News

Comedian Louis CK Takes Internet Seriously

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 19, 2011

Louis CK, the comedian responsible for the FX show "Louie" and for making people laugh at his brutally candid assessment of how much his young daughter's opinion about anything matters, has bypassed the major studios, channels, and cable distribution systems to sell one of his concerts directly to his fans.

WindomNet Turns on Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 16, 2011

Exciting times in rural southwest Minnesota, as Southwest Minnesota Broadband Services has turned on its first customer. SMBS is a broadband stimulus-enabled partnership with eight rural communities and WindomNet, the muni FTTH network in Windom.

The Rev. Andrew Schensted and his wife, Lisa, were the first to be connected.

Tullahoma Utilities Start Smart Meter Meetings

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 15, 2011

Tullahoma, home to the LightTUBe FTTH network of Tennessee, is starting to roll out smart meters for its electrical and water utilities (owned by the city). They have initiated a series of public meetings to discuss the AMI - Advanced Metering Infrastructure.

Stop the Real Government Takeover of the Internet

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 14, 2011

I've censored the following, in protest of a bill that gives any corporation and the US government the power to censor the internet--a bill that could pass THIS WEEK. To see the uncensored text, and to stop internet censorship, visit: http://americancensorship.org/posts/15925/uncensor

Johnson City Seeks Partner to Offer Broadband Services

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 14, 2011

One month after the Johnson City Power Board (Tennessee) approved a fiber-optic network, they have issued a request for qualifications to identify potential partners that would provide broadband servic

The Internet is More Important than Broadband

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 13, 2011

I encourage readers to visit Doc Searls post "Broadband vs. Internet" for a discussion about things that matter regarding the future of Internet access for most Americans.

The Internet is no more capable than the infrastructures that carry it. Here in the U.S.

Community Broadband Fills Needed Gap in Wisconsin

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 10, 2011

Another video from the University of Wisconsin Extension Service's broadband stimulus project, Building Community Capacity through Broadband, which we have been covering here.

Personal Telco Project Video in Portland

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 9, 2011

A few years ago, I had the opportunity to meet some of the folks from the Personal Telco Project in Portland, Oregon. They have been around for a long time and do excellent work.

The Real Government Takeover of the Internet

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 9, 2011

If you aren't familiar with SOPA - the "Stop Online Piracy Act" or its companion in the Senate (called PIPA or Protect IP), you should be. This is legislation that would allow the US government to require Internet Service Providers block web sites without due process.

Susan Crawford Identifies Problems/Solutions with Broadband in America

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 8, 2011

Susan Crawford published an excellent essay in the New York Times presenting her Looming Broadband Monopoly argument as a discussion of the coming digital divide between those with access to next-generation networks and those without.

These numbers are likely

Paper Examines the "Growing Costs of Network Exclusion"

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 7, 2011

Most of us are familiar either with Metcalfe's law or the general principle of it: networks are more valuable the more people are on it. The common example used to illustrate is a telephone. One person on a telephone network is useless. Two people is an improvement.

Sample Community Fiber Promotional Material from Lafayette

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 6, 2011

Communities with grassroots movements investigating or encouraging community networks should take a look at the many resources the citizens of Lafayette, Louisiana, developed in their referendum fight in establishing LUS Fiber. In order to help educate the community, fiber supporters created a short newsletter (if there was more than one issue, I have not been a

Wisconsin Broadband Stimulus Network Wins Rural Award

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 5, 2011

More good news from the Building Community Capacity through Broadband stimulus-funded project in Wisconsin: it has earned an award from Wisconsin Rural Partners [pdf].

AT&T's Lobbying Power

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 3, 2011

A deep thank you to Public Knowledge for their throwing back the curtain on AT&T's lobbying operation in the attempted takeover of T-Mobile. Whenever the discussion of public v.

Local, Nonprofit Broadband Infrastructure Essential for Sustainability

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Dec 1, 2011

Wally Bowen, of North Carolina's Mountain Area Information Network, recently gave an excellent presentation that explained the importance of broadband and media infrastructure that puts community needs before the profit motive.

Chattanooga Community Fiber Network Profiled on The Southern Way

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 29, 2011

This video is no longer available.

Infographic: Big Cable v. Grassroots in Community Broadband Referendum

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 28, 2011

Learning the lessons of Longmont's recent cable referendum.

DC-Net Provides Access to Community of Hope

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 24, 2011

A story from Washington, DC, seems appropriate for Thanksgiving. DC's Community of Hope provides healthcare and housing to people in difficult situations. It needs Internet access for its medical work but also for computer labs where people can search for jobs and students can do homework.

Reedsburg Finally Launches Rural Expansion

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 23, 2011

Reedsburg Utilites, the owner and operator of a muni FTTH network north of Madison, Wisconsin, is finally moving forward on a project to connect rural areas of Sauk County.

Monticello FiberNet Attempts to Adapt Business Plan

By

Christopher Mitchell

on Nov 22, 2011

Monticello, a small community of 13,000 about 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis, built one of the most advanced broadband networks in the midwest and delivers some of the fastest connections available in the state at incredibly competitive rates.