Community Broadband Media Roundup - September 3

Alabama

FiberRise and electric cooperatives partner with ADTRAN to power up rural markets with gig services, Citizen Tribune

California

Verizon throttled California firefighters’ Internet speeds amid blaze (they were out of data) by Matt Stevens, The New York Times

Colorado 

Erie to place muni broadband on November ballot, possibly joining Boulder County neighbors by Anthony Hahn, DailyCamera

J.P. Morgan to underwrite Loveland's broadband utility by Julia Rentsch, Reporter-Herald

New executive director for connection broadband utility presents at City Council by Matt Bailey, Rocky Mountain Collegian 

Illinois

Broadband for a country mile: Federal funds will help close the digital divide between Sauk Valley’s rural and urban areas by Pam Eggmeier, SaukValley.com

Indiana

Estimation of the net benefits of Indiana statewide adoption of rural broadband, Purdue University Center for Regional Development

The report finds that for each dollar invested in rural broadband, $4 will go back into the economy through increased tax revenue and healthcare savings. The analysis found if investments in broadband were made statewide, Indiana would see about $12 billion over a 20 year period.

Purdue study: Rural broadband could translate to billions of dollars if extended by Samantha Horton, WyFi

Massachusetts

'This is big': Gov. Charlie Baker gets update on Whip City Fiber's rural broadband plans by Mary Serreze, MassLive

‘Last Mile' broadband project update for small towns in western Mass., 22News WWLP

Michigan

Michigan Broadband Roadmap: Lots of ideas for improving availability, adoption by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor

Expanding broadband in rural Michigan by Tim Walberg, Hillsdale Daily News

Minnesota

FCC to distribute $39 million for rural broadband in Minn., Brainerd Dispatch

Mississippi

Presley plans to push for electric co-ops to bring Internet to rural Mississippi by Slim Smith, The Dispatch

Missouri

Missouri is biggest beneficiary in FCC’s Rural Broadband Auction by David Nicklaus, St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Missouri to expand support for rural broadband services by Leisha Beard, FourStatesHomepage.com

New Mexico

Udall, Heinrich, Luján announce $667K to Navajo Technical University to expand broadband access for native students by Carol A. Clark, The Los Alamos Daily Post

North Carolina

County seeks input on local Internet service by Andie Foley, Salisbury Post

Oregon

City approves $180,000 for next step in municipal fiber rollout by Justin Pot, Hillsboro Signal

Tennessee

Chattanooga's broadband investment opens the door to telehealth by Phil Goldstein, StateTech

Middle Tennessee Electric, United Communications pair for broadband expansion, Lightwave

GLPS continues studying broadband services by Eugenia Estes, Citizen Tribune

Washington

Anacortes to begin fiber optic construction by Julia Grace-Sanders, GoAnacortes

West Virginia  

FCC allocates $12M to boost broadband in West Virginia by Max Garland, GovTech

Wisconsin

The ongoing pursuit of better broadband access in rural Wisconsin by Julie Grace, WisContext

"It's member-driven and member-run. It’s not about the bottom line. You still have to be fiscally responsible, but it's about serving rural America and getting members what they need."

General

Dear Rural Utilities Service: How to prove a negative, or why the National Broadband Maps stink and what to do about it (part 1) by Jonathan Chambers, Conexon

Dear RUS: How to prove a negative (part 2) by Jonathan Chambers, Conexon

Small-town ingenuity is making gigabit broadband a reality by Daniel Hambury, Wired

Broadband in rural higher education deserts can help address digital divide by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor

Equitable broadband access requires reform by Pam Bailey, Nonprofit Quarterly

One touch make ready by Doug Dawson, POTs and PANs

Connect America Fund Phase II auction (auction 903) closes. Winning bidders announced, Federal Communications Commission

Electric cooperative gigabit gains traction by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor

USDA launches webpage highlighting resources to help rural communities bridge the broadband e-connectivity infrastructure gap by Slim Smith, Fence Post