Westminster, Maryland, began public consideration for community broadband investment last fall and has now decided to “stick our toe in the water and see how it works.” The Carroll County Times recently reported that the community will move ahead with engineering for two community pilot projects. Local leaders see this as an opportunity to flesh out any challenges … Read More
In 2010, Silverton, Colorado, decided to build a fiber-optic loop for savings and better connectivity in rural San Juan County. At the time, Qwest (now CenturyLink) provided a microwave connection to the town of around 630 residents. After taking state money to connect all the county seats, Qwest decided to take fiber to everyone except Silverton, … Read More
Our listening audience hears Chris Mitchell interview people every week for the Broadband Bits Podcast. Now it is time for the interviewer to become the interviewee. Chris took a few minutes to participate in the June 2013 episode of the Whatcha Workin’ On Podcast from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance. He told us a little about how … Read More
Longmont, Colorado, kept its eye on the prize. City leaders’ vision, to bring high-speed connectivity to residents, businesses, schools, libraries, and government facilities began many years ago and the community faced multiple challenges. Citizens knocked down legislative barriers through referendum, fought corporate misinformation campaigns, and contended with tough economic times. Throughout the ordeal, community leaders held … Read More
The Waverly City Council in Iowa recently voted 5-2 to establish a communications utility and to move ahead with a feasibility study. We spoke with Diane Johnston, Waverly Light and Power (WLP) General Manager, who told us the decision to get this far started over a decade ago. In 2000, the community passed two ballot measures that sat dormant … Read More
The Town Council of Holly Springs, North Carolina, just voted to pursue municipal network infrastructure. The Holly Spring Sun reports that the proposed network would include Town Hall, a local business park, the wastewater treatment plant, and school facilities. Wi-fi would be available in parks and public facilities. Holly Springs is about 25,000 people in the … Read More
Princeton, Massachusetts, continues to move steadily forward with its municipal broadband initiative. We first reported on the community’s plans in the Spring of 2012. The community approved funding for design services in May and recently hired G4S Technology to design the FTTH network for municipal government, schools and residents. The Digital Journal reports: The design will … Read More
Victims of Sandy are still recovering from the killer storm that ripped through the east coast last year. Two places hardest hit by the “Frankenstorm” were Fire Island, New York and the Barrier Island in New Jersey. In addition to homes and property, residents lost phone and Internet communications when telephone wires went down. They are … Read More
CapeNet is officially open throughout Cape Cod. Cape Cod Today reports Governor Deval Patrick, President of Massachusetts’ Senate Therese Murray, and State Senator Dan Wolf spoke on June 14th at an official event titled “This Changes Everything.” Planning for the new fiber network began seven years ago as a joint idea between Cape Cod Community College … Read More
