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Featured Article filed under The Public Good | Written by David Morris | No Comments | Updated on May 11, 2013

Why Won’t Conservatives Let Communities Decide for Themselves?

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

In his 1996 State of the Union Address Democratic President Bill Clinton famously declared, “the era of big government is over.”  And during his tenure he did everything he could to make that true–deregulating the telecommunications and the financial industry, enacting a free trade agreement severely restricting the authority of the federal government to protect… Continue reading

new-york-times-on-internet-in-america-genachowski-legacy
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on May 8, 2013

New York Times on Internet in America, Genachowski Legacy

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/new-york-times-internet-america-genachowski-legacy

Eduardo Porter has an important column today in the business section of the New York Times, “Yanking Broadband From the Slow Lane.” He correctly identifies some of the culprits slowing the investment in Internet networks in our communities. The last two paragraphs read: Yet the challenge remains: monopolies have a high instinct for self-preservation. And… Continue reading

google-buys-provo-community-owned-network
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Apr 19, 2013

Google Buys Provo Community-Owned Network

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/google-buys-provo-community-owned-network

I just left the Broadband Communities Summit in Dallas, where I ran into many people doing great work to ensure everyone has access to affordable, reliable, and fast Internet networks. Also while there, Google announced it had reached an agreement to offer Google Fiber in Provo by purchasing the municipal FTTH network. Provo has long… Continue reading

level-playing-field-padded-with-public-dollars-to-private-providers
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Apr 2, 2013

“Level Playing Field” Padded With Public Dollars to Private Providers

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/level-playing-field-padded-public-dollars-private-providers

Municipal broadband networks have been gaining traction across the country. It’s easy to see why: In many rural and low-income communities, privately offered broadband services are nonexistent. In its 2012 Broadband Progress Report the Federal Communications Commission counted nearly 20 million Americans (the vast majority living in rural areas) beyond the reach of broadband. The… Continue reading

in-georgia-tech-city-opposed-hb-282-with-official-resolution
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Mar 28, 2013

In Georgia, Tech City Opposed HB 282 With Official Resolution

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/georgia-tech-city-opposed-hb-282-official-resolution

We were happy to report when HB 282 failed to advance on the floor of the Georgia General Assembly House in a bipartisan vote. We were equally pleased to learn that at least one Georgia community passed an official resolution opposing the bill while it was making its way through the committee process.  Alpharetta, an… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 12, 2013

Democracy Now! Segment on Community Owned Networks

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/democracy-now-segment-community-owned-networks

Last week, Catharine Rice and I were guests on a Democracy Now! segment filmed at the Freedom to Connect conference. We discussed what community broadband is, how it has benefited communities, and how a few big cable and telephone companies are trying to stop it. Continue reading

georgia-bill-to-limit-internet-investment-dies-on-house-floor
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 8, 2013

Georgia Bill to Limit Internet Investment Dies on House Floor

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/georgia-bill-limit-internet-investment-dies-house-floor

We’ve been writing about Georgia’s HB 282 for weeks, discussing the likely impact from limiting who can build Internet networks in communities that have the most basic Internet connections. When the bill finally hit the House Floor, it failed in a bipartisan vote of 70 ayes to 94 nays. Many groups helped to educate the… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 6, 2013

CBS Atlanta Asks Tough Questions of Georgia Anti-Community Broadband Bill

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/cbs-atlanta-asks-tough-questions-georgia-anti-community-broadband-bill

We finally see television news outlets asking the tough questions of bill pushed by powerful cable and telephone companies to prevent giving residents a real choice in cable and Internet service providers. We been covering this Georgia bill closely, and were glad to see this segment: CBS Atlanta 46 The segment makes an error in… Continue reading

community-leaders-testify-against-hb-282-bill-passes-anyway
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Mar 2, 2013

Community Leaders Testify Against HB 282, Bill Passes Anyway

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-leaders-testify-against-hb-282-bill-passes-anyway

Community leaders from several Georgia cities made the trek to Atlanta to oppose HB 282 on Thursday, February 28th. Opposition to this bill to limit investment in Internet networks includes community leaders, high tech companies, and citizens all over the state. Nevertheless, legislators on the House Energy, Utilities, and Telecom Committee chose to ignore the… Continue reading

high-tech-companies-oppose-bill-to-limit-internet-investment-in-georgia
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 1, 2013

High Tech Companies Oppose Bill to Limit Internet Investment in Georgia

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/high-tech-companies-oppose-bill-limit-internet-investment-georgia

Several high tech companies and trade associations have sent a joint letter to Georgia legislators to oppose HB 282, a bill designed to limit investment in Internet Networks. The letter has already been signed by Alcatel-Lucent, Google, Atlantic Engineering, Gigabit Squared, OnTrac, FTTH Council, American Public Power Association, NATOA, SEATOA, Utilities Telecom Council, and the… Continue reading