Welcome

Welcome to MuniNetworks.org, a site dedicated to fast broadband networks in the United States that are accountable to their communities. We view broadband as the utility of the 21st century. As such, broadband networks must put communities before profits. We will feature news, reports, and case studies that illustrate how communities can ensure they have a fast broadband network. We encourage local ownership of broadband networks; when network owners come from outside the communities, they tend not to prioritize local needs. We prefer networks that are open to multiple competitors. The fastest and most reliable broadband networks are very expensive to build, which limits competition when each competitor must build its own network. Fiber-to-the-Home networks have sufficient capacity to allow different competitors to offer services over it. This is not a new concept, common carriage is an old principle that has been applied to canals, roads, and throughout most of the 20th century, the telephone network. Sure, it would have been nice to have communitynetworks.org, but it looks like that domain is taken by someone who is only using it for ads. Disappointing, but despite the name "muni," we encourage cooperative, non-profit, and public utility ownership models as well. If you have any suggestions that will improve this site, or content that should be included, please let me know.