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Featured Article filed under Independent Business | Written by Stacy Mitchell | 2 Comments | Updated on Jul 5, 2012

Walmart: 50 Years of Gutting America’s Middle Class

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/walmart-50-years-gutting-americas-middle-class/

Walmart’s history is the story of what has gone wrong in the American economy. Wages have stagnated. The middle class has shrunk. The ranks of the working poor have swelled. Whatever we may have saved shopping at Walmart, we’ve more than paid for it in diminished opportunities and declining income. Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jul 4, 2012

For Independence Day, Lessig on Independence

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

Larry Lessig addressed the 2012 WiscNet Conference in Madison, talking about the importance of achieving the goals of the Founders of the United States in creating a system where those making the rules were independent of corrupting influences. About 45 minutes long, and well worth watching in entirety — especially if you have not seen… Continue reading

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Article filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | 3 Comments | Updated on Jul 4, 2012

Energy Independence or Clean Energy Self-Reliance?

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

Update August 7, 2012: I’d like to this this qualifies as Friedman’s response to this column. In Thomas Friedman’s latest column, he praises Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts because he “took one for the country.”  Friedman sees that “America today is poised for a great renewal” if only it can get some “big, centrist,… Continue reading

Park City Green grand opening
Featured Article filed under Waste to Wealth, Zero Waste & Economic Development | Written by Neil Seldman | No Comments | Updated on Jul 3, 2012

Twenty Jobs Created at Bridgeport Mattress Refurbishing Plant

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/twenty-jobs-created-bridgeport-mattress-refurbishing-plant/

ILSR, working under a recycling and economic development grant from US EPA Region 1 and the Office of Mayor Bill Flint of Bridgeport, CT, facilitated the development of a mattress refurbishing and recycling plant that opened for business on June 27. Continue reading

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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Jul 3, 2012

Vidalia, Louisiana Pursues Fiber Dreams

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/vidalia-louisiana-pursues-fiber-dreams

Vidalia, a Louisiana town with 4,300 residents, is a small town with a big idea. Vidalia one of the poorest regions in the country with an unemployment rate hovering around 9.4% so area leaders seek new ways to improve opportunity. The Vidalia Broadband Initiative aims to connect every home with a gig and provide 10… Continue reading

community-broadband-praised-for-helping-small-businesses
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jul 3, 2012

Community Broadband Praised for Helping Small Businesses

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-broadband-praised-helping-small-businesses

Writing for the American Express Open Forum, author Jack Shultz helped to compile a list of what he considers the best small towns for business in the U.S. Ponca City made the list and was specifically singled out for the wireless network owned by the City: This town has a very progressive economic development organization…. Continue reading

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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jul 2, 2012

The Declaration of Internet Freedom

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

As we celebrate our Independence Day, we are supporting the Declaration of Internet Freedom, a new campaign that was launched this morning. Preamble: We believe that a free and open Internet can bring about a better world. To keep the Internet free and open, we call on communities, industries and countries to recognize these principles…. Continue reading

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Article, Resource filed under Energy | Written by John Farrell | No Comments | Updated on Jul 2, 2012

U.S. CLEAN Explanation and Update

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/u-s-clean-explanation-update/

  This short presentation distills the definition and status of U.S. CLEAN (“feed-in tariff”) programs given in our full report.  Click below to watch the slideshow. You can also read the full report in PDF, or get it for Kindle, Nook, or your Apple iDevice. Continue reading

seattles-short-history-of-and-bleak-future-for-community-broadband
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 30, 2012

Seattle’s Short History of and Bleak Future for Community Broadband

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/seattles-short-history-and-bleak-future-community-broadband

We have followed Seattle’s on-again, off-again consideration of a community broadband network for years and have occasionally noted the successful cable network in nearby Tacoma. Seattle Met’s Matthew Halverson has penned a short, impressive article explaining the trials and tribulations of Tacoma while also exploring why Seattle’s Mayor has abandoned his goal of a broadband… Continue reading

what-if-fibernet-monticello-had-been-canned-in-2008
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 29, 2012

What if FiberNet Monticello Had Been Canned in 2008?

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/what-if-fibernet-monticello-had-been-canned-2008

Monticello faced a number of key decision moments throughout the history of its FiberNet. Given the recent changes in management and decision not to make up the different between debt service and revenues, some may be wondering if proceeding with FiberNet was the smart decision. It was 2008 and the economy hadn’t entered its death… Continue reading