The Secrets Behind Partnerships to Improve Internet Access

Date: 14 Jul 2016 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A growing number of US cities have broken up monopoly control of the Internet marketplace locally. They’re promoting entrepreneurship, and giving residents and businesses real choice in how they connect and reach new audiences. They’ve brought a new wrinkle to an old model: the public-private partnership. “Communities desperately need better Internet access, but not all local governments … Read More

Minnesota’s Broadband Grant Program: Getting the Rules Right

Date: 12 May 2016 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Minneapolis, MN —In its first two years of implementation, the Minnesota Border-to-Border program distributed $30 million to 31 rural Minnesota communities. But the state has not put enough money into the program and needs to put more focus on getting investment in Greater Minnesota cities to spur economic development. “This funding is essential to greater Minnesota communities … Read More

RS Fiber: Fertile Fields for new Rural Internet Cooperative

Date: 18 Apr 2016 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

21ST CENTURY FARMS REQUIRE 21ST CENTURY CONNECTIVITY. Denied Access by telephone and cable companies, they created a new model. Winthrop, MN — A new trend is emerging in rural communities throughout the United States: Fiber-to-the-Farm. Tired of waiting for real Internet access from big companies, farmers are building it themselves. Communities in and around Minnesota’s rural … Read More

SandyNet Goes Gig: A Model for Anytown, USA

Date: 9 Nov 2015 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

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

Correcting Community Fiber Fallacies: The Reality of Lafayette’s Gigabit Network

Date: 13 Oct 2014 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In just the last year the Lafayette Utility System (LUS) gigabit network has attracted 1300 high-tech jobs. Chairman Wheeler praises the network for doing what many communities hope to do, but cannot because of state laws limiting municipal broadband networks. Critics are desperate to discredit the network, using false statements and misinformation. The Reason Foundation released a paper by Steven … Read More

All Hands On Deck: Minnesota Local Government Models for Expanding Fiber Internet Access

Date: 30 Sep 2014 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Minneapolis, MN —In 2010 the Minnesota legislature set a goal: universal access to high speed broadband throughout the state by 2015. As 2015 approaches we know that large parts of Greater Minnesota will not achieve that goal, even as technological advances make the original benchmarks increasingly obsolete. But some Minnesota communities are significantly exceeding those goals. … Read More

Publicly owned broadband would serve city best

Date: 1 Aug 2005 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

On June 27, the Supreme Court ruled that cable companies have the sole authority to decide who may use their high-speed communications networks. They can decide what information to transmit, and what information they will refuse to transmit.

The decision clears the way for the FCC to allow phone companies to monopolize their own information highways. And it underscores the need for communities to build their own information infrastructure.

Both cable and phone companies want to sign up as many Internet subscribers as possible because in the near future, phone, television and Internet will all be offered through the same broadband connection. … Read More

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