The Institute for Local Self-Reliance recently submitted comments on FCC petitions filed by Wilson, North Carolina and Chattagnooga, Tennessee. We have been following the proceedings that may prove to be the tipping point in the movement to regain local telecommunications authority. Our organization collaborated with eight other groups and two D.C. Council Members to provide detailed … Read More
This week, you might have been tripped up by some infuriating “spinning wheels of death” on the Internet, but don’t worry, the slow-down was largely symbolic— at least for now. Fierce Telecom covered the Internet Slowdown Day protest on Wednesday, organized by “Battle for the Net.” It was designed to bring attention to what will happen if … Read More
The Guardian recently ran an article covering Chattanooga EPB’s fiber network. The article tells the story of the birth of the network, the challenges the community faced to get its gigabit service, and how the network has sculpted the community. Reporter Dominic Rushe, mentioned how the city has faced legal opposition from incumbents that sued to … Read More
Last week, the Vermont Department of Public Service began a series of public hearings on the public comment draft of its State Telecommunications Plan. The plan is intended to asses the current state of the telecom landscape in Vermont, map out goals and benchmarks for the next 10 years, and provide recommendations for how to achieve … Read More
Back in June, some sixty House Republicans led by Tennessee’s Marsha Blackburn sent an open letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler expressing their “deep concern” with his support for community networks. They took issue with comments he made at a House Energy and Commerce hearing in May, indicating his willingness to preempt incumbent-sponsored anticompetitive state laws … Read More
Depending on what websites you have visited today, you may have noticed the “spinning wheel of death” greeting you followed by a request to join on a letter in favor of network neutrality. September 10, 2014 is now known as Internet Slowdown Day. The idea is to demonstrate what your Internet experience may be like if … Read More
There is little doubt that our readers are aware of Chairman Wheeler’s remarks on September 4th at 1776, a start-up incubator in D.C. His message echoed what policy leaders have repeated countless times – competition is lacking in the world of broadband. Telecommunications has become a popular topic in the past few months as decision makers … Read More
In an excellent piece titled “How Republicans Flip-Flopped on Government-Run Internet,” the National Journal outlines the disappointing political evolution of municipal broadband, from a bipartisan local choice issue to an anti-Obama Administration, pro-incumbent telecom, states’ rights issue. It was not so long ago (2005, to be precise) that three Republican senators (John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and … Read More
The Boulder Chamber of Commerce has come out in favor of ballot measure 2C, which would restore the City of Boulder’s authority to provide telecommunications services to its residents. From the Chamber’s website: City of Boulder 2014 Ballot Measure 2C – Affirming the City’s Right to Provide Telecommunication Services Colorado State Bill 152 precludes cities from … Read More
