In November 2012, Broadband Communities Magazine hosted the first of its Economic Development Conference Series in Danville, Virginia. The second conference, scheduled for November 5-7, 2013, will bring another group of leaders together in Tinley Park, Illinois, just outside of Chicago. This year, the conference will focus on the Midwest with discussions about Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, … Read More
ILSR’s Wireless Internet 101 fact sheet provides quick information on wireless technologies and policy. Most of us take wireless for granted. We use it every day but we have very little understanding of how it works, its limitations, or how it is managed. This fact sheet offers answers to questions many of us ask at one … Read More
In March, Ketchum leaders hired Magellan Advisors to work with the city Broadband Strategic Planning Committee to create a plan to address the lack of high-speed Internet, especially in the downtown area. Brennan Rego’s Idaho Mountain Express article reports the firm and the committee are now presenting their findings to the community in a series of meetings. … Read More
The newly completed Medina County Fiber Network (MCFN) in Ohio will soon add Medina County government as the next customer. The Medina-Gazette reports the County Commission recently voted unanimously to enter into a five-year agreement with MCFN and drop Armstrong Cable. County Administrator Chris Jakab says the county will save $600 per month. Currently Medina County pays … Read More
Good news for Vermonters who want connectivity from the East Central Vermont Fiber Optic Network (ECFiber). The community owned network recently raised another $430,000 from local investors who purchased tax-exempt promissory notes. As a result, the nonprofit can now expand another 20 miles. Approximately 100 more households and businesses will soon have access. Twenty-three towns belong to … Read More
The community of Sebewaing, located in the “thumb” of Michigan is moving closer to its own FTTH network, which will be the first new municipal FTTH project in the state. Because of a state law impinging on local authority in Michigan, local governments must first issue an RFP and can build a telecommunications network themselves if they … Read More
The United States has long recognized that everyone should have access to a telephone and has established a variety of government programs to achieve that end. In recent months, the Lifeline program has come under attack and some have labeled it the “Obamaphone” program. In this week’s Community Broadband Bits podcast, Sarah Morris joins us to … Read More
Today, we are deeply saddened at the news that Senator Frank Lautenberg has just passed away. Senator Lautenberg’s death is a loss for the nation as well as for our efforts to ensure communities have the authority to build Internet networks if they believe it a wise investment. The Senator and his staff have long been … Read More
The National League of Cities will be presenting a free webinar on June 13 on local broadband solutions. The event, titled Local Broadband Initiatives: Finding a Model That Works for You, is scheduled at 2 p.m. EDT. The speaker line up includes three leaders in policy, law, and implementation: Jim Baller, President, Baller Herbst Law Group, … Read More
