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UTOPIA Fiber Marks Another Banner Year
UTOPIA Fiber is celebrating another banner year as the nation’s largest community-owned open access network recently announced its subscriber growth numbers for 2024. The Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency recently announced it officially hit the 70,000 subscriber mark and is now delivering fiber-to-the-home access in 21 Utah cities, partnering with 19 private-sector ISPs.
Consolidated Cooperative and Delaware County, Ohio Unveil $4.9 Million Fiber Expansion
The Delaware County, Ohio Board of Commissioners and Consolidated Cooperative have announced the start of a $4.9 million joint initiative to dramatically expand affordable fiber optic broadband access to large swaths of the heavily underserved county. The expansion will be funded via American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and the deployment will target more rural communities largely in the northwestern and north-central portions of Delaware County.
Carson, California Breaks Ground On New Municipal Fiber Network
Leveraging years of regional fiber collaboration, Carson, California has broken ground on a municipal broadband pilot network. City officials hope to expand the network to bring affordable fiber optic broadband to the entire city of 95,558, situated just 13 miles south of downtown Los Angeles.
‘Building Fiberhoods in Holland’ Mini Documentary Encore
If you missed our inaugural Community Broadband Film Fest series kick off last week, the entirety of the event can still be viewed here. Following the live screening before an audience of over 100 virtual participants there was a lively discussion with several of the film’s key figures, including Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks.
Conexon Finishes 10th Fiber Build In Partnership With The Sac Osage Electric Cooperative
Conexon Connect, the ISP arm of fiber broadband builder Conexon, said it has completed its tenth fiber broadband deployment in four years in collaboration with the Sac Osage Electric Cooperative. The network, Conexon’s second deployment in Missouri, will bring affordable fiber broadband for the first time to the cooperative’s 9,000 mostly rural members.
Willmar, Minnesota Moves Forward With $24.5 Million Open Access Fiber Network
The city of Willmar, Minnesota has voted to move forward on plans for a city-owned open access fiber network. The $24.5 million investment, which saw finalized approval by the Willmar city council earlier this month with a 4-3 vote, aims to drive accountable, affordable, fiber access to long underserved parts of the northern Minnesota city.
Jemez Pueblo Tribe Seeks ‘Light,’ Fiber Knowledge To Advance Digital Sovereignty
At the 17th Tribal Broadband Bootcamp, Pueblo of Jemez Tribe members immersed themselves in fiber and wireless network technology as the Tribally-owned broadband provider JNET embarks on a fiber-to-the-home project. The half-dozen network builders from the Pueblo are being led by Network Operations Supervisor and Digital Navigator Program Manager Angela Diahkah and JNET Director Kevin Shendo.
Study: Affordable Connectivity Program More Than Paid For Itself
A new study by The Brattle Group found that the FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) generated more savings for taxpayers than it cost. Healthcare savings generated by the low-income program alone more than offset its annual burden to taxpayers, undermining claims that the program was dismantled as an act of fiscal efficiency.
Google’s Hometown Of Mountain View, CA Eyes Potential Muni Fiber Build
Mountain View officials hired the consulting firm, Entrust Solutions, to take a closer look at the city’s broadband availability metrics and device potential options for the city. The finished report and accompanying technical memorandum note that Comcast enjoys a monopoly over vast swaths of the city, resulting in expensive, slow, and spotty access.
ILSR and AAPB To Host Community Broadband Film Fest
ILSR and AAPB to host a virtual community broadband film fest on March 27 to premiere “Building Fiberhoods in Holland,” a short documentary on how the city of Holland, Michigan came to build a municipal broadband utility to supercharge its local economy. The livestream event will kick-off with virtual red carpet introductions of some of the film’s stars, including Holland Mayor Nathan Bocks
Vermont Looks To Bring Oasis of Fiber-Connected Telehealth Hubs to ‘Healthcare Deserts’
A coalition of Vermont healthcare leaders, librarians, and state broadband officials are looking to leverage the state’s unprecedented deployment of community-owned fiber networks to create a scalable, community-centered telehealth model. It’s called VITAL VT – an exploratory effort being launched with a $10,000 grant from the Leahy Institute For Rural Partnerships, working in collaboration with the University of Vermont Medical Center and the Vermont Library Association.
Oswego County, NY Nabs $26 million ConnectALL Grant To Expand Fiber Access
Oswego County, NY officials are celebrating the award of a new $26 million New York State grant to bring affordable fiber access to long-underserved rural communities in the northwestern part of the state. Oswego County will own the finished open access network and lease the fiber to Internet Service Providers (SPs), including Empire Access.