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Our Balkanized Broadband Future
Andrew Cohill has made some apt observations regarding a likely future of broadband in the United States. The thesis is that a few providers can effectively disrupt the likelihood of an entire community getting next-generation services by locking up key customers. And I agree.
Salisbury's Fibrant Launches, TWC Responds With DOCSIS 3
In North Carolina, Salisbury has launched the state's second FTTH network, as communities continue to build the next-generation broadband infrastructure in which their massive incumbent providers decline to invest. We have offered in-depth coverage of Fibrant as they prepared to launch the new services.
Comcast Customers Call for Competition
Two cities, located on opposite coasts, have recently cried out for cable competition in their communities.
Wilson's Greenlight Ahead of Schedule, Deals with TWC Predatory Pricing
Wilson's Greenlight community fiber network is ahead of schedule. They continue to operate ahead of the business plan, despite a few difficulties that offer lessons to up and coming community networks.
Munis and Coops Lead in Smart-Grid
Green Tech Grid asks, "Are Munis and Co-Ops Leading Smart Grid?" And the rest of the article says, "YES." This should come as no surprise for readers of this site. The dynamics, and even players, in smart-grid are very similar to those of community networks.
An Unlevel Playing Field: Wilson Forced to Disclose Network Information to Competitors
I recently heard that the only place one finds a free lunch is in a mouse trap. As we sift through the lessons from the broadband stimulus programs, we have learned that the federal government preferred funding private projects rather than those that are structurally accountable to the community.
Ruling the Air: Flapper Style
Ars Technica is running another fascinating history piece -- Matthew Lasar's "Who 'ruled the air' in 1910?
Wilson's Greenlight Releases Video Interviews with Satisfied Subscribers
Kudos to Wilson's Greenlight fiber network in North Carolina. They are featuring some interviews with people who like their services, two of which are embedded below.
Importance of Customer Service
I was doing some research on the cost of business broadband services in the Twin Cities when I encountered one of the stark differences between local networks accountable to the public and the massive telcos (in this case, Qwest).
Wisconsin Republicans Want More Local Tax Dollars Flowing to AT&T
The University of Wisconsin System is involved in a broadband stimulus project to expand fast and affordable broadband access to key community institutions.
Adult Content on Community Networks
Fibrant has decided to offer premium adult content to subscribers that choose to receive it. Salisbury's approach and response offer a window into the benefits and responsibilities inherent in building a triple-play network that offers services directly.
I thought you said you had Internet...
The next time you hear someone claiming that the reason US Internet is slower than international peers is because of our vast landmass with low population density, encourage them to listen to "America the Slow" on American Public Media's Marketplace Tech Report.
Fibrant Launch Pains - Behind the Scenes
On the heals of our recent post discussing false incumbent claims about Salisbury's Fibrant community fiber network, I wanted to put up another piece looking at some of the problems that have delayed the network launch.
DC-Net Expands with Multiple Stimulus Grants
DC-Net, the muni-owned and operated fiber network connecting hundreds of community institutions (schools, libraries, local government buildings), is expanding in scope and mission following three broadband stimulus awards.
Salisbury's Fibrant Deals with Incumbent B.S. Before Launch
As Salisbury prepares to officially launch its publicly owned FTTH network offering triple-play services, it offers lessons for other communities that want to follow in its footsteps. As we wrote a month ago, Fibrant has candidly admitted it cannot win a price war with incumbents.
In Broadband Networks, Private Ownership Leads to Consolidation
In all the talk of the need for competition in broadband (or in the mobile space), there is remarkably little attention paid to the difficulties in actually creating competition.
Do we Really Need Faster Broadband
Advocates for community broadband networks in urban areas that already have cable and DSL options are often asked why the community needs something better. Aside from the many benefits in terms of reliability and symmetrical offers, we do need faster connections.
Danville City Council Nixes Expansion of nDanville Fiber Network
In Virginia, Danville's open access all-fiber network, nDanville, currently serves only businesses and large clients. In the early summer, Danville Utilities decided to recommend expanding the network to between 2,000 and 3,000 residential homes with a 10 year, $2.5 million loan.
Tim Wu on Importance of Getting Broadband Policy Right
Tim Wu, a professor and long time champion of network neutrality, discusses why getting these policies right is so important.
Perhaps more interesting is the reaction from David Isenberg and Tim Wu's comment to that reaction.
The take-home lesson?
Scientific American Editorial: Why Broadband in the US "is so Awful."
In an editorial for the October, 2010 issue, Scientific American explains "Why broadband service in the U.S. is so awful, and one step that could change it." This is an excellent shorthand explanation for the poor decisions of the FCC during the Bush Administration.