Broadband to Nowhere? That is the Status Quo

Date: 3 Feb 2009 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In a misguided column entitled "Congress Approves Broadband to Nowhere," L. Gordon Crovitz suggests other countries have been more successful than the U.S. in expanding access to fast broadband but then rejects the approaches they took and encourages more of the same policies that have led to U.S. downfall. 

In response, I submitted the following letter to the editor at the Wall Street Journal:

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Christopher Mitchell

Date: 22 Jan 2009 | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Christopher Mitchell is the Director of the Telecommunications as Commons Initiative.  He has worked as a server administrator, web geek, and in automated software quality assurance. He earned a Master’s degree in Public Policy from the Hubert Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs at the University of Minnesota and a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from Macalester College.

Christopher’s work focuses on telecommunications — helping communities ensure the networks upon which they depend, are accountable to the community.  He has published several reports, articles, and interviews while also offering technical assistance to communities around the country.

In the Minneapolis office, Christopher tries not to distract his colleague John Farrell more than 5 times per day.  He is also a sports photographer and rock climbing enthusiast.  While on rock-climbing trips, Chris is known to stop by nearby community broadband networks for a tour.… Read More

Community Broadband

Date: 15 Jan 2009 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The U.S. has fallen behind other countries both in the percentage of our population that has access to high-speed Internet connections, and in what we consider “high speed.”  Almost all homes and businesses in Japan and South Korea have access to connections that are literally thousands of times faster – for which they pay considerably less than do we.… Read More

Low-Power Radio

Date: 15 Jan 2009 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

One year after FCC Chair William Kennard introduced a tentative plan to legalize low power FM stations, the FCC finally enacted rules for microradio on January 20, 2000. "Every day it seems like we read about more and more consolidation in the broadcast area…what low-power FM radio will do is create an important new outlet and spark a whole new outlet for creativity and and new ideas and new music that we don’t often hear on the radio." FCC Chairman Kennard proclaimed after the decision was announced.… Read More

Choice — and a Voice: Broadband Advice for the Obama Administration

Date: 26 Nov 2008 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Fiber-to-the-home is essential infrastructure.  Communities know they need better broadband networks.  DSL is already too slow, especially on the upload side.  DOCSIS3 cable networks may promise fast speeds this year and next, but ever increasing numbers of users, each inevitably increasing bandwidth utilization, will soon overwhelm this legacy shared architecture.  

Our international competitors have invested in technologies that will bring very fast speeds all the way to the home.  In most areas of the U.S., this can only be achieved with fiber to the home.  And we can connect a fiber to every home if we make it a priority.  Our geography gives us a bigger challenge than others, but we are a nation that rises to challenges.
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Court Victory Paves Way For Publicly Owned Broadband

Date: 9 Oct 2008 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

For Immediate Release PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: 612-276-3456 COURT VICTORY PAVES WAY FOR PUBLICLY OWNED BROADBAND   Institute celebrates Minnesota city’s milestone in community-owned fiber optic project Minneapolis, MN—(October 9, 2008). The Honorable Judge Jonathan Jasper, a judge of the 10th District District Court, has ruled that Minnesota cities have the authority to issue bonds to finance … Read More

City on Solid Ground in Lawsuit

Date: 31 Jul 2008 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

At a time when most of the United States has slower, more expensive Internet connections than our overseas competitors, communities across the country have responded with initiatives to build the infrastructure of the 21st century. And then they have been sued.

Monticellois hardly the first community where an incumbent provider believes it alone should decide how that community connects to the world. Lafayette, a conservative city in Louisiana, spent several years in the courts before it could break ground on a publicly owned citywide network. Cajun culture did not allow for giving up on the project. Nice Minnesotans should do no less.

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City on solid ground in lawsuit

Date: 31 Jul 2008 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

City on solid ground in lawsuit By Christopher Mitchell, originally published in the Monticello Times, July 31, 2008   At a time when most of the United States has slower, more expensive Internet connections than our overseas competitors, communities across the country have responded with initiatives to build the infrastructure of the 21st century. And then … Read More

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