Thanks to a new interlocal agreement, the City of Wilson, North Carolina will soon expand its Greenlight community broadand network to the nearby Town of Pinetops. Officials expect to complete the expansion of the gigabit fiber network by April 2016. Pinetops, a town of 1,300, is less than 20 miles from Wilson, population 50,000. We’re Waiting… … Read More
The Salt Lake Tribune published this op-ed championing local investment in Internet infrastructure on December 11, 2015. Op-ed: Spanish Fork’s success shows municipal Internet networks work By Christopher Mitchell For nearly 10 years, large telephone and cable companies have claimed municipal Internet networks are so risky that local government authority should be restricted. But after … Read More
In a position piece released in October, Hillary Clinton voiced strong support for local authority: “Three-quarters of US households have at most one option for purchasing the Internet service families now depend on for shopping, streaming, and doing homework. When alternatives do emerge, however, as they have in places like Kansas City, prices go down and … Read More
Many of the most beautiful communities in the United States are in remote areas where incumbent cable and telephone companies have decided not to offer modern, high-quality Internet connectivity. Sandy, Ore., is one of them. Some 10,000 people live there among the lush green forests and beautiful vistas of the “Gateway to Mount Hood,” 25 miles … Read More
The “constant drumbeat” of complaints about poor connectivity pounding from Colorado communities ended with a climactic crash at the polls on Tuesday. Referenda in 43 communities – 26 cities and towns; 17 counties – all passed overwhelmingly to reclaim local telecommunications authority. Staggering Approval The landslide victory was no surprise. Last year, nine communities asked voters … Read More
Communities along Mississippi’s Gulf coast have recently suffered through disasters both natural and not, from Hurricane Katrina to BP’s Deepwater Horizon blowout and aftermath. But they are investing some of the relief funds into infrastructure of the future to help recover. Biloxi and Gulfport city officials recently passed resolutions approving an intergovernmental agreement to bring better connectivity … Read More
Chattanooga’s EPB Fiber Optics now offers 10 gigabit Internet access to all households and businesses in its service area. The ultra-fast service is available for $299 per month with free installation, no contracts, and no cancellation fees, announced community leaders at a press conference on October 15th. In addition to 10 gig service, EPB is also … Read More
The Roanoke Daily Herald published this op-ed about local government action for broadband networks on September 25, 2015. We were responding to an earlier Op-Ed, available here. Christopher Mitchell wrote the following op-ed. It is stunning any legislator can look at the constituents they serve in rural North Carolina and think, “‘These people don’t need the … Read More
To try to stop the Network Neutrality rules established earlier this year, big cable has filed suit against the FCC in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Advocates have drafted a brief to let the court know that the people are not willing to give up Network Neutrality. In a matter of days, … Read More
