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Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Mar 27, 2015

Amherst, Massachusetts Exploring Fiber for Economic Development Downtown

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/amherst-massachusetts-exploring-fiber-for-economic-development-downtown/

The Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) recently hired a firm to prepare an engineering study aimed at bringing fiber connectivity to its downtown reports MassLive.  In 2007, the community began offering free Wi-Fi downtown after receiving a grant from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to build a… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Mar 17, 2015

Bozeman’s Public-Private Approach In-Depth – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 142

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/bozemans-public-private-approach-in-depth-community-broadband-bits-podcast-142/

In Montana, local businesses and the city of Bozeman have been working on a public-private partnership approach to expanding Internet access that is likely to involve the city building an open access fiber network. We discuss their approach this week with Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director for the city of Bozeman; David Fine, Bozeman Economic… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Jan 19, 2015

New Article on Economic Development and Fiber: “The Killer App for Local Fiber Networks”

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/new-article-on-economic-development-and-fiber-the-killer-app-for-local-fiber-networks/

Time and again, we share economic development stories from communities that have invested in fiber networks. A new article by Jim Baller, Joanne Hovis, and Ashley Stelfox from the Coalition for Local Internet Choice (CLIC) and Masha Zager from Broadband Communities magazine examines the meaning of economic development and the connection to fiber infrastructure. Economists,… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Jan 13, 2015

Howard County Fiber Encourages New Jobs, Competition in Maryland – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 133

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/howard-county-fiber-encourages-new-jobs-competition-in-maryland-community-broadband-bits-podcast-133/

While at the Broadband Communities Economic Development conference in Springfield last year, I had the good fortune to catch a panel with Chris Merdon, the CIO of Howard County, Maryland. Howard County has become an Internet Service Provider, not just to itself, but to private firms as well. To improve Internet access for businesses, it… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by ILSR Admin | No Comments | Updated on Oct 8, 2014

The Dalles Pays off Its Network Debt Ahead of Schedule

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/the-dalles-pays-off-its-network-debt-ahead-of-schedule/

Of the more than 400 communities around the country that have built and benefitted from community networks, the town of The Dalles in Oregon may have a case for the title of “most bang for the buck.” Their commitment of $10,000 12 years ago to leverage a $1.8 million “QLife” fiber optic network has lead… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Sep 30, 2014

New Report Details Local Government Efforts to Improve Minnesota Connectivity

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/new-report-details-local-government-efforts-to-improve-minnesota-connectivity/

In our latest report, All Hands On Deck: Minnesota Local Government Models for Expanding Fiber Internet Access, we analyze how local governments in 12 Minnesota communities are expanding 21st century Internet access to their citizens. In 2010, the Minnesota legislature set a goal for 2015 – universal access to high speed broadband throughout the state…. Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Sep 9, 2014

First Muni Fiber Net in Maine – Community Broadband Bits Episode 115

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/first-muni-fiber-net-in-maine-community-broadband-bits-episode-115/

By building a fiber line to allow some local businesses to get next-generation Internet access, Rockport became the first municipal fiber network in the state of Maine. Town Manager Richard Bates joins us for episode 115 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast. We discuss the financing behind the network and their partnership with local Internet… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by ILSR Admin | No Comments | Updated on Sep 2, 2014

Ellensburg Considers Muni Fiber Network Expansion

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/ellensburg-considers-muni-fiber-network-expansion/

Last year, we covered this central Washington city’s first foray into publicly owned fiber optics. The local incumbent, Charter Communications, began charging the city $10,000 per month for services it had been providing for free for a decade as part of its franchise agreement. Ellensburg officials did some quick math and realized that they could… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Christopher | No Comments | Updated on Aug 19, 2014

Missoula Pursues Open Access Fiber for Jobs – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 112

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/missoula-pursues-open-access-fiber-for-jobs-community-broadband-bits-podcast-112/

After having met City Councilmember Caitlin Copple at last year’s Broadband Communities event in Austin and seeing the progress Missoula, Montana, has made in considering a municipal fiber network, I knew we should ask her to be on the show. This week, she joins me and Karen Palmer, the Director of Operations for a local… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Jul 3, 2014

Gainesville Plans Gigabit Ring for City and Businesses in Texas Town

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/gainesville-plans-gigabit-ring-for-city-and-businesses-in-texas-town/

The Gainesville City Council recently approved a plan to deploy a fiber ring throughout the Texas town of 16,000. The network will connect municipal facilities and offer gigabit connectivity to local businesses. Gainesville is located seven miles from the Oklahoma border in Cooke County. According to City Manager Barry Sullivan, the planned route will provide… Continue reading