Arizona

The Havasupai Tribe secures license to build-out their community broadband network by Mariel Triggs, People-Centered Internet

Florida

Consultant’s report: Cheaper, faster Internet possible in Gainesville, but not without
 significant challenges by Joseph Hastings, WUFT

“There are scenarios where the city could provide low-price broadband while operating a fiber business that would be self-sustaining and profitable and that wouldn’t need any subsidies from GRU or the city,” the report states. “However, creating such a business is no slam dunk.”

Georgia

Internet far slower in Georgia than reported by Mark Niesse and Nicholas Thieme, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Idaho

Small Idaho city shows the benefits of open access broadband networks by Karl Bode, Techdirt

Iowa

FD looks for more broadband by Bill Shea, The Messenger 

iVinton continues to move forward in the plans to bring broadband to Vinton by Valerie Close, Vinton Today

Massachusetts

Wendell approves 7.6 percent budget increase by David McLellan, Greenfield Recorder 

California

Council votes to pursue study of municipal broadband by Anne Ternus-Bellamy, Davis Enterprise

Colorado 

Loveland council approves agreements, contracts for municipal broadband by Julia Rentsch, Loveland Reporter-Herald

Idaho

If your broadband bill is too high consider moving to Idaho, they get the Internet for free by Kieren McCarthy, The Register

In short, the value of municipal networks has been reflected, yet again, in the real world with real services. In Ammon, Idaho fast Internet access comes at half the price, with no restrictions and no lock-in to cable giants. 

Kentucky

"Without that you can't thrive and you can't succeed"; Broadband key to Appalachian growth, WYMT 

Maine

Minot board OKs study on broadband service by Eriks Petersons, Sun Journal 

Michigan

City hires new director to help close Detroit’s digital divide by Patreice A. Massey, Michigan Chronicle

Minnesota

How Klobuchar, Stearns County and the Legislature want to improve Internet access by Nora G. Hertel, Saint Cloud Times

New York

California

Fullerton FiberCity Network will use open access approach by Phil Britt, Telecompetitor

Colorado

Loveland launches broadband push by Jessica Benes, Reporter Herald

Delaware

Delaware expanding broadband in rural counties by Dani Bozzini, 47ABC

Georgia

Georgia unveils plan for Internet service in rural areas by Mark Niesse, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“The solution to broadband in the state of Georgia is not a rifle-shot, one-size-fits-all solution,” Nunn said. “It’s a patchwork that involves many different providers working in partnership to address the needs in various parts of the state.”

Maine

Towns can soon avoid fee for broadband devices on poles, WABI 5

Massachusetts 

Community meeting to address need for municipal broadband, The Falmouth Enterprise

Minnesota

2019 MN tribal nation broadband profiles, Blandin Foundation 

North Carolina 

Town of Highlands making broadband progress by Jessi Stone, Smoky Mountain News

California

Guest Opinion: Palo Alto needs a citywide municipal fiber-to-the-premises utility by Jeff Hoel, Palo Alto Online

Idaho

Fiber Optic Utility brings faster and better Internet to Ammon by Ariel Schroeder, KIFI

National surveys show that having fiber optics installed in your homes increases its value over 3%.

For for a $75,000 home, it's going to typically increase the value of the home by over $4,000.

"This is because home buyers are getting smarter and they know that the Internet is very much like sewer and water. They want it, they know they are going to pay for it every month, and that matters to them what that monthly bill is. So they are motivated to try and find good connectivity at the lowest price possible," Patterson said.

Amid network growth, Ammon Fiber to host information meeting by Ryan Suppe, Post Register

Task force created to improve broadband Internet in Idaho, KLEW News

Illinois

Jacksonville City Council will meet May 28 by Kristine Gonzales-Abella, West Central Reporter 

Maine

Business Breakfast: Municipal broadband projects ‘contagious,’ experts say, Portland Press Herald 

Towns can soon avoid fee for broadband devices on poles, Seattle PI

Michigan

Alabama

State Sen. Clay Scofield: Survival of rural Alabama depends on broadband expansion by Tim Howe, Yellowhammer News

Arkansas

What a broadband preemption victory in Arkansas means for rural cities by Spencer Wagner, CitiesSpeak

Arkansas plans to deploy broadband statewide by 2022 by Ryan Johnston, StateScoop

California

AT&T and San Jose, CA reach agreement on smart cities tech, digital divide funding by Jason Plautz, Smart Cities Dive

Inside the war over 5G equipment in northern California by Sarah Holder, Pacific Standard

Colorado 

With trips east, Loveland looks to other cities’ expertise on building broadband network by Julia Rentsch, Reporter Herald 

Idaho 

Next Century Cities highlights state action for broadband, co-sponsors broadband conference in Idaho by Drew Clark, Broadband Breakfast 

Indiana

Community forms task force to increase broadband access by Kraig Younts, Rushville Republican 

Arizona

Thin on broadband: Tribal areas still struggle with lagging technology by Keerthi Vedantam, Cronkite News

