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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

rural-leverett-network-in-western-massachusetts-moves-forward
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Mar 14, 2013

Rural Leverett Network in Western Massachusetts Moves Forward

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rural-leverett-network-western-massachusetts-moves-forward

Leverett, Massachusetts’ broadband initiative has moved to the next phase in bringing fiber to residents. The town selectboard recently decided on a bidder to build the community owned network. G4S designed the network and also works with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI) as it brings a middle mile fiber network to towns across the western… 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

network-moves-forward-in-leverett-western-massachusetts
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Dec 20, 2012

Network Moves Forward in Leverett, Western Massachusetts

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/network-moves-forward-leverett-western-massachusetts

This past spring, we introduced you to the small town of Leverett, in rural western Massachusetts. Having been largely ignored by the cable companies and left behind by Verizon’s DSL service, the community overwhelmingly approved a town-owned network initiative in a May vote. They decided to finance the FTTH network with a 20-year bond measure. The… Continue reading

broadband-is-essential-infrastructure-for-communities
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Dec 13, 2012

Broadband is Essential Infrastructure for Communities

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/broadband-essential-infrastructure-communities

In August, we reported on the results of a report on UTOPIA by the Office of the State Auditor General of Utah. As you will recall, the results were less than favorable and presented more fodder for those opposed to municipal telecommunications infrastructure investment. The same old arguments often rest on the financial investment in… Continue reading

new-book-investigates-how-big-companies-like-att-rip-us-off
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Sep 29, 2012

New Book Investigates How Big Companies Like AT&T Rip Us Off

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/new-book-investigates-how-big-companies-att-rip-us

A  recent book by David Cay Johnston, The Fine Print, examines specifically how big companies have found ways to take advantage of the tax and regulatory systems to their benefit and to the detriment of consumers. The sad part – we don’t even realize it. Johnston discusses how big companies and their leaders exploit tax rules to… Continue reading

leverett-massachusetts-approves-broadband-funding
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Jun 4, 2012

Leverett, Massachusetts Approves Broadband Funding

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/leverett-massachusetts-approves-broadband-funding

We brought you news of Leverett, Massachusetts and their decision this spring to pursue a municipal fiber optic network. In April, voters approved a measure to develop the initiative, and this past weekend took the last step toward building the network. The town of 1,851, voted to raise their taxes to pay for a fiber-to-the-home… Continue reading

utopia-scapegoated-as-area-cities-increase-taxes
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jun 1, 2012

UTOPIA Scapegoated as Area Cities Increase Taxes

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/utopia-scapegoated-area-cities-increase-taxes

Jesse Harris has posted an interesting update on the present UTOPIA situation, where a number of cities are heaping perhaps too much blame on UTOPIA for rising local taxes. A lot of cities have been talking property tax hikes lately, and the most certain thing about all of the proposals is that elected officials are… Continue reading

paragould-sets-an-example-for-another-arkansas-towns
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 15, 2012

Paragould Sets An Example for Another Arkansas Town

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/paragould-sets-example-another-arkansas-town

Recently, we let you know about the situation in Siloam Springs, Arkansas, population 15,039. The town is now investigating the possibility of building their own fiber network. They have had several community meetings and a “vote of the people” is set for May 22, 2012. Pamela Hill is investigating the twists and turrns in a… Continue reading

leverett-approves-broadband-initiative-in-small-new-england-town
Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on May 2, 2012

Leverett Approves Broadband Initiative in Small New England Town

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at http://www.muninetworks.org/content/leverett-approves-broadband-initiative-small-new-england-town

Not long ago, we told you about Leverett, Massachusetts, the small town of 1,851, that has been discussing the possibility of building a community network. Residents and businesses currently use a combination of satellite, dial-up, DSL, and wireless, and about 6% of the population has no Internet access at all. People are tired of lost… Continue reading