Wall Street: Lack of Competition Allows Comcast to Raise Prices Whenever It Wants

Date: 8 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

A major difference between Main Street and Wall Street is that we view Comcast’s lack of competition as a major problem. The prospect of Comcast increasing our rates year after year makes us want to scream. Prepare to scream. Or throw things. The Lafayette Pro-Fiber Blog alerted us to a piercingly honest analysis from Wall Street. … Read More

Community Broadband Bits 7 – Mary Beth Henry of Portland, Oregon

Date: 7 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

For the 7th Community Broadband Bits podcast, we talk with Mary Beth Henry from Portland, Oregon. Mary Beth is the Director of the Portland Office for Community Technology and Mt Hood Cable Regulatory Commission, as well as a past president of NATOA. Our discussion covers the long struggle to ensure local businesses and residents had a … Read More

Public Service Commissioner Calls Mississippi Gov "Coin-Operated"

Date: 7 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

We have watched in growing horror as AT&T and other telco lobbyists have gone from state to state gutting telecommunications oversight. In several states, you no longer have an absolute right to a telephone – the companies can refuse to serve you if they so choose. We tip our hat to Phil Dampier at Stop the … Read More

Why "Who Invented the Internet" Matters

Date: 6 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

For those who missed it, a Wall Street Journal op-ed ignited a geektroversy by claiming the federal government did not invent the Internet. First, some history. Then an explanation of why we should care. A guy named Crovitz kicked off the fight with his poorly researched op-ed: It’s an urban legend that the government launched the … Read More

Television Ad Revenue for Small Networks

Date: 4 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

When communities are trying to figure out how to pay for networks, they sometimes fail to explore some logical places. A recent article on Telecompetitor gives us an estimate for revenues from inserting ads in cable television programming. Before the economic downturn, a typical small video service provider could expect between $1.25 and $2.00 a month … Read More

Utah State Auditor Reviews UTOPIA, Ignores State Role in Handicapping Network

Date: 3 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Just this week, the Office of the Legislative Auditor General of the State of Utah released a report to the Utah Legislature on UTOPIA. The report, titled A Performance Audit of the Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency rehashes prior criticisms of UTOPIA and tells the abridged story of the Auditor’s understanding of UTOPIA’s financial troubles. While … Read More

Mediacom Continues Obstructing Rural Broadband Rollout in Lake County Minnesota

Date: 2 Aug 2012 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Of all the broadband stimulus projects, the Lake County FTTH network in Minnesota has been one of the most embattled in the nation (possibly only behind AT&T’s attacks on South Carolina projects). Mediacom has pulled out all the stops, including filing complaints with the Inspector General that included dubious allegations at best and then complaining after … Read More

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