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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Nov 29, 2012

Welcome to The Gigabit Club, BTES!

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/welcome-gigabit-club-btes

Bristol Tennessee Essential Services (BTES) announced November 19th that it now has the capability to offer 1 Gbps service. While the BTES rates do not reflect a standard cost for the service yet, 1 Gbps is offered as an option to businesses and households. From the BTES press release: “Bristol now has one of the… Continue reading

fibrant-network-gains-subscribers-despite-technical-difficulties
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Nov 28, 2012

Fibrant Network Gains Subscribers Despite Technical Difficulties

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/fibrant-network-gains-subscribers-despite-technical-difficulties

As we emphasize time and time again, communities build their own networks because they have to, not because they want to. North Carolina’s Fibrant network in Salisbury is no exception and a recent technical headache is a reminder that no network is built without problems developing. Fortunately, Salisbury’s strong reputation for providing great, local customer service is… Continue reading

we-cant-shop-our-way-to-a-better-economy
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Nov 27, 2012

We Can’t Shop Our Way to a Better Economy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/we-cant-shop-our-way-better-economy

Our colleague at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Stacy Mitchell (too brilliant to be a relation of mine), recently gave an incredible presentation that focuses on some of the threats to our economy and how we can build stronger, more resilient communities. She doesn’t discuss broadband explicitly, but much of her critique of the largest… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 2 Comments | Updated on Nov 27, 2012

Going Local Gives More Value to Solar Power

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/grid-solar-power/

Update: you can now read the whole essay – Wide-scale Implementation of Solar Power I just read an essay by a Canadian utility executive arguing that solar is the most economic energy source, and he systematically dismantles the notion that “cheap baseload coal” is more competitive that solar electricity. First: Solar is Cheaper Than Coal… Continue reading

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Featured Article filed under Banking | Written by Stacy Mitchell | No Comments | Updated on Nov 27, 2012

Free Checking is Rare at Big Banks, Common at Small

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/free-checking-rare-big-banks-common-small/

While just 24 percent of big banks offer totally free checking, more than 60 percent of credit unions and small banks do, according to a new report from the U.S. Public Interest Research Group. The report also found that credit unions and small banks have lower fees on average and do a better job of disclosing fees to prospective customers. Continue reading

community-broadband-bits-23-harold-feld-from-public-knowledge
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Nov 27, 2012

Community Broadband Bits 23 – Harold Feld from Public Knowledge

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-23-harold-feld-public-knowledge

One hundred years after Teddy Roosevelt and AT&T agreed to the Kingsbury Commitment, Harold Feld joins us on Community Broadband Bits podcast to explain what the Kingsbury Commitment was and why it matters. In short, AT&T wants to change the way telecommunications networks are regulated and Harold is one of our best allies on this… Continue reading

raleigh-plans-hobbled-by-state-ban-on-municipal-networks
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Nov 26, 2012

Raleigh Plans Hobbled by State Ban on Municipal Networks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/raleigh-plans-hobbled-state-ban-municipal-networks

A recent article and video from Government Technology highlights the ambitious plans of Raleigh to harness the Internet to improve its attractiveness to forward-looking companies. Unfortunately, Time Warner Cable convinced North Carolina’s legislature that communities could not be trusted with the decision over whether it was a wise decision to invest in telecommunications networks. So… Continue reading

los-alamos-county-new-mexico-asks-residents-for-input
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Nov 26, 2012

Los Alamos County, New Mexico, Asks Residents for Input

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/los-alamos-county-new-mexico-asks-residents-input

Los Alamos County is commonly known as home to the Los Alamos National Laboratory. It may soon also be home to an incredible next-generation network owned by the community.  New Mexico’s Regional Economic Development Initiative (REDI) received BTOP funding to construct a middle-mile fiber network connecting anchor institutions in Rio Arriba, northern Santa Fe, and… Continue reading

JF eTopia News interview screenshot
Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 1 Comment | Updated on Nov 20, 2012

The Future of Energy is Democratic

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/future-energy-democratic/

eTopia, November 19, 2012 An eTopia News interview with ILSR Senior Researcher John Farrell.  John describes how renewable energy, by its nature, decentralizes the generation of energy and that the dispersion of power generation means local ownership is a natural complement to renewable energy, expanding both its economic and political impact. Click below to watch… Continue reading

Article filed under Stop Incineration, Waste to Wealth | Written by Neil Seldman | No Comments | Updated on Nov 20, 2012

Carroll County Solid Waste Workgroup Presents Incinerator Alternatives

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/carroll-county-workgroup-present-alternatives/

Zero Waste Carroll County, MD, an ad-hoc citizens group that has been fighting a garbage incinerator in neighboring Frederick County, has prepared an alternative plan for resource management for Carroll County. The plan was requested by Board of County Commissioners President Doug Howard after the County Commission determined that the financing for the incinerator plan was too risky for the County…. Continue reading