12 Jul 2018

Maine Community Moves Internet Project Forward with Incremental Financing

by | Date: 12 Jul 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The City of Sanford, Maine, is putting the final pieces of funding in place to move forward with its ambitious 45-mile fiber optic build, SandfordNet, the largest fiber infrastructure build proposed in Maine to date. Along with two other funding sources, the project will be financed by an existing Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district in downtown Sanford. According to the Journal Tribune, the project will cost $2.02 million in total to complete; that figure is higher than initially projected, due in part to fees to access utility poles.… Read More
25 Jun 2018

Municipal Broadband Network Nabs Title of Fastest Provider in the Nation

by | Date: 25 Jun 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Within the top five fastest ISPs, two are municipal networks: #1 NextLight from Longmont, Colorado, and EPB Fiber Optics from Chattanooga. Two others involve publicly owned conduit — #3 Sonic in San Franciscoand #5 Allo, operating in Lincoln, Nebraska.

When local communities have the opportunity to make investments to improve connectivity, they typically know what will work best for them. We’ve documented how each of these communities have improved economic development, improved Internet access for schools and other institutions, cut costs, and improved digital inclusion.… Read More
25 May 2018

Small Maine Town Seeks Information on Local Broadband Possibilities, References Need for Rural Internet Access

by | Date: 25 May 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Over the past year, towns in rural areas of Maine have mobilized and are taking steps to improve local connectivity. The latest is the community of Penobscot, where the local Broadband Committee recently released a Request for Information (RFI) to seek out firms interested in helping them bring broadband to the coastal community… Read More
22 May 2018

Oregon Community is Ready to Invest in Fiber for their Residents & Businesses

by | Date: 22 May 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In January, the City Council approved establishing a communications utility, creating a communications fund, and taking the necessary steps to develop a dig once policy in the city’s code. Elected officials had not yet decided if the community would pursue a city-wide network, but wanted to create an environment that would offer future options and encourage private sector partners to invest in Hillsboro.

The city already owns fiber optic resources that it uses for municipal facilities, schools, traffic signals, and other purposes. They plan to use that network as a foundation to expand in order to bring better connectivity throughout the community. With a wider network, Hillsboro hopes to adopt public Wi-Fi, better public safety notifications, and applications for smart-meters for utility services as well as real-time parking and traffic updates.… Read More
17 Apr 2018

Colorado Community Moves Toward Fiber for its Future Despite Monopoly Interference

by | Date: 17 Apr 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In the wake of an enormous and well-funded disinformation campaign by Comcast, Fort Collins’ grassroots broadband growth is taking steps to improve connectivity for its residents. The city is openly asking for input from its residents because they know that local authority is better than distant companies controlling their future.… Read More
5 Apr 2018

Washington State Legislation Paves Way for Fiber Network Deployment

by | Date: 5 Apr 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

In March, Washington state legislators passed HB 2664 and sent it on to Governor Jay Inslee, who signed the bill on March 22nd. In the Port of Ridgefield, where the community has been developing plans for a dark fiber network, the community had advocated for the change. Now that the law will be changing for the better, they’re ready to pursue the partnerships they need to spur economic development and improve connectivity for residents and businesses.… Read More
8 Sep 2017

Madison, Wis. Asks for Proposals for Building Citywide Fiber Network

by | Date: 8 Sep 2017 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Last year, Madison’s CIO Paul Kronberger spoke with Christopher about the city’s pilot project to bring better connectivity to several lower-income areas. They also discussed the community’s separate plan to deploy dark fiber infrastructure across the city. The city recently released its … Read More
12 Jan 2016

Op-ed: Next-Generation Networks Needed

by | Date: 12 Jan 2016 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The Knoxville News Sentinel published this op-ed about Tennessee’s restrictive broadband law on January 9, 2016. Christopher Mitchell: Next-Generation Networks Needed Four words in Tennessee law are denying an important element of Tennessee’s proud heritage and restricting choices for Internet … Read More
16 Jul 2015

Introducing… MuniNetworks Economic Development Page

by | Date: 16 Jul 2015 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Access to high-speed, broadband Internet facilitates economic development. Over the years, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance has documented economic successes brought about by community broadband networks. We chose some of the most compelling examples, organized them by topic, and put … Read More