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Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
Video on the Economics of Open Access
Benoît Felton of Fiber Evolution says that Open Access makes Economic Sense - in four parts:
Short Shots
Some shorter news items from this weeks' news:
Monticello Lawsuit Saga Over; MN Supreme Court Declines Review
In a quick followup, the Minnesota Supreme Court has affirmed the obvious by refusing to review the Appeals Court decision in the TDS (acting as "Bridgewater") v. Monticello case. This means the Appeals Court decision stands; Minnesota cities have the authority to bond for broadband networks.
nDanville Network Helps Police, Economic Development
Though Danville, Virginia, was hit hard by the simultaneously decline of tobacco and textile industries, the community has responded: Danville Utilities has been building a state of the art all fiber network. Like many communities, they built a backbone and connected the schools and government buildings first. They then started to connect businesses.
Nation's Largest Citywide FTTH Network to be Completed Next Year
Chattanooga, Tennessee is predicting it will offer FTTH in its entire service area by next year.
Salisbury Starts Building FTTH Network
Salisbury, a city of nearly 30,000 in North Carolina, has started building its full fiber-to-the-home network. Salisbury had some difficulty in funding the network at first due to the collapsing economy last year. However, they securing financing in November 2008 and have now started building the network.
Community Broadband - High Capacity, Low Cost
To celebrate the launching of MuniNetworks.org, we wanted to highlight some of the best broadband available in the United States.
If you were looking for the best citywide broadband networks available in the United States, you would almost definitely find publicly owned networks.
Monticello "Wins" Appeal
Monticello, a small town in Minnesota just outside the metro area, once again prevailed in court against frivolous charges from TDS Telecom, the incumbent telephone provider (doing business as Bridgewater in the court case).
Salisbury, NC, Fends Off Comical Attack on Community Broadband
Cities investigating community fiber networks are used to scurrilous attacks from both incumbents and anti-government "think tanks," which are often directly funded by private service providers.
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.
Tim Nulty Interviewed at 2009 Freedom to Connect Conference
Benoit Felten of FiberEvolution.com interviews Tim Nulty (former GM of Burlington Telecom, currently working on massive rural FTTH network in Vermont) at the Freedom to Connect Conference. Covers many topics, especially the economics of FTTH and why the public sector should invest in these networks.
Shared Cable Kills Neighborhood
These are funny old advertisements that rightly note one of the largest problems with cable networks: bandwidth is shared among hundreds of houses. Of course, DSL is hardly better. We need full-fiber networks that are accountable to the community. Found at FiberEvolution.com
Five Days on the Digital Dirt Road
InternetforEveryone.org is working to shed light on the millions of Americans who live without regular Internet access or lack the training or equipment to get online. A small reporting team is traveling to communities across the country to tell people's stories.
Vidchat Discussion on Open Networks Between Christopher Mitchell and Geoff Daily
Geoff Daily and Christopher Mitchell discuss open networks and competition in the television and broadband network sector.
This video is no longer available.
Vidchat Discussion on Municipal Networks with Geoff Daily and Christopher Mitchell
Geoff Daily and Christopher Mitchell discuss municipal networks and why communities should own their own networks.
This video is no longer available.
Vidchat Discussion on Community Networks and Broadband Stimulus
Geoff Daily and Christopher Mitchell discuss community networks and why the public sector should be prioritized above the private sector when awarding stimulus grants.
This video is no longer available.