optic loop to improve communications between its offices and substations. DREMC recognizes that this initial investment can be a first prudent step in considering the future of the cooperative and the vitality of rural Tennessee:</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">A fiber-optic loop has been proposed to connect all offices and substations, including the co-op’s emergency operations center. This project could also provide capacity for community purposes: fiber that could be leased to other parties, even Internet-to-home providers.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The broadband feasibility study will explore how the proposed fiber-optic loop might help improve connectivity in rural areas served by DREMC.</p></blockquote><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/duck-river-co-op-considering-rural-fiber-future">... Read Our Full Coverage on ANOTHER Co-Op Focusing on 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/free-internet-access-salt-lake-city-low-income-housing-other-google-fiber-cities" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Free Internet Access For Salt Lake City Low-Income Housing, Other Google Fiber Cities</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, October 15, 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"><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/free-internet-access-salt-lake-city-low-income-housing-other-google-fiber-cities" 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/google.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="45" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">Residents of Salt Lake City’s Lorna Doone Properties will be enjoying Internet speeds of up to one gigabit for no cost, thanks to a partnership between Google Fiber and the Utah Nonprofit Housing Corporation (UNHC). In July 2015, the company announced that the Google Fiber Gigabit Communities program would bring free access to select low-income housing locations throughout cities within their service areas, and the residents of Lorna Doone are newest to this list. </p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Google will supply Internet access and UNHC has a computer rental program, which is in part supplied by the local business community. In addition, the City of Salt Lake has helped to fund mobile computer labs to bring more low-income households online.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/free-internet-access-salt-lake-city-low-income-housing-other-google-fiber-cities">... Read More About the Partnership Here ...</a></p></div></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/lakeland-florida-takes-small-steps" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Lakeland, Florida, Takes Small Steps</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, October 11, 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/lakeland-florida-takes-small-steps" 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-lakeland-fl.png" alt="" title="" width="125" height="95" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">This spring, Lakeland city officials <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/lakeland-considering-its-next-step-florida" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">began contemplating the future</a> of the city’s dark fiber network with an eye toward making a firm decision on whether or not to expand how they use it. Rather than pursue a municipal Internet network, Commissioners recently decided to seek out private sector partners to improve local connectivity.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Too Much For Lakeland?</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">Kudos to Christopher Guinn of the Ledger for <a href="http://www.theledger.com/news/20161002/lakeland-leaders-ditch-public-internet-utility-idea" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">very thorough reporting</a> on the issue. According to his article, the city will release a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a solution that provides Gigabit (1,000 Megabits per second) connectivity to replace the current speeds in Lakeland. Cable serves the community now with maximum speeds of 150 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>) <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 about 10 Mbps <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>.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/lakeland-florida-takes-small-steps">... More Details on Lakeland's Efforts ...</a></p></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/santa-cruz-and-cruzio-call-it-quits" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Santa Cruz And Cruzio Call It Quits</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, October 10, 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/santa-cruz-and-cruzio-call-it-quits" 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-santa-cruz-ca.jpg" alt="" title="" width="122" height="125" class="gmail-imagecache gmail-imagecache-teaser" style="border: 0px;"></a></div></div></div><p style="margin:1em 0px">The city of Santa Cruz <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/soon-faster-internet-service-santa-cruzs-small-businesses" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">seemed well on their way</a> to a productive partnership with Cruzio as the two entities hammered out an agreement for a 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>) citywide <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> network. We recently learned that both parties have stepped back from the partnership, leaving the multimillion-dollar vision in a dark limbo.</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>The Plan</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px">The $45 million infrastructure was to be owned by the city of Santa Cruz and Cruzio would operate it while also offering high-quality Internet access to the community. For the first ten years, Cruzio was to have an exclusive contract after which the network would become <a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/open-access" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">open access</a>. There are approximately 62,000 people living in the community situated near Silicon Valley and this project was one of the larger public-private partnerships (P3).</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/santa-cruz-and-cruzio-call-it-quits">... Another Sign that PPPs Can Be Hard to Form ...</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-october-17-0" style="color:rgb(51,51,51);text-decoration:none">Community Broadband Media Roundup - October 17</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">Mon, October 17, 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"><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-october-17-0" 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_16.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>Connecticut</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://backchannel.com/the-frontrunner-in-the-race-to-be-a-gigabyte-state-5a084dc2b544?mc_cid=e66f1e43ee&mc_eid=2910c7b52b#.7gnbhw2ey" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">At least one state has a (fiber) backbone</a> by Susan Crawford, Medium</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><strong>Massachusetts</strong></p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="http://today.law.harvard.edu/susan-crawford-makes-case-responsive-communities-initiative/" target="_blank" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Susan Crawford makes the case for the Responsive Communities Initiative</a> by Gretchen Weber, Harvard Law Today</p><p style="margin:1em 0px"><a href="https://muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-media-roundup-october-17-0">... Read the Full Community Networks Media Round up Here ...</a></p></div></div></div><div><br></div></div>

<p></p>

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