Community Broadband Media Roundup - August 6

California

Oxnard sees high-speed Internet expansion as an economic development tool by Wendy Leung, VC Star

Colorado

Aurora to ask voters about municipal broadband by Kara Mason, Colorado Politics

Georgia 

Group to propose solution to rural broadband challenge by Tessa Green, Albany Herald

Louisiana

Seniors targeted for low-cost Internet by Julia Arenstam, Daily Comet 

Maine

Bangor looking to become next city to add fiber as 'essential infrastructure' by Jackie Mundry, News Center Maine

Massachusetts 


Four-town broadband in the works by Diane Broncaccio, Greenfield Recorder

New York

Charter CEO threatens lawsuit over New York’s attempt to kick Spectrum out of the state by Chris Welch, The Verge

State gives Charter marching orders by Pete Demola, The Sun

What happens to Spectrum cable customers if Charter gets kicked out of New York? by Christopher Zara, Fast Company

In an unusual move, the state’s Public Service Commission voted to revoke approval for Charter’s merger with New York-based Time Warner Cable, meaning Charter is effectively banned from doing business in New York, where it operates under the Spectrum brand. As justification for its decision, the commission said Charter has failed to meet its commitments under the merger, notably its promise to provide better service to underserved areas.

“Charter’s repeated failures to serve New Yorkers and honor its commitments are well documented and are only getting worse,” John B. Rhodes, chair of the commission, said in a statement.

Why Spectrum asked a man to pay $133,000 to install broadband Internet in NYC by Karl Bode, Motherboard 

North Carolina

Broadband grants may spark better access, but hurdles remain by Kirk Ross, Carolina Public Press 

Oregon

Comcast installed Wi-Fi gear without approval—and this city is not happy by Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica

Texas

Google Fiber expands Internet service into more of San Antonio by Sanford Nowlin, San Antonio Current 

General  

Comcast or Charter is the only 25Mbps choice for 68 million Americans by Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica 

Study: throwing taxpayer money at giant ISPs hasn't fixed America’s broadband problem by Karl Bode, Motherboard

The battle between Americans eager for better broadband and monopolies like Comcast focused on defending the broken status quo has raged for decades. And as Ajit Pai and his assault on consumer protections makes clear, the pendulum has swung pretty sharply in Comcast’s favor during the Trump era.

The solution, according to ILSR founder Christopher Mitchell, is to stop whining on Reddit, get out of your chair, and begin taking action where giants like Comcast are weakest: locally. 

“It sucks to tell someone in this situation that they have to become an organizer, hound their elected officials, or scout for good local companies to potentially partner with in expanding access,” Mitchell tells Motherboard. “But that is what happens in a working democracy.”

ILSR offers harsh Connect America Fund critique, says large carriers not investing in rural broadband by Joan Engebretson, Telecompetitor 

Broadband expansion gains momentum across U.S. by Christine Book, Smart & Resilient Cities

USDA invests $97 million in rural broadband infrastructure to improve service for 22,000 subscribers in 11 states Press release from USDA

FCC offers small ISPs a boost, but a bigger setback looms by Klint Finley, Wired 

How the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee could shape cities’ digital future by Angelina Panettieri, National League of Cities

Big telecom says anti-competitive internet fast lanes will be wonderful by Karl Bode, Motherboard 

Fiber in apartment buildings by Doug Dawson, POTs and PANs

Lobbyists and location stymie rural America's quest for broadband by Daniel Strauss, Washington Examiner

When entrenched providers in rural locations fend off new rivals, they don't need to upgrade old infrastructure that can be slower and less reliable, said Debra Socia, the executive director of Next Century Cities, a group that works with local governments to improve and expand Web access.

“State legislators are writing rules that make it nearly impossible for local communities to build their own broadband,” she added. “That’s a model for ensuring extended profit off of an investment.”

For robust broadband in the 5G era, more local control may be required by Heather Heimbach, Broadband Breakfast

Tier flattening: AT&T and Verizon Home customers pay a high price for slow Internet by Bill Callahan and Angela Siefer, National Digital Inclusion Alliance 

Now that Telcos have "Abandoned Rural America," the only broadband comes from cable monopolies by Cory Doctorow, BoingBoing

The American dilemma: Competition, or fast broadband? Pick one by Kieren McCarthy, The Register 

Are AT&T and Verizon fleecing rural America? by Marguerite Reardon, CNET 

The pole attachment controversy shadows the Broadband Deployment Advisory Committee by Heather Heimbach, Broadband Breakfast