The Atlantic, August 1, 2012 It is worth reading this recent posting by Christopher Mitchell, on the Community Broadband Networks site, for an angle of the Google-vs.-all-comers battle not usually featured in the mainstream press. That angle is Google’s significantly cheaper cost structure for data-movement of all kinds, and the commercial and technological possibilities this… Continue reading

Broadband Communities Magazine, July 31, 2012 Broadband Communities Magazine named ILSR’s Telecommunications As Commons Initiative to their top 100 list of organizations that are making a difference to the fiber-to-the-home industry: service providers, suppliers of equipment and software, distributors, engineering and construction firms, consultants and more. The feature includes profiles of the 100 organizations, lists… Continue reading

Grist, July 31, 2012 Probably the most important energy-related vote this November is happening in the swing state of Michigan, where voters will decide whether to substantially boost the state’s renewable energy standard (RES). It’s a big deal for all sorts of reasons, many of which extend beyond the state itself. So let’s walk through… Continue reading

The Christian Science Monitor, July 27, 2012 Super high-speed Internet comes to Kansas City, courtesy of Google. Business leaders hope lightning fast connections with spur innovation and jobs. Google looks to be expanding further from its original business of Internet searching. … The Kansas City project will likely highlight the fact that average Internet speeds… Continue reading

The Plain Dealer, July 21, 2012 Your days of getting a sweeter deal by buying tax-free online may be ending. In an era of tighter government budgets, more states are looking to recapture the tax dollars that are lost when Internet sellers don’t charge state and local sales tax. What looks like a savings to… Continue reading

Bellevue Patch, July 19, 2012 Stores of differing types and sizes affect the entire business ecology from local stores. Local consumers still can vote with their feet and wallets.   Following up on the latest store openings in Bellevue I found a stark contrast on how different stores handle publicity. Hedge & Vine, the boutique furniture… Continue reading

About a month ago, we launched our new podcast series – Community Broadband Bits!   Each episode is a 10-15 minute interview with key people in the fascinating world of community broadband networks.   You can subscribe via iTunes or stream it directly from our companion web site – Muninetworks.org Here is a list of the… Continue reading

The Line, July 18, 2012 Here’s the pop quiz for today–If you wanted to use your garage for a high-tech startup, one that was going to require a gig of connectivity, where would be the best possible place for that garage to be located? Silicon Valley? Raleigh-Durham’s Research Triangle? The Twin Cities? Wrong, wrong and… Continue reading

San Francisco Bay Guardian, July 10, 2012 Shopping malls filled with national chain stores and restaurants are in many respects the antithesis of San Francisco. They’re the bane of any metropolis that strives to be unique and authentic. And those just happen to be qualities that make tourism this city’s number one industry.  The logic… Continue reading