Featured
Article
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
Stacy Mitchell
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| Updated on
Aug 30, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/san-francisco-dealing-chains/
San Francisco is home to more independent businesses than other big cities, thanks in part to a 2006 law than gives neighborhoods the power to reject “formula” retail stores and restaurants. But the policy has major gaps, which have opened the way for chains to slip into the city. City leaders are now looking to beef up the law. Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Christopher
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| Updated on
Aug 28, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/ramsey-county-and-saint-paul-under-fire-network-plan
If you were judging solely from the reaction of Comcast, you could be faulted for thinking Ramsey County and the city of Saint Paul were making a bold, if risky, investment to bring real broadband to local businesses and citizens in Minnesota’s capital. But you would be wrong. Very wrong. The City and the County… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Christopher
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| Updated on
Aug 28, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-10-vince-jordan-longmont-colorado
The tenth episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast features Vince Jordan, Telecom Manager for Longmont Power and Communication in Colorado. We have long followed the trials and tribulations of this community as they fought through two referenda against Comcast’s deep pockets. Now they are expanding their network to connect businesses and residents. You can… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Lisa Gonzalez
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| Updated on
Aug 27, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/new-mexico-media-groups-and-residents-lobby-senator-value-munis
Not long ago, we told you about Farmington, New Mexico, a community of 32,000 residents who want to capitalize on its current fiber network. Residents are tired of waiting for private investment in their community and want to take matters into their own hands. The city’s electric utility uses the existing fiber network and the… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Aug 27, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/forthcoming-project-washington-state-illustrates-complexity-community-solar/
Colorado just launched their long-awaited community solar gardens law (program subscribed in 30 minutes) and California is progressing on a virtual net metering law that could remove one of many roadblocks to community solar. But the Vashon Community Solar Project in Washington State shows that doing solar community-style hasn’t become easy. The Vashon project will… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Lisa Gonzalez
|
| Updated on
Aug 26, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/verizon-wireless-busted-violating-network-neutrality
In December, 2010, Verizon Wireless began operating its network via C-Block spectrum with licenses it acquired in the 2008 auction. In keeping with net neutrality rules unique to C-Block usage, Verizon agreed long ago that it would not block or limit consumers’ ability to tether on their 4G LTE network. Tethering allows a consumer to… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Lisa Gonzalez
|
| Updated on
Aug 25, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/centurylink-fails-ohio-community-911-goes-out-during-storm
The people of Warren County, Ohio, endured some rough weather in June as a 70 mph derecho whipped through this southwest county. A series of errors from CenturyLink kept 911 service inoperable for more than 15 hours. According to Stop the Cap!: During the outage, callers initially heard nothing after dialing 911. Sometime later, someone… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Lisa Gonzalez
|
| Updated on
Aug 23, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/chattanooga-gets-150-more-jobs-comcast
Just on the heels of Time Warner Cable announcing 81 new jobs in Kansas City in response to the newly competitive environment created by Google’s Gig, we learned that Comcast is adding more jobs to its workforce in Chattanooga. In talking points, the lobbyists and spokespeople for these major carriers often claim that community networks… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
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| Updated on
Aug 23, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/california-countys-pace-program-feisty-fhfa/
Does a Riverside County, CA, residential energy financing program put thousands of homeowners on a collision course with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)? In a proposed rule-making, the FHFA has suggested that Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) policies represent a threat to the safety and soundness of mortgages held by government-backed Fannie Mae and Freddie… Continue reading
Article, Rule
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Aug 22, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/clean-programs-feed-in-tariffs/
Few policies make renewable energy production easier than CLEAN (Clean Local Energy Accessible Now) Programs, also known as feed-in tariffs. The basic premise is to require utilities to buy renewable energy from individuals or businesses on long-term, fixed price contracts at prices sufficient to encourage them to invest. The most robust policies span multiple technologies… Continue reading
