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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 18, 2013

Upcoming Broadband Communities Mag Issue Dedicated to Community Networks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/upcoming-broadband-communities-mag-issue-dedicated-community-networks

We look forward to the next issue of Broadband Communities magazine, due on June 15th. This upcoming edition is titled “Fiber Nation: Are We At The Tipping Point?” and focuses completely on local communities that created their own networks. Broadband Communities puts on the annual Broadband Communities Summit, which we just attended in Dallas in… Continue reading

Joy Hughes
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 17, 2013

A Community Solar Gold Standard: Episode 9 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/community-solar-gold-standard-episode-9-local-energy-rules-podcast/

Joy Hughes was living in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, a place with a “tremendous amount of solar potential,” so good that the valley’s residents were being overwhelmed by proposals for large scale solar power plants. One had a “field of things like radar dishes” and another included a “600 foot tower.” The influx… Continue reading

joanne-hovis-on-business-plans-for-municipal-fiber
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 17, 2013

Joanne Hovis on Business Plans for Municipal Fiber

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/joanne-hovis-business-plans-municipal-fiber

Joanne Hovis, President of CTC Technology and Energy, recently published a must-read article in Broadband Properties Magazine. Whether you are a community leader investigating the possibility of a publicly owned network or an engaged citizen looking for pros and cons, this piece explains practical benefits succinctly. In her article, The Business Case For Government Fiber Networks [PDF],… Continue reading

Joy Hughes
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 16, 2013

A Community Solar Gold Standard: Episode 9 of Local Energy Rules Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/florida-city-world-leader-solar-episode-9-local-energy-rules-podcast/

Joy Hughes was living in the San Luis Valley of Colorado, a place with a “tremendous amount of solar potential,” so good that the valley’s residents were being overwhelmed by proposals for large scale solar power plants. One had a “field of things like radar dishes” and another included a “600 foot tower.” The influx… Continue reading

first-btop-project-connects-rural-north-georgia-communities
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 16, 2013

First BTOP Project Connects Rural North Georgia Communities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/first-btop-project-connects-rural-north-georgia-communities

Back in December, 2009, Vice President Biden travelled to Dawsonville, Georgia, to officially kick off the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) program. The first award, a grant of $33.5 million, went to the North Georgia Network Cooperative. The group combined that grant with local and state funding and in May, 2012, lit the North… Continue reading

germany people powered 2012.003
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 15, 2013

Half of Germany’s 63,000 Megawatts of Renewable Energy is Locally Owned

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/germanys-63000-megawatts-renewable-energy-locally-owned/

Courtesy of Craig Morris and the Germany Renewable Energy industry, evidence that Germany’s renewable energy program remains people powered.  Total megawatts represent wind and solar only. Continue reading

ketchum-idaho-no-tolerance-for-cox-push-polls
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 15, 2013

Ketchum, Idaho: No Tolerance for Cox Push Polls

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/ketchum-idaho-no-tolerance-cox-push-polls

Cox pushed Ketchum one step too far. The community of 2,700 formed a broadband advisory committee in November, 2012, and included a representative from Cox on the committee. Brennan Rego of the Idaho Mountain Express recently reported on happenings in Ketchum. When residents in Wood River Valley started receiving push poll telephone calls from Cox… Continue reading

north-georgia-network-brings-gig-to-schools-jobs-to-region-community-broadband-bits-episode-46
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on May 14, 2013

North Georgia Network Brings Gig to Schools, Jobs to Region – Community Broadband Bits Episode #46

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/north-georgia-network-brings-gig-schools-jobs-region-community-broadband-bits-episode-46

The North Georgia Network was the first recipient of a BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities Program) stimulus grant in the nation and has been an interesting success story. For the latest episode of our Community Broadband Bits podcast, President and CEO Paul Belk of the NGN joins us to discuss the history, present, and future of… Continue reading

Amazon Shopping Cart
Featured Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on May 13, 2013

After 20 Years, Congress May Finally Pass Internet Sales Tax. Is it Too Late?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/20-years-congress-finally-pass-internet-sales-tax-late/

Not having to charge sales tax fueled Amazon’s growth for nearly 20 years. While it’s impossible not to see the company as a horse that’s already out the barn door, there’s still good reason to believe that the Marketplace Fairness Act will slow Amazon’s consolidation of retailing and provide benefit to independent businesses. Continue reading

MN solar standard 8 vivid charts
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on May 13, 2013

8 Vivid Charts – 8 Reasons for a Solar Energy Standard in Minnesota

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/8-vivid-charts-8-reasons-solar-energy-standard-minnesota/

A conference committee is resolving differences between House and (much weaker) Senate versions of a solar energy standard in Minnesota today.  Here’s 8 graphic reasons why the state should go for solar as aggressively as it can. 8 Vivid Charts – 8 Reasons for a Solar Energy Standard in Minnesota from John Farrell Continue reading