“Level Playing Field” Padded With Public Dollars to Private Providers

Date: 2 Apr 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Municipal broadband networks have been gaining traction across the country. It’s easy to see why: In many rural and low-income communities, privately offered broadband services are nonexistent. In its 2012 Broadband Progress Report the Federal Communications Commission counted nearly 20 million Americans (the vast majority living in rural areas) beyond the reach of broadband. The Free … Read More

In Georgia, Tech City Opposed HB 282 With Official Resolution

Date: 28 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

We were happy to report when HB 282 failed to advance on the floor of the Georgia General Assembly House in a bipartisan vote. We were equally pleased to learn that at least one Georgia community passed an official resolution opposing the bill while it was making its way through the committee process.  Alpharetta, an Atlanta … Read More

Moultrie City Manager Discusses Origins of CNS Network in Georgia for Community Broadband Bits Episode 39

Date: 26 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Podcast | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Mike Scott, City Manager of Moultrie in Georgia, joins us for Episode #39 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast to share the origins of the Community Network Services (CNS) network that joins four towns in four counties in rural southwest Georgia. In this interview, Mike Scott shares some of the benefits of the network for local … Read More

In Georgia, Monroe Muni Network Created Jobs, Lowered Bills

Date: 15 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As we monitored Georgia’s HB 282, a bill to limit the capacity of local governments to invest in Internet networks that spur economic development, we learned of many existing networks that have helped communities to thrive. Brian Thompson, Director of Electric and Telecommunications in Monroe took some time to tell us a little about their city … Read More

PR Watch Ties ALEC to Now-Dead Bill in Georgia to Limit Internet Investment

Date: 11 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Brendan Fischer of the Center for Media and Democracy’s PR Watch examines the ties between HB 282, the people behind it, and how it evolved into a threat to connectivity and local control. Brendan gave us permission to repost the story in full here. Since authoring this story, HB 282 was defeated in Georgia in a floor … Read More

Georgia Bill to Limit Internet Investment Dies on House Floor

Date: 8 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

We’ve been writing about Georgia’s HB 282 for weeks, discussing the likely impact from limiting who can build Internet networks in communities that have the most basic Internet connections. When the bill finally hit the House Floor, it failed in a bipartisan vote of 70 ayes to 94 nays. Many groups helped to educate the public … Read More

CBS Atlanta Asks Tough Questions of Georgia Anti-Community Broadband Bill

Date: 6 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

We finally see television news outlets asking the tough questions of bill pushed by powerful cable and telephone companies to prevent giving residents a real choice in cable and Internet service providers. We been covering this Georgia bill closely, and were glad to see this segment: CBS Atlanta 46 The segment makes an error in suggesting … Read More

“The Monopoly Magnate”

Date: 6 Mar 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

ILSR is following HB 282, restrictive legislation moving through the Georgia General Assembly. The bill would effectively end the ability for existing networks to expand. Communities considering investing in their own telecommunications networks would face almost insurmountable financial and practical hurdles. As the bill is heavily lobbied by incumbent telecom giants, local leaders make the trek … Read More

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