Community Broadband Media Roundup - May 7 | Welcome to Community Networks

Monday May 7, 2018

California

SF expanding pilot program that gets public housing residents on Internet by San Francisco Chronicle Staff

Together the locations contain 313 housing units, and both locations were selected based on a needs assessment. And now, citing the success of the pilot program, city officials are working on a plan to expand similar services to five additional public housing sites by the end of the year. The specific locations are still being worked out.
“We need to make sure those individuals that need a leg up in our city and in our society are on a level playing field with everybody else. Internet access is just table stakes,” said Mayor Mark Farrell, who has long emphasized the need to expand access to Internet services for those who might not be able to afford it. An estimated 100,000 San Franciscans lack reliable Internet access at home.

Colorado

New method examined to bring fiber optics to homes by Patrick Armijo, Durango Herald

Delaware

How Delaware is Promoting Better Broadband State-wide, Including in Rural Areas by Broadband and Breakfast Staff

Iowa

City of Pella Utility Special Election to be Held Tuesday by Andrew Schneider, KNIA-KRLS

Maine

Congress can preserve an open Internet by Hector Barreto, Lewiston Sun Journal

Four-town plan to expand broadband takes shape by Matt Junker, Keep Me Current

Massachusetts

MA Lt. Governor Reviews Broadband Progress In Berkshires by Josh Landes, WAMC

Alford and Egremont are among the 44 communities targeted by the Last Mile program, the remaining municipalities in the commonwealth without residential broadband service.

Concord Fights for Net Neutrality — With Its Own ISP by Doug Irwin, Radio Mag Online

Mark Howell is the chief information officer for the town of Concord, Massachusetts, and he writes: “I’ve overseen the creation of a successful municipal broadband system by treating Internet service like what it really is — a public utility, like water and electricity. We’re providing residents with broadband Internet service that is inexpensive and reliable and respects net neutrality and privacy principles.”
So just how was this accomplished? Concord has had a municipal electric utility since the early 1900s.

Mississippi

‘White space’ the solution for rural broadband? Maybe. by Bill Crawford, Sun Herald

Missouri

Rural broadband legislation will be heading to Missouri governor’s desk by Brian Hauswirth, MissouriNet

The House voted 138-4 on Thursday to approve legislation from State Rep. Curtis Trent, R-Springfield, declaring the intent of the Legislature to encourage development of fiber optic infrastructure by Missouri’s rural electric cooperatives.
Trent’s bill declares that the expansion of broadband service is in the best interests of Missourians.

New York

Volunteer Group NYC Mesh Delivers 1 Gbps Wireless to NYC by Karl Bode, DSL Reports

North Carolina

How communities across North Carolina are trying to bridge 'the homework gap' by Colin Campbell, Charlotte News & Observer

The N.C. League of Municipalities is backing a House bill that stalled in the Senate and would allow local governments to build broadband infrastructure and lease it to private internet providers.

Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission Eyes the Internet Business by Borys Krawczeniuk, The Times-Tribune (Government Technology)

Texas

There is a major digital divide on the Texas-Mexico border, one of least connected parts of the country by Paul Flahive, Marketplace

Virginia

Portsmouth will build 55-mile fiber-optic network, part of an effort to link the region by Ana Ley, Virginian Pilot-Online

Washington

Broadband provider eyes Astoria and Warrenton market by Edward Stratton, Daily Astorian

General

Broadband Advocates by POTs and PANs Blog CCG Consultants

T-Mobile says it has seven major competitors, which is complete nonsense by Jacob Kastrenakes, The Verge

Telemedicine: Different Types of Care Require Different Kinds of Broadband by Craig Settles, The Daily Yonder