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drinking water
Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on Aug 3, 2012

Revolution of the Thirsty

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

Karen Piper, Professor of English at the University of Missouri in Columbia informs us of a factor behind the spring uprising in Egypt the mass media missed:  the privatization of water. The American media focused mainly on internal corruption and oppression. They did not report on the role of the international superpowers in influencing the… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Aug 3, 2012

Comparing Residential Solar Ownership to a Solar Lease

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

It’s a case study of solar in Ithaca, NY, but it provides a good framework for comparing leasing to ownership in any place in the U.S. Solar Economics in Ithaca, NY Comparing solar ownership to a solar lease can be tricky.  The following analysis examines the value of owning a 5 kW solar PV system… Continue reading

utah-state-auditor-reviews-utopia-ignores-state-role-in-handicapping-network
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Aug 3, 2012

Utah State Auditor Reviews UTOPIA, Ignores State Role in Handicapping Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/utah-state-auditor-reviews-utopia-ignores-state-role-handicapping-network

Just this week, the Office of the Legislative Auditor General of the State of Utah released a report to the Utah Legislature on UTOPIA. The report, titled A Performance Audit of the Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency rehashes prior criticisms of UTOPIA and tells the abridged story of the Auditor’s understanding of UTOPIA’s financial troubles…. Continue reading

mediacom-continues-obstructing-rural-broadband-rollout-in-lake-county-minnesota
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Aug 2, 2012

Mediacom Continues Obstructing Rural Broadband Rollout in Lake County Minnesota

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/mediacom-continues-obstructing-rural-broadband-rollout-lake-county-minnesota

Of all the broadband stimulus projects, the Lake County FTTH network in Minnesota has been one of the most embattled in the nation (possibly only behind AT&T’s attacks on South Carolina projects). Mediacom has pulled out all the stops, including filing complaints with the Inspector General that included dubious allegations at best and then complaining… Continue reading

longmont-fiber-ring-set-for-expansion-local-service
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Aug 1, 2012

Longmont Fiber Ring Set for Expansion, Local Service

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/longmont-fiber-ring-set-expansion-local-service

Over the past few years, we provided continuing coverage as Longmont, Colorado, considered, and eventually approved, a referendum (two actually) to authorize the municipality to offer broadband services to local businesses and residents. The City installed the fiber as part of its electricity utility infrastructure long ago but Qwest then pushed a law through the… Continue reading

slate-commentary-want-to-pay-less-and-get-more
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Aug 1, 2012

Slate Commentary: Want to Pay Less and Get More?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/slate-commentary-want-pay-less-and-get-more

Today, Slate published an opinion piece by me and Sascha Meinrath from the Open Technology Institute at New America Foundation talking about the important role of community broadband in solving the nation’s broadband problem. A snippet: In the meantime, local communities are taking matters into their own hands and have created remarkable citywide fiber-to-the-home broadband… Continue reading

community-broadband-bits-6-cheryl-leanza-of-progressive-states-network
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jul 31, 2012

Community Broadband Bits 6 – Cheryl Leanza of Progressive States Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-bits-6-cheryl-leanza-progressive-states-network

Our sixth episode of the Community Broadband Bits podcast features a discussion with Cheryl Leanza, broadband consultant with Progressive States Network. Cheryl has been very active in legislative battles at the state level, where she has helped to defend the public against anti-consumer deregulation led by AT&T, CenturyLink, and cable lobbyists. We touched on the… Continue reading

Atlanta Airport factsheet cover
Featured Article, Resource filed under Biomaterials, Composting, Waste to Wealth | Written by Brenda Platt | No Comments | Updated on Jul 30, 2012

Atlanta Airport Launches Compostable Foodservice Ware Packet

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/atlanta-airport-launches-compostable-foodservice-ware-packet/

Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (HJAIA) sends more than 19,000 tons of waste to Georgia landfills each year. Food scraps are the single largest component of HJAIA waste, making up about one-third of this tonnage. HJAIA has a goal to divert 50% of its waste from landfill disposal by 2015. Composting food waste is essential to reach this goal, and switching to compostable food packaging will enable successful food residuals recovery. Continue reading

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Article, ILSR Press Room filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 30, 2012

Hawaii Drives Past Solar Power Cost Barrier, Surprised by Additional Roadblocks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/hawaii-drives-solar-power-cost-barrier-surprised-additional-roadblocks/

The report finds that while the economics of solar continue to improve, a number of unexpected barriers have arisen. Homes often need electrical upgrades and local governments struggle to keep up with permit requests. Utilities are also reluctant to give up their market dominance, enforcing antiquated rules about grid interconnection that can add significant expense, delay, or even kill projects entirely. Continue reading

the-economics-of-the-google-gigabit
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jul 30, 2012

The Economics of the Google Gigabit

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

In the excitement around Google’s unveiling of the $70 gigabit broadband connection in Kansas City, some may be wondering how it is that Google can offer a gigabit for moderately more than what most of us pay for far slower cable broadband connections. On one side of the equation is the fact that big cable… Continue reading