ILSR Releases New Community Networks Map

Date: 26 Feb 2013 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 1 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance has released a new interactive map showcasing 342 community owned networks throughout the United States that serve local businesses and residents. The Community Internet Map is available at MuniNetworks.org/communitymap/Read More

Survey Finds Independent Businesses Benefit from “Buy Local First” Campaigns, But Challenges Loom

Date: 6 Feb 2013 | posted in: Press Release, Retail | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

ILSR’s annual survey has found that independent businesses experienced solid revenue growth in 2012, buoyed in part by “buy local first” initiatives. But the survey also documented challenges facing independent businesses, most notably an increase in “showrooming” and competition from online retailers, tax and subsidy policies that favor their big competitors, difficulty obtaining loans, and a customer base still reeling from the recession.… Read More

The Empire Lobbies Back: How Big Cable Killed Competition in North Carolina

Date: 3 Jan 2013 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks, Press Release | 4 Facebooktwitterredditmail

After a city in North Carolina built a Fiber-to-the-Home network competing with Time Warner Cable, the cable giant successfully lobbied to take that decision away from other cities. The city of Wilson’s decision and resulting network was recently examined in a case study by Todd O’Boyle and Christopher Mitchell titled Carolina’s Connected Community: Wilson Gives Greenlight … Read More

Is Your Utility Ready? New Report Says Local Solar Could Power 10% of Country in 10 Years

Date: 2 Jan 2013 | posted in: Energy, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Minneapolis, MN —Within a decade, more than 35 million buildings may be generating their own solar electricity (without subsidies) at prices lower than their utility offers, sufficient to power almost 10% of the country.

That’s the powerful headline from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s latest report, Commercial Rooftop Revolution. Despite the opportunity, utilities, regulators, and policy markers are largely unprepared for the surge of local solar power.

Read the report, view the interactive map, and more

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Hawaii Drives Past Solar Power Cost Barrier, Surprised by Additional Roadblocks

Date: 30 Jul 2012 | posted in: Energy, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The report finds that while the economics of solar continue to improve, a number of unexpected barriers have arisen. Homes often need electrical upgrades and local governments struggle to keep up with permit requests. Utilities are also reluctant to give up their market dominance, enforcing antiquated rules about grid interconnection that can add significant expense, delay, or even kill projects entirely.… Read More

Community Broadband Bits – Our New Podcast

Date: 18 Jul 2012 | posted in: Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

About a month ago, we launched our new podcast series – Community Broadband Bits!   Each episode is a 10-15 minute interview with key people in the fascinating world of community broadband networks.   You can subscribe via iTunes or stream it directly from our companion web site – Muninetworks.org Here is a list of the episodes … Read More

Florida Fiber: How Martin County Saves Big with Gigabit Network

Date: 20 Jun 2012 | posted in: information, MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Martin County, Florida, is saving millions of dollars because it built a county-owned fiber optic network rather than continuing to lease connections from Comcast. ILSR’s latest report, Florida Fiber: Martin County Saves Big with Gigabit Network, reveals how Martin County transformed the threat of a near ten-fold cost increase for its telecom budget into cost savings … Read More

1.21 Gigawatts!

Date: 18 Jun 2012 | posted in: Energy, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In the past five years, a new U.S. renewable energy policy has quietly grown more popular, enabling enough solar power (1.21 gigawatts!) to send Michael J. Fox “Back to the Future.” CLEAN programs – Clean Local Energy Accessible Now – have been adopted in 14 states and can significantly increase the deployment of local solar power, says a new report from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).… Read More

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