More Short Shots
There are so many interesting articles recently (some are actually a bit older than recent, I guess).
Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
News
Indeed, FCC, Stop Ignoring Muni Broadband!
Geoff Daily recently put up "Hey FCC: Stop Ignoring Municipal Broadband!" It is a sentiment I wholeheartedly echo and amplify. If the FCC is going to chart a course for where America is heading, it should start with some communities who are already there - Burlington, VT and Lafayette, LA.
WashPo: Headline Wrong, Story Mostly Correct
Cecilia Kang, telecom writer for the Washington Post, recently looked into why major carriers are not applying to the broadband stimulus program.
The implication of the title - "Major Carriers Shun Broadband Stimulus: Funds would come with tighter rules" is because of the rules.
National Broadband Plan: Early Outlook is Glum
When it comes to the National Broadband Plan that the FCC is tasked with developing, we at muninetworks.org have a red line. No matter what the federal policy, all communities must reserve the right to invest in and own their own networks.
FairPoint unfairly competing with UMaine?
FairPoint's lobbyists in Maine have gone on the offensive, arguing that another group attempting to get stimulus funds is competing unfairly. FairPoint, you may remember, has already accomplished the improbable: it took over the dilapidated networks in New England from Verizon and made them worse.
Virginia County Looks to Wilson for Muni Network Inspiration
Folks in the Isle of Wight County in Virginia are looking to Wilson, NC, (which runs its own FTTH network called Greenlight) for inspiration as Charter will not expand broadband access locally.
What Can States do?
What can states do?
Many states want to improve broadband access for their citizens.
Verizon Against the Public Interest
In another example of how some private companies continue acting against the public interest, Verizon is again using FiOS as a weapon, threatening not to bring it to a New York town unless the town essentially waives some $12,000 in real estate taxes.
Communities maintain what is called the "right-o
Stimulus Updates
NTIA head Larry Strickling has suggested that if an incumbent wants to veto a stimulus grant in its territory, the data it uses to show the area is served will be on the public record.
Slick Sam and Bandwidth on the Bayou
As promised a few weeks ago, Ellen Perlman has written a piece on the story behind the Lafayette, Louisiana publicly owned FTTH network. This might just be the best network available in the U.S. in terms of offering the fastest speeds at the more affordable prices and offering the most benefit to the community.
Tacoma Click! Network 10 Year Anniversary
Congratulations to Click! on its ten years of service to the community.
This video is no longer available.New Network Neutrality Bill
Representatives Markey and Eshoo have introduced a House bill to preserve network neutrality on the Internet - a means to ensure users are able to choose what sites they visit rather than allowing gatekeepers like AT&T or Comcast to influence the decisions by speeding up or slowing down some sites.
Roundup: Lafayette, Syracuse, Incumbent Bailout, and MAIN
Another roundup of semi-recent news:
- Lafayette's groundbreaking network is exciting the folks at Governing.com - they say, "The Future of the Internet is in Lafayette, Louisiana." Ellen Perlman hints are future coverage of the network as well:
Paul Bunyan Coop Brings Fiber to Rural Minnesota
Many people in rural areas get their phone services from a cooperative telephone company. When it comes to fiber in rural areas, some of these cooperatives are on the cutting edge.
FTTH: Making That Business Model Work
A one hour slideshow discussing the economics of FTTH - unfortunately it seems to have rudimentary controls that do not allow fast fowarding or rewinding, so pay attention! You can also read the bullet points to get a sense of whether you will be interested or not.
How NTIA Dismantled the Public Interest Provisions of the Broadband Stimulus Package
After winning the election, the Obama Administration announced that broadband networks would be a priority. True to its word, the stimulus package included $7.2 billion to expand networks throughout the United States.
Boston vs. Verizon
A recent editorial in the Boston Globe caught my attention - Fiber-optic nerve.
Many Cities Realize Stimulus Rules Slanted Against Them
In a recent article, the Star Tribune asks if Minnesota cities are shut out by broadband rules. Of course, this applies to all cities, not just those located in Minnesota.
North Carolina Fight over Mapping
Fiona Morgan, a frequent writer at Indyweek in North Carolina, has weighed in with excellent coverage of the situation in North Carolina as the cable and telephone companies continue their attempts at stifling competition in the state.
Keep the Internet Free
Megan Tady reminds us both that today is the last day to submit comments to the FCC about a national broadband policy and why we need to fight for it.
It comes down to this: we have an unprecedented opportunity to finally create a national broadband plan in the U.S.