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#KillSwitch MoneyBomb Today - Let's Get it Made!
Today, take a moment to learn about a promising documentary and pledge some support to make sure it gets made! A short description:
Louisiana Leg uses Porn Excuse to Target LUS Community Network
We occasionally see big cable and phone companies getting creative in their efforts to shut down community networks. In socially conservative communities, restrictions on providing adult content is a common approach.
Business Interest in Cortez Muni Network Exceeds Expectations
Last month, we were excited to write about the open access network in Cortez, Colorado.
Rural Todd County Embarks on Fiberband Feasibility in Minnesota
Todd County, a rural community "where the forest meets the prairie" along I-94 in the geographic center of Minnesota, is the latest of many counties to examine local solutions to their lack of affordable, fast, reliable, and certainly universal access to the Internet.
Response to Seattle RFP: More of the Same
We have an answer to the question of what a city gets when it commits the bare minimum to improving broadband access: more of the same. We were skeptical of Seattle's approach of using city-owned conduit to spur serious improvements to broadband and, it turns out, correct.
Washington PUD Begins Fiber Network Stimulus Construction
Like many Washington Public Utility Districts, Pend Orielle, has connect small portions of its electric territory with an open access fiber-to-the-home. But these projects have been difficult to finance in remote (and often mountainous) areas.
Lafayette's LUS Fiber Creates Videos, YouTube Channel
Lafayette's publicly owned FTTH network has created a YouTube channel featuring a commercial aimed at residential subscribers (in 15, 30, and 60 second spots) as well as a longer video aimed at increasing economic development. Both are embedded below.
The Short Story of AT&T's Attack on Schools, Libraries in Wisconsin
I wrote the following synopsis of AT&T's attack on schools and libraries in Wisconsin for SaveTheInternet.com. We are still waiting for the Governor to sign the bill, something that may take another week or longer apparently.
Steve Jobs: City's Role is Providing Broadband
I cannot help but comment on this story that I have seen in multiple places in the tech press. Steve Jobs, when presenting an impressive new headquarters for Apple, is asked by a City Council member if Apple would provide free Wi-Fi for the city.
Greenville: The Texas Muni Cable Network
If you the take a look at our community broadband map, you'll see that Texas has only one citywide wired network owned by the public: Greenville.
AT&T Stumbles in Purchase of "Grassroots" Support
Public interest advocates in the telecom arena have long been frustrated with a parade of large, powerful non-profit organizations blindly supporting the positions of powerful telecom companies that just happen to make large donations to those non-profits.
Munis Tell Carriers: Forget You Guys
MHT, Mass High Tech -- the Voice of New England Innovation -- recently turned a spotlight on the difficulty of creating Ubiquitous high-speed broadband.
New Broadband Networks Increase Tension in Vermont
We have previously covered the East Central Vermont Fiber Network and their local frustrations at receiving little state or federal support in building a next-generation network.
WiscNet Under Continued Attack, Contact Elected Officials
As we feared, the compromise may have been compromised by the uncompromising power of AT&T lobbyists. Once again, we learn that they struck at the last hour and may have put local schools and libraries on the chopping block.
Weekly Email Digest of Community Broadband Networks News
A general reminder, if you want to receive a weekly email digest with highlighted stories from the previous week, you can sign up here. We send it out every Monday.
Positive Update from Wisconsin on WiscNet, Stimulus Awards
The word from Wisconsin is mostly good. A deal has been struck that will spare WiscNet, though it will be studied for two years and then could be killed. But a fair, open study will allow WiscNet to clearly demonstrate its value -- WiscNet thrives in the light while AT&T thrives at secretive, last minute measures to gut its competitors.
Additionally, the stimulus grants appear to be safe.
Internet2 President Says Wisconsin Legislation is an Unnecessary Disaster
Internet 2 President H.
Axcess Ontario Middle Mile Network Wins Award
CIO Magazine is the third organization in less than a year to recognize the importance of Ontario County's broadband investment in itself. CIO received a "CIO 100" award to go with recognition from Computerworld and the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard.
Access Wisconsin Supported Broadband Stimulus Before They Opposed It
Access Wisconsin, a group of telephone providers working with AT&T to kill a network essential for schools and libraries across the state, claims that using taxpayer money is unfair competition.
Cartoonist Turns Attention to Telco Domination of Wisconsin Leg
A cartoonist turns his attention to AT&T and its allies in the Wisconsin Legislature, which is currently slated to kill a telecommunications network essential for schools, libraries, and local government. Why?