Recently in Community Networks... Week of 8/13

Hi All –

I wanted to forward this info from ILSR about something going on in Massaschusetts (US) that may have impact or come your way in other countries.

Please watch the term “underserved” and how your regulator/policy-makers/PUC might define/regulate around this term or service areas. Limiting the scope of what this means and suggesting that CNs only may serve the underserved is not a good thing. Underserved often is code for – folks not being provided service AND not being provided cheaper/more affordable service in urban, remote, and rural areas. So, not just rural and remote. And, not just a definition for the poorest people who do not have connectivity.

Just some food for thought. Watch how underserved and unserved is defined…and watch how Community Network might be defined as there was a move to limit the definition of CNs in ARIN’s service area to non-profits or “volunteer” networks which would have excluded hybrid non-profit/profit nets and other muni CNs.

Best,

Jane

Internet Society | www.internetsociety.org

Skype: janercoffin

Mobile/WhatsApp: +1.202.247.8429

From: ILSR's Community Broadband Networks Initiative <broadband=muninetworks.org@mail37.atl11.rsgsv.net> on behalf of ILSR's Community Broadband Networks Initiative <broadband@muninetworks.org>
Reply-To: ILSR's Community Broadband Networks Initiative <broadband@muninetworks.org>
Date: Tuesday, August 14, 2018 at 12:38 PM
To: Jane Coffin <coffin@isoc.org>
Subject: Recently in Community Networks... Week of 8/13

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@CommunityNets

Community Broadband Networks

Muninetworks.org

Last week we featured a story on the minor changes to an economic development bill in Massachusetts that will have big consequences for rural broadband development in the state. A single-word change pushed by lobbyists now limits municipal broadband networks to only "unserved" properties, effectively cutting out competition for incumbent ISPs.

In other news, Utah's Spanish Fork Network released a new promo video highlighting the success of it's municipal Internet service and the economic growth that has come along with it.

Portlanders Launch Grassroots Campaign for Municipal Broadband in Oregon

Interest in broadband as a utility continues to rise across the country and in places where elected officials need a show of support, grassroots groups are stepping up. Recently in Portland, Oregon, a group of locals launched Municipal Broadband PDX, an effort to grow an already increasing momentum in the Rose City.
...Read the report...

Agenda for Great Lakes Connect Shapes Up, September 24th - 26th

If you’ve never visited the Great Lakes Region in the autumn, you’ve missed out. Now is your chance to redeem yourself and to increase your knowledge for your community. The fall colors and the nip in the air will enhance your visit to Fairlawn, Ohio, and the Great Lakes Connect Broadband Development Conference. The event is scheduled for September 24th - 26th at the Hilton Hotel; the theme is "Creating Intelligent Network Infrastructure to Compete in the Global Economy.”
...Read the article...

Mapping Monopolies and Making Recommendations - Community Broadband Bits Podcast 317

If you haven’t already taken a look at our most recent report, now is your chance to get some insight before you download it and dive in. Profiles of Monopoly: Big Cable and Telecom, written by our Hannah Trostle, recently left ILSR to attend grad school, and Christopher Mitchell, transforms FCC Form 477 data into a series of maps that reveal a sad state of competition in the U.S. broadband market. For episode 317 of the podcast, Hannah and Christopher discuss the report and the main findings.

...Listen to the podcast... Read the transcript...

“Holy Cat Biscuits!” — Largest Electric Co-op in Michigan Is Building a Gig Network for Its Members

Great Lakes Energy (GLE), Michigan’s largest electric cooperative and third largest energy utility, is constructing a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network to bring gigabit connectivity to its 125,000 members. Construction in the project’s pilot area is underway. Eligible members may be able to subscribe to services from the co-op’s subsidiary Truestream as soon as the end of the year.

...Read the article...

Community Broadband Media Roundup - August 13

California
How Silicon Valley can use community input to bridge the big broadband gap by Mohammad Shakouri and Jon Walton, Silicon Valley Business Journal

Georgia
The promise and reality of Google Fiber by Jim Burress, Marketplace

Iowa
Williamsburg plans Aug. 14 community meeting by Brian Rathjen, Iowa City Press-Citizen

Maine
SandfordNet Fiber broadband project has started by Tammy Wells, Journal Times

...Read the article...

@CommunityNets

Community Broadband Networks

Muninetworks.org

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