Promoting locally rooted, democratically accountable broadband networks that provide fast, affordable, and reliable Internet access to all Americans.
A community broadband network, we define, as a publicly-owned, locally-controlled broadband network, which can include public-private partnerships. The most common kinds of community networks are municipal networks and cooperatives.
There are more than 1000 localities across the nation served by a community broadband network with many more in the planning or construction phase.
Having tracked and documented broadband developments for nearly 20 years, we have amassed the nation’s largest storehouse of information on community-driven efforts to solve local connectivity challenges.
We invite you to explore our trove of information on the birth and development of community broadband and portal into CommunityNetworks.org where we offer free access to over 4,000 stories, nearly 600 podcasts, dozens of reports, policy briefs, case studies, instructional videos, and other resources.
CommunityNetworks.org
The 2021 bipartisan infrastructure law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act) established a $42.5 billion federal Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Internet access grant program.
The aim was to invest in the building new broadband networks in areas that lacked access to adequate infrastructure to deliver high-speed Internet, each state was allocated a portion of that amount primarily based on the number of the “unserved” and “underserved” locations in each state.
The grant program rules prioritized funding the building of fiber networks, the “future proof” gold-standard of Internet access technologies. However, several officials from the Trump Administration have proposed changing BEAD rules to use technologies that appear to cost less to deploy.
These changes would repeat past policy mistakes and waste billions of dollars while delivering subpar Internet access to households at much higher prices. In this fact sheet, we lay out the case for why fiber networks should continue to be prioritized.
BEAD Fiber Policy Brief
Former BEAD Director Evan Feinman joins Christopher Mitchell & Sean Gonsalves on the Community Broadband Bits podcast to discuss the turmoil around the BEAD program.
At the 17th Tribal Broadband Bootcamp, Pueblo of Jemez Tribe members immersed themselves in network technology as the Tribe embarks on a fiber project.
The municipal broadband provider celebrates rapid growth while ongoing community support means the city can repay its construction bond by the 2029 due date.
Amid an all-out assault on federal broadband funding programs, the upcoming Building For Digital Equity livestream offers a port in the storm.
ILSR's Christopher Mitchell speaks to StateScoop on why fiber matters in debate over Internet access technologies
Fierce Network spotlights new webinar series launched by ILSR's Community Broadband Networks team and the American Association of Public Broadband (AAPB).
ILSR's Chris Mitchell shares insights on the mission and vision of the Tribal Broadband Bootcamps he partnered in forming with Matthew Rantanen.
A federal affordable Internet program is ending. But muni-owned broadband networks have figured out how to deliver affordable high-speed Internet access themselves.
