California Reduces Restrictions for Rural Community Broadband

Date: 2 Oct 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

While major media outlets cover news about California Governor Jerry Brown’s decision to sign the state’s network neutrality bill, we’re high-fiving his signature on AB 1999. On September 30th, Gov. Brown approved the bill that removes state restrictions limiting publicly owned options for rural Internet access. The change signifies what we hope to see more of – state action empowering local communities set on improving local connectivity.… Read More

California’s Proposed Net Neutrality Legislation Resuscitated

Date: 10 Jul 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

California is one of a long list of states that have in some way addressed the current lack of regulations regarding network neutrality. In addition to Executive Orders in six states, including Vermont and Montana, state legislatures in 29 states have introduced legislation that address some aspect of network neutrality. Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have adopted legislation. To see a comprehensive list of state bills across the country, check out the National Conference of State Legislatures’ website.

Wiener’s SB 822 had been described as “the most comprehensive” of state legislation introduced since FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and the Republican Commissioners repealed federal network neutrality late last year. The bill passed in the Senate in late May, but amendments adopted during a contentious Communications and Conveyance Committee meeting in the Assembly transformed it into quite a different piece of legislation.… Read More

Picks: Gig Workers of the World Unite, Central Banking for All, States Fight Back to Save Obamacare, and more (7th Edition)

Date: 29 Jun 2018 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

David delves deep into the fight to piecemeal repeal parts of Obamacare, leaving hundreds of Americans at risk. We also detail the fight against the Keystone XL pipeline and the power of native American activism as well as the communities across the country that are fighting back against the largest ISPs in the country.… Read More

No Protection From a Broken Market: Internet Access & Availability in America

Date: 19 Jun 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

As of June 11th, federal network neutrality protections formally expired, thanks to Chairman Ajit Pai and the other Republican Commissioners at the FCC. In the months leading up to the vote, Pai has continued to press the talking point that the market will protect consumers. Now is a good time to pull out our infographic from last year, “The Market Has Spoken. The Market Is Broken,” to remind Chairman Pai that a broken market isn’t much protection.… Read More

Fate of Net Neutrality is Now in the Hands of the House, Gulp…

Date: 21 May 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Network neutrality protections are scheduled to disappear on June 11th. In an effort to reverse the FCC’s decision that will put millions at risk by eliminating market protections, 52 Senators voted in favor of a Resolution of Disapproval on May 16th. The vote was enough to pass the Resolution and send it on to the next step under the Congressional Review Act (CRA).… Read More

Losing Net Neutrality will Harm Rural America, ILSR Broadband Expert featured in Bernie Sanders video

Date: 16 May 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks, Press Release | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

The United States Senate is gearing up to vote on a resolution to repeal the roll back of network neutrality protections by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). In advance of the vote, the Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s (ILSR) Community Broadband Networks initiative director Christopher Mitchell is featured in a video from Senator Bernie Sanders (I – Vt.) detailing how the FCC’s actions harm rural America, specifically.… Read More

As the US Senate Considers Net Neutrality Today our Maps Show Millions at Risk

Date: 16 May 2018 | posted in: MuniNetworks | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

It’s May 16th and today is the day the Senate will vote on whether or not to reverse last December’s repeal of network neutrality rules by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai and other Republican FCC Commissioners. As a reminder, we thought this was a good day to pull out the maps we created that illustrate how that decision to repeal the federal policy put at least 177 million Americans at risk. … Read More

City Government Leader Cites ILSR Research in Supporting Net Neutrality in WaPo

Date: 24 Apr 2018 | posted in: Media Coverage | 0 Facebooktwitterredditmail

Mark Howell, the Chief Information Officer for the town of Concord, Massachusetts wrote an article for The Washington Post, detailing the steps that his community has taken to reclaim their authority over Internet access and the cast threat posed by the repeal of net neutrality. In his piece, he cites our comprehensive Community Networks Map to detail the investments that hundreds of communities have taken to improve their Internet access.… Read More

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