Article
filed under
Energy
| Written by
John Farrell
|
| Updated on
Apr 11, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/net-metering-cost-utilities-benefit-2/
Utilities often claim that allowing customers to run their meter backward (by generating electricity on-site, e.g. from rooftop solar) can affect their bottom line because these customers don’t pay enough to cover the cost of maintaining the grid. In at least one case, however, a utility’s cost-benefit analysis of net metering was turned on its… Continue reading
Featured
Article, Resource
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Christopher
|
| Updated on
Apr 9, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/broadband-speed-light/
The fastest networks in the nation are built by local governments, a new report by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance and Benton Foundation reveals Chattanooga, Tennessee, is well known for being the first community with citywide access to a “gig,” or the fastest residential connections to the Internet available nationally. Less known are Bristol, Virginia,… Continue reading
Article
filed under
Broadband
| Written by
Lisa Gonzalez
|
| Updated on
Mar 28, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/states-scream-feds-preempting-then-preempt-cities
Here at muninetworks.org, we continually see instances of state government preempting rights of local government to make their own decisions on broadband. It was no surprise to us to read Josh Goodman’s recent Stateline.org article, GOP Legislatures Try to Limit Local Government’s Power. Goodman takes a look at a disturbing trend in the relationships between… Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Broadband, The Public Good
| Written by
Christopher
|
| Updated on
Mar 26, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/open-source-open-standards/
Open standards and open source are essential to local self-reliance. Citizens and communities should have the right to modify the technology they use in order to improve it and solve problems. Richard Stallman, founder of the Free Software Foundation, has compared software to a recipe. When cooking, you do not need permission to alter the pancake recipe to your taste. When you come across a problem in software that you are using, you should have the right to fix it. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
General
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Mar 19, 2012
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/small-schools-vs-big-schools/
One of the most effective ways to improve student achievement and curb school violence is to reduce the size of the nation’s schools. Hundreds of studies have found that students who attend small schools outperform those in large schools on every academic measure from grades to test scores. They are less likely to dropout and… Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Sep 8, 2011
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/economic-impact-review/3177-2/
In September 2011, the California Legislature pased a bill requiring cities and counties to have an economic impact analysis prepared before deciding whether to approve an application to develop a large superstore. The legislation defines a superstore as a retail store of at least 90,000 square feet that devotes 10 percent or more of its space to groceries. The law lists a range of impacts that the study must assess and quantify. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Jun 29, 2011
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/internet-sales-tax-fairness/2235-2/
California’s new sales tax fairness law, which was signed into law by the governor on June 29, 2011, has two parts. The first is similar to laws enacted in half a dozen other states. It requires online retailers that have more than $500,000 in annual revenue from California customers and that use in-state sales affiliates to collect sales taxes. A second provision of the law mandates that retailers that have subsidiaries or affiliated companies in California, as Amazon does, also must collect sales tax. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
Jun 19, 2011
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/local-purchasing-preferences/3138-2/
In June 2011, Oregon enacted a new law that allows state agencies and local governments to give preference to goods made in Oregon and services performed by local businesses, even if it entails paying up to 10 percent more than the cost of out-of-state suppliers. Continue reading
Rule
filed under
Independent Business
| Written by
admin
|
| Updated on
May 23, 2011
The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.ilsr.org/rule/internet-sales-tax-fairness/3133-2/
Connecticut requires e-commerce retailers to collect and remit state sales taxes if they generates more than $2,000 in sales a year through sales affiliates based in the state. Continue reading
