On the Media Devotes Segment to Municipal Broadband Networks
You may recall that we reported on Johnston's last book, The Fine Print: How big companies use plain english to rob you blind.
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Burlington Telecom Announces a Gig and Computer Repair Services
We have covered happenings at Burlington Telecom, both positive and negative, extensively. We are glad to report some interesting new developments of this Vermont municipal network.
Initial Comcast Response to Sandy As Bad as Can Be Expected
We recently came across a post by Seth Clifford, a blogger whose parents' house in New Jersey was ravaged by Hurricane Sandy and is still in danger.
Fire Guts His Apartment, Verizon Demands $2,300 NOW
When we hear the news of a tornado, fire, flood or other natural disaster, most of us feel empathy for victims whose lives are disrupted by loss and upheaval. But AT&T, Comcast, Charter, and
Poulsbo, Washington Begins Free Wireless Internet Pilot Project
Poulsbo, Washington, home to around 9,200 residents of Kitsap County, recently became the location of an "exercise in democracy" pilot project.
Gigabit Nation Interview with Frank Caruso of Kutztown, PA
The Borough of Kutztown, Pennsylvania, with a year-round population around 5,500 that is swelled by Kutztown University, has been on the community broadband map for 10 years.
Crawford Identifies Historic Parallel Between Electricity and Fiber
Susan Crawford recently wrote for the Blog of the Roosevelt Institute, where she spent the last year as a Fellow.
Cable Company Ripping Off Houston
Amy Davis, Investigative Reporter for Click2 Houston.com and local channel 2, reports that Wave Vision, a Houston cable company, is not up to the task in the Lone Star State. According to Davis, the cable company may soon lose its license in Houston.
Audio of Dirty Trick Push Poll in Lafayette from 2005
We sometimes fail to communicate the great lengths to which big cable and telecommunications companies will go to intimidate and scare voters into opposing a community broadband projects. They have deployed a variety of dirty tricks and we have done a poor job of cataloging them.
But a recent phone call with John St.
Antitrust Enforcement Yields Increased Investment in Wireless
We have long argued that smart antitrust policy promotes investment and competition in the market. Allowing a few firms to consolidate too much power allows them to ignore our needs because we lack alternative service providers. In economic terms, they can use their market power to prevent market entry from innovative new firms.
Travel Back in Time with Trent Lott
"I think the rural electric associations, the municipalities, and the investor-owned utilities, are all positioned to make a real contribution in this telecommunications area, and I do think it is important that we make sure we have got the right language to accomplish what we wish to accomplish here." - Fmr. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Mississippi)
Protecting Local Authority Against ALEC and AT&T Attacks
Forbes' CIO Network carried this article co-authored by our own Christopher Mitchell and Todd O’Boyle, the Program Director for the Media and Democracy Reform Initiative at
Fiberhoods New Destination for Start-Up Businesses
As more and more businesses consider broadband a critical utility, property demand reflects the need for high-speed Internet. In Kansas City, property designated as a future Fiberhood is already in high demand.
Extensive Fiber Route Snaking Its Way Across Michigan
The nonprofit Merit Network, Inc., of Michigan, started in 1966 as a way to provide networking help to the state's research and educational facilities across the state.
Oct. 24th Digital Dialogue on Community Networks
On October 24th, tune to the Media Action Grassroots Network for a discussion on community networks and their contribution to the areas that create them. MAG-Net will be hosting a Digital Dialogue at 10 a.m. PST / 1 p.m. EST.
Gamers Lament Telcos Inability to Keep Up
"We have to worry about broadband when we should be thinking about making better games." - Eidos Presdent Ian Livingstone at the Broadband World Forum in Amsterdam, October 17, 2012.
UTOPIA Makes Red Cross More Efficient, Cost Effective
In 1881, Clara Barton started the American Red Cross as a way to offer relief to victims of disaster. Coordinating relief in the face of crisis will always be challenging, but now UTOPIA, the publicly owned, open access FTTH network in Utah, makes it easier and more economical.
The Incredible Incompetence of Comcast
What happens when economies of scale are taken to ridiculous proportions? The wretched customer service of Comcast, AT&T, Etc.
We recently had to move our Institute for Local Self-Reliance office within Minneapolis due to our old building being razed shortly for student condos.
Rural Broadband Stimulus Project in New Mexico Threatened, Saved
A last mile broadband project in Taos, New Mexico, encountered a temporary snag and appears to be back on track. The situation highlights the potential conflict created between federal and state entities. State officials acted to show their support and now expect the project to continue.
Help Get the Word Out About Community Networks
What will we be talking about that the National Conference for Media Reform in Denver, April 5-7 of 2013?