Community Broadband Media Roundup - May 9

California

California Department of Technology to extend fiber to City of Sacramento by News Staff, GovTech

The Department of Technology in April agreed to extend the department's fiber ring to the city of Sacramento in an arrangement that the department says will save the city and the state money over the long term.

"This agreement will replace leased, vendor provided, critical network FRS circuits with city fiber, saving CDT approximately $20,000 per month. Although CDT [California Department of Technology] was required to initially spend approximately $117,000 to build out seven sites, the cost will be recouped in less than 6 months once the CDT vendor fiber contracts are terminated. In return, CDT will become the Internet Service Provider for the City of Sacramento, allowing the city to eliminate costly vendor-provided ISP services," the Department of Technology announced on its blog April 28.

Colorado

Mayor: 'Gigabit here we come' by Jenni Grubbs, Fort Morgan Times

Missouri

Muni broadband limits tucked into totally unrrelated traffic bill in Mo. by Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica

Missouri is one of about 20 states that already have restrictions on municipal telecom services, but Fraker's proposal would make it more difficult for cities and towns to offer broadband. The amendment was described yesterday by the Institute for Local Self-Reliance's Community Broadband Networks project, which urged Missouri residents to contact the bill sponsors "and explain how you feel about amendments that do not relate to the substance of their bill."

AT&T hides anti-muni broadband language in Missouri traffic bill by Karl Bode, DSL Reports

New Mexico

City of ABQ and NM Technology Council partner to consider community broadband by New Mexico Technology Council, Market-Wired

Virginia

Broadband is top priority by Granger McFarlane, Roanoke Times

High speed broadband arrives in much of Roanoke Valley by Gene Marrano, The Roanoke Star

General

Ted Cruz pushing bill protecting large ISPs from competition by Karl Bode, TechDirt

Only a third of broadband users would recommend their ISP by Karl Bode, DSL Reports

Prepare for pushback experts tell communities building municipal broadband networks by Alex Koma, State Scoop

Image of the Cowboy Beagle courtesy of Sid through a creative commons license.