News

Stimulus - Private Companies Won

on Feb 25, 2010

Last summer, I predicted the NTIA's rules for the broadband stimulus would disadvantage the public sector and tilt the playing field toward the private sector.

Thoughts on the Google Fiber Initiative

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 24, 2010

Readers undoubtedly know that Google has proposed a limited fiber-to-the-home open access network rollout that will offer gigabit speeds.

The Economist Profiles Bristol Virginia Utilites Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 23, 2010

In a recent issue, the Economist profiled BVU - the first municipally-owned triple-play fiber-to-the-home network in the U.S. Evidently, the Economist thinks Bristol an unlikely spot to find a full fiber-to-the-home network, but some of the best networks in the U.S.

Lafayette Fiber Network Ahead of Schedule

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 22, 2010

Good news out of Louisiana - the LUS Fiber deployment in Lafayette is running considerably ahead of schedule.

WindomNet to Expand with RUS Grant

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 18, 2010

Finally, a broadband stimulus project that we can get excited about. RUS has announced a grant to expand the publicly owned WindomNet in southwestern Minnesota. Windom was originally built to bring broadband to a small community that Qwest didn't think ready for DSL.

Salisbury FTTH Network to Launch by End of Summer

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 17, 2010

The Salisbury, North Carolina, municipal fiber-to-the-home network is set to start offering services this summer.

Telephony Podcast Interviews Jackson Energy Authority

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 15, 2010

Carol Wilson speaks with Jackson's Michael Johnston about JEA's triple-play network in Tennessee. As far as I can tell, this interview took place in September, 2009. Johnston reports that the publicly owned network passes 30,000 residences and about 5,000 businesses.

Wired Road Plans Expansion, Adds Service Provider

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 12, 2010

The Wired Road, a community-owned open access network in rural Virginia, has added an additional wired service provider and announced expansion plans. This is a network in Grayson and Carroll counties as well as the city of Galax. Services on the Wired Road are provided exclusively by independent service providers, not the network owners.

New Hampshire Bill Would Allow Communities to Build Networks

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 10, 2010

The Design Nine blog alerted me to a bill in New Hampshire that would modify state law to allow communities to build publicly owned networks. It appears they may currently invest in a network in unserved areas -- though few places are entirely unserved.

Chaska.Net Profiled in Local Paper

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 10, 2010

I've often wondered what it would look like if a reporter wrote about a Wi-Fi network without any ideological baggage to slam it. Now you can see - Mollee Francisco wrote a lengthy and fair article for a local paper in Chaska, a suburb of Minneapolis.

Dover, Ohio, Contemplates Publicly Owned Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 9, 2010

Dover, a city of over 12,000 in Eastern Ohio south of Canton, has been considering a publicly owned fiber to the home network for years to complement its water and electric muni utilities.

Folks in Maine Resent FairPoint's Lobbying Against Broadband Awards

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 8, 2010

As Karl Bode recently asked, "Should Fairpoint Really Be Giving Broadband Advice?" They have been lobbying against other stimulus projects in Maine that could allow FairPoint subscribers to actually get service that works and puts communities first. Given FairPoint's horrendous track record in New England since taking over Verizon's run-dow

Christopher Mitchell Interview on FreeUTOPIA Podcast

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 8, 2010

I was the guest on Jesse Harris' February Podcast about the UTOPIA network in Utah.

Comcast, NBC Merger Bad for Community Networks

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 7, 2010

I am not going to spend a lot of time on this, because if it isn't in the proverbial weeds for the focus of this site, it is pretty close. But the merger between Comcast and NBC would be bad news for publicly owned networks. Comcast is already a massive company that has huge advantages due to its scale.

Geoff Daily VidChat with Director of LUS Fiber, Terry Huvall

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 5, 2010

Terry Huvall, the head of Lafayette's municipally owned fiber to the home network, discusses the history and motivations behind the community fighting for four years to build their own network.

Qwest Isolates Entire Minnesota Counties with Fiber Cuts

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 4, 2010

For some 12 hours last week, entire communities found themselves without access to telecommunications due to a fiber cut to a Qwest cable that services the entire region.

Wilson's Greenlight Keeps Time Warner Prices Low in Community

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 2, 2010

Catharine Rice gave a terrific presentation detailing the ways Time Warner has responded to the municipally-owned Greenlight fiber-to-the-home network: raising the rates on everyone around them and cutting great deals to Wilson residents.

UTOPIA Face Lift and Podcast

Christopher Mitchell

on Feb 1, 2010

Utah's UTOPIA network has refreshed its web presence and Jesse Harris has completed another podcast with a provider on the open access network.

Norton, Mass, Building Publicly Owned Institutional Network

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 29, 2010

Evidently, the Comcast-provided I-Net in Norton - a city of nearly 20,000 west of the Cape - suffers frequent outages, outraging those who depend on it.

Chelan Video: What has Publicly Owned Fiber Done for Them?

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 28, 2010

A video from Chelan shows the benefits of a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network in a rural public utility district in Washington State. The network has literally saved lived with tele-medicine applications. Citizens also cite educational advantages and increased business opportunities thanks to this smart investment.

This video is no longer available.