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Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Sep 15, 2017

Rural Internet Connectivity is a Campaign Issue In Virginia’s 2017 State Elections

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/rural-internet-connectivity-is-a-campaign-issue-in-virginias-2017-state-elections/

For years we’ve encouraged voters to make improving connectivity a campaign issue in local, state, and federal elections by pursuing answers from candidates. In this year’s Virginia Gubernatorial race, it has now become a topic that both candidates are addressing as a key issue. The Roanoke Times Editors, no strangers to the state’s struggles with rural Internet… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Sep 11, 2017

Ohio State Lawmakers Look to Minnesota for Broadband Development Ideas

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/ohio-state-lawmakers-look-to-minnesota-for-broadband-development-ideas/

Two Ohio State Senators are taking a page from Minnesota’s playbook to expand rural broadband connectivity. Democratic Sen. Joe Schiavoni and Republican Sen. Cliff Hite recently announced that they would be introducing legislation to create a grant program modeled after the Minnesota Border-to-Border Broadband Grant Program.   Putting Money Into It The program is expected to… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Sep 5, 2017

Industry Survey Examines Small Telecom Companies & Fiber Deployment

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/industry-survey-examines-small-telecom-companies-fiber-deployment/

When it comes to rural areas, it’s no secret that national providers have little interest in serving the sparsely populated communities. Cooperatives and small local providers typically pick up the slack but it isn’t easy. In a recent survey indicated that small rural telephone companies are overcoming hurdles to deploy fiber and making long-term plans… Continue reading

Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Aug 29, 2017

Jon Chambers: Rethinking The Rules on The Connect America Fund – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 268

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/jon-chambers-rethinking-the-rules-on-the-connect-america-fund-community-broadband-bits-podcast-268/

This is episode 268 of our Community Broadband Bits podcast! Community Broadband Bits is a short weekly podcast featuring interviews with people building community networks or otherwise involved with Internet policy. Jon Chambers, a partner at Conexon, returns to visit us this week to talk about rural connectivity and the approaching Connect America Fund (CAF) auction. Conexon works with… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Hannah Trostle | No Comments | Updated on Aug 22, 2017

FCC Considers Smart Phones Broadband Deployment. That’s Laughable.

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/fcc-considers-smart-phones-broadband-deployment-thats-laughable/

Cell phones as a substitute for home Internet service? That’s what the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) suggested in an August 2017 document. Buried within the Notice of Inquiry for the Section 706 Report, the FCC quietly proposed that mobile service could be considered broadband deployment. In a recent article, Jon Brodkin at Ars Technica dove into why that… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Aug 17, 2017

Grant County, Oregon, Starts Planning Internet Infrastructure Project

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/grant-county-oregon-starts-planning-internet-infrastructure-project/

With funding from the state to jumpstart their initiative, the city of John Day in Grant County, Oregon, is working with local communities to deploy fiber to nearby Burns. The infrastructure will bring better connectivity to local residents in the mostly rural community.   Beginning Of A Plan City Manager of John Day Nick Green told… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Aug 16, 2017

Voters Say “Yes!” to Fiber-to-the-Home in Lyndon Township, Michigan

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/voters-say-yes-to-fiber-to-the-home-in-lyndon-township-michigan/

In a record high turnout for a non-general election, voters in Lyndon Township, Michigan, decided to approve a bond proposal to fund a publicly owned Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network. The measure passed with 66 percent of voters (622 votes) choosing yes and 34 percent (321 votes) voting no.   Geographically Close, Technologically Distant The community is located… Continue reading

Article filed under Broadband | Written by Hannah Trostle | No Comments | Updated on Aug 14, 2017

Fond du Lac Band Builds Fiber Network in Northeast Minnesota

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/fond-du-lac-band-builds-fiber-network-in-northeast-minnesota/

Native nations are building community networks, owned and operated by tribal governments to ensure that Indian Country has high-speed Internet access. In July 2017, the Fond du Lac Band of Ojibwe announced a plan to build a Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) network to 900 homes that only had access to dial-up Internet service. The Duluth News Tribune reported that the Fond… Continue reading

Featured Article, Resource filed under Broadband | Written by Nick Stumo-Langer | No Comments | Updated on Aug 10, 2017

Connecting Rural America: Internet Access for All – Episode 26 of the Building Local Power Podcast

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/connecting-rural-america-episode-26-of-the-building-local-power-podcast/

This week, our Building Local Power podcast contains a conversation between guest host Nick Stumo-Langer and ILSR researchers Hannah Trostle and Christopher Mitchell to discuss the importance of connectivity in rural America and the barriers high quality local investment. The group discusses a number of topics, including how electric cooperatives are changing the dynamic on… Continue reading

Featured Article filed under Broadband | Written by Lisa Gonzalez | No Comments | Updated on Aug 8, 2017

Orange County And Its Schools Work For Fiber In Virginia

The content that follows was originally published on the Institute for Local Self-Reliance website at https://ilsr.org/orange-county-and-its-schools-work-for-fiber-in-virginia/

With a growing need for fast, affordable, reliable connectivity, an increasing number of schools are constructing fiber optic infrastructure to serve their facilities. In some cases, they partner with local government and a collaboration eventually leads to better options for an entire community. Schools in Orange County, Virginia, will be working with county government to build a… Continue reading