California

Empower local communities to close the digital divide by Greg Norton, California Economic Summit

Colorado 

Broadband Internet access lags in Greeley, badly, and the city is well aware by Bobby Fernandez, Greeley Tribune 

NextLight wins affordability awards from Broadband Now by Sophia Collender, Longmont Observer

Maine

Minot selectmen consider broadband study by Eriks Petersons, Sun Journal 

Massachusetts 

Petersham residents to get update on broadband by Greg Vine, Athol Daily News 

Michigan 

Opinion: Municipal fiber is good for communities by Jon Anne Willow and Curtis Dean, Traverse City Record Eagle

Missouri 

Lawmakers negotiate education funding, broadband expansion ahead of budget deadline by Mark Zinn, News-Press NOW

Commissioners say river flooding projected, broadband project continues by Sarah Gray, The Marshall Democrat-News

New Mexico

Alabama

Legislature advances broadband bill, funding by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News 

Arkansas

Community matters: Improving access to broadband by Sen. John Boozman, The Times Record 

Georgia

Bill clears electric co-ops for broadband services in Georgia by Stephen Hardy, Lightwave

Maine

ConnectME program launches $740K round of broadband grant funding, MaineBiz

Massachusetts 

Windsor annual town meeting preview, Berkshire Eagle

3rd candidate enters Ward 7 race for Northampton City Council by Bera Dunau, The Daily Hampshire Gazette

Michigan 

ISD part of team helping with rural Internet research by Phil Wenzel, The Sault News 

“Educators have been talking about the ‘digital divide’ for two decades, and while some progress has been made in closing the gap, inequities persist in communities across the country,” said Charlotte Bewersdorff, Merit’s vice-president of marketing and member engagement, in the release.

Minnesota 

Technobabble: Municipal fiber, could it happen to you? by Jason Ogaard, Hutchinson Leader

Arkansas 

Efforts to provide Internet where residents need it most, KAIT8

Colorado

Town of Vail opts into Project THOR to enhance regional broadband service by Scott Miller, Vail Daily 

Public, private or both: Eagle County communities mull broadband options by Pam Boyd, Vail Daily

Boulder, Colo., considers funds for expanded broadband by Cassa Niedringhaus, Daily Camera 

Illinois

City markets its new broadband business by Pam Eggemeier, SaukValley.com 

Kansas

For small-town economic success, broadband is the new railroad by Peggy Lowe, Marketplace

Maine

How Central Maine Power plans to keep its vow to improve rural broadband by Lori Valigra, Bangor Daily News 

Massachusetts 

South Hadley Electric continues rollout of high-speed residential Internet access by Dennis Hohenberger, MassLive

“There’s a tremendous amount of interest. Customers are giving us a lot of positive feedback. There’re very hungry to have competition, to have options,” Fitzgerald said, “a chance to pick from different vendors versus having to choose one.”

Arkansas

Why did Arkansas change its mind on municipal broadband? by Nick Keppler, CityLab

“If someone with a degree in coding gets a remote job here, they can’t stay,” she says. Arkansans who want to take online classes face the same roadblock. “I’ve had people tell me they can’t pull up emails at their house,” Davis says. “They have to go to McDonalds and use the Internet.”

(please see our story for a more detailed analysis of the bill, SB 150, which passed this session) 

Colorado 

Yampa Valley Electric gets OK to start broadband work in Craig by Clay Thorp, Craig Daily Press

Loveland council to vote on new rules for small-cell wireless providers by Julia Rentsch, Reporter-Herald

Kansas

For small-town economic success, broadband is the new railroad by Peggy Lowe, Marketplace

Thanks to an existing local fiber network and help from the Rural Innovation Initiative, Emporia is hoping to become a rural tech hub, with an incubator for entrepreneurs who will bring jobs to the area.

Montana

Bozeman declares broadband as essential infrastructure by Katheryn Houghton, Bozeman Daily Chronicle 

Ohio

Affordable, reliable broadband key to economic development by Senator Rob Portman, Logan Daily News

California

Manhattan Beach takes first step towards installing city-wide fiber optic Internet by Kirsten Farmer, The Beach Reporter 

Michigan

Commissioners push for more high-speed Internet by John Matuszak, The Herald-Palladium 

Missouri 

Blunt expresses concern about rural broadband expansion in MO, KFVS 12

Pennsylvania 

Quest for high-speed Internet: Fiber optic close but out of reach for Valley business by Justin Strawser, The Daily Item 

"Lack of broadband access hinders our students’ ability to learn, it keeps our health care and EMS providers from delivering the best treatment possible, it drives away businesses, and it makes it more difficult for families and friends to connect with one another. Connecting Pennsylvanians to high-speed Internet is the most meaningful rural economic development initiative we can undertake today…” 

When the ‘homework gap’ hits home: How rural Pa. students learn with limited broadband by Sarah Paez, Centre Daily Times

19M rural Americans have little or no Internet access. Here’s how they hope to change that by Tim Johnson, McClatchy DC Bureau 

Tennessee