Municipal broadband advocates in Ohio realized a major victory today when a bipartisan House and Senate conference committee released the final version of their state budget plan that added $250 million to expand broadband access in the Buckeye State and removed the anonymous budget amendment that would have effectively banned municipal broadband networks if passed into law.… Read More
When the Ohio Senate passed its two-year $75-billion budget bill yesterday, it included an amendment that effectively bans the creation and operation of municipal broadband networks and other community-owned projects without much in the way of public debate. The move is drawing a lot of blowback, from cities in the state to local and national advocacy organizations to the Lieutenant Governor.… Read More
This new fact sheet highlights municipal broadband success stories from across the country and some of the many benefits the networks have brought to the communities they serve. … Read More
In this episode of Building Local Power, host Jess Del Fiacco is joined by three ILSR colleagues to discuss recent news and upcoming policy decisions that could have major ramifications on local-level solutions. … Read More
The Franklin County Digital Equity Coalition was borne out of the emergency needs presented by the pandemic, but has shaped up to be a good model for how to address the broadband issues facing urban communities across the country. After 11 months of meeting and planning, the coalition released a framework in March outlining its five pillars of focus: broadband affordability, device access, digital life skills and technical support, community response and collaboration, and advocacy for broadband funding and policy. As part of its efforts, the coalition also developed two pilot programs to increase broadband access in parts of the city that need it most.… Read More
This week on the podcast Christopher talks with Steve Lange, IT Manager for the city of Wadsworth in eastern Ohio. … Read More
Over the next year, Springboro will build a 23-mile fiber loop for municipal services and lay five additional conduits to entice ISPs to come in and offer service, stimulating competition and economic development in the region.… Read More
AT&T has stopped making connections to users subscribing to its DSL Internet as of October 1st. The most conservative number of those affected by the decision will be about 80,000 households that have no other option.… Read More
FairlawnGig, Fairlawn Ohio’s municipal network, shows marketing innovation during the ongoing public health crisis.… Read More
