News

Highland Illinois Networks Takes Another Step Forward

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 27, 2010

This community of almost 10,000 near St. Louis has taken another step toward creating competition in broadband by investing in a publicly owned fiber network. In April of 2009, the community voted overwhelmingly (75%) yes to a question authorizing the network with revenue bonds that would be backed by electrical revenues from the city's public power company.

Monticello Advertisement

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 26, 2010

FiberNet Monticello put one of their advertisements on YouTube.

Jim Baller Audio Interview

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 25, 2010

Looking for something to listen to? Jim Baller's interview with Scott Mace on IT Conversations provides insight into stimulus funding, background on publicly owned networks, and his work on a broadband plan for the U.S.

Tacoma Offering Tips to Seattle

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 19, 2010

Seattle's new mayor continues to impress me as he makes good on his pledge to build a publicly owned fiber-optic network in the City. He has just met with the mayor of Tacoma to discuss lessons learned from the Tacoma Click! network.

Universal Access - History and Future

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 17, 2010

Last month, the Daily Yonder offered a short history of Universal Service in telecommunications in the U.S.

Dubuque Considers Its Telecom Options

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 14, 2010

I caught an interesting article asking whether Dubuque, Iowa, should build a publicly owned broadband network. Iowa already has a number of publicly owned networks, mostly cable HFC networks, that serve communities.

What Constitutes Socialism?

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 14, 2010

While I was researching recent developments in the BVU OptiNet, I stumbled across a hilarious comment to a news post. I have tried to track down the original source but have not been able to find anything.

Deadline for Network Neutrality Comments Draws Nigh

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 11, 2010

The FCC asked for comments on its plans to make rules to protect the open Internet [pdf] from companies that may exert more control over the sites you want to visit in order to boost their profits. Free Press made the video below to encourage people to comment before the deadline.

Ars Technica: Municipal fiber needs more FDR localism, fewer state bans

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 7, 2010

Ars Technica has published an op-ed I wrote after we published our interactive municipal broadband preemption map.

Community-owned broadband is one way to bring fiber to smaller m

Internet is Infrastructure, Not Nicety

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Jan 4, 2010

Over the holiday break, I was visiting family in central Minnesota where they rely on dial-up for getting on the Internet. Translation: They are not on the Internet. Though I have previously said this, my experiences reminded me that nothing I do on the Internet on a daily basis is possible to do over dialup.

Free UTOPIA Podcast

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 23, 2009

Listen to this 1 hour podcast from Free UTOPIA that discusses recent progress in Brigham City, notes that Orem City is saving some $50,000/month from telecom expenses thanks to UTOPIA, and recaps some of the early history of the UTOPIA project.

Schrier Stays in Seattle, Fiber Network to Follow?

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 22, 2009

After campaigning on building a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network in Seattle, Mayor McGinn has decided to maintain leadership at the Department of Information Technology.

Highland Illinois - Deliberating a Network

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 17, 2009

Highland, Illinois, having overwhelmingly approved a referendum in April, 2009 to own and operate a fiber-to-the-premises system, has continued to examine the potential for a publicly owned fiber-to-the-home network.

Jackson, Tennessee, Profiled

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 15, 2009

The Jackson Energy Authority (JEA) network now has over 16,000 subscribers and offers speeds up to 100 Mbps for local businesses and 25 Mbps for standard residential users.

Jackson is considered one of the most technologically advanced cities in the U.S. We have four competitors in the market with AT&T, Bell South, Charter and JEA.

Rochelle, Illinois - Smart Municipal Investors

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 14, 2009

I stumbled across an interesting article about a small community in Illinois - Rochelle - that has used smart public investments to ensure a healthy future.

Rules Matter - Burlington Telecom

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 11, 2009

As someone who has long researched and followed developments in Burlington Telecom (BT), the city-owned triple-play full fiber-to-the-home network in Vermont, recent developments between BT and the Mayor's office have been deeply disappointing.

Santa Monica and South Hadley Expand Networks

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 10, 2009

TMCNET interviews Jory Wolf - the CIO of Santa Monica's Information Systems Department - about their application for broadband stimulus funds.

Broadband for Libraries and Schools

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 9, 2009

Following up on my previous post "Institutional Networks and Cherry Picking," I want to briefly note that the U.S.

Rural Folks Need Broadband Too

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 8, 2009

After reading an impressive article in the South Washington County Bulletin, I am convinced that most Americans now understand that broadband is essential infrastructure for communities.

New from the Carolinas

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 7, 2009

Salisbury, a community in North Carolina building a city-owned full fiber-to-the-home network, has run into an unexpected difficulty: naming the new network.