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Fast, affordable Internet access for all.
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Connected Nation and Lies About DSL Speeds
On Wednesday, I testified at an informational hearing before the House Telecom Subcommittee of the Minnesota Legislature. Connected Nation was giving an update on their contract to map broadband availability in Minnesota and I wanted to record some dissent regarding their claims and the usefulness of maps in general. For those who have not used the Connected Nation tool, it is horrible.
Time Warner Reverses Direction in NC, Fights Competition with New Strategy
Time Warner, AT&T, and other incumbents have radically changed their strategy to prevent broadband competition in North Carolina via new restrictions that are being debated in the Legislature currently. This switch in strategy offers more proof that they stand on no principle aside from protecting their monopoly.
The famous HB 1252 in North Carolina is back... but different.
Lafayette: 100Mbps and Now What?
One of the focuses of the recent FiberFete conference is what do communities do once they have built a next-generation network. Lafayette had lots of ideas.
Let's start with counting new jobs.
Changing the Rules: Beware Free Money
One of the dangers of federal programs like the broadband stimulus programs BTOP and BIP is that the feds make the rules...
Lessig Presentation on America's Broadband Policy
Paul Venezia is one of the few who noted a recent Lessig presentation that discusses broadband policy. Larry Lessig's presentation offers an excellent short history of broadband and telecom history - from the beginning of AT&T to the National Broadband Plan.
Tonka Connect
Lake Minnetonka Communication Commission -- a group representing a number of suburban communities located west of Minneapolis -- is seeking to build a community-owned FTTH network.
Rules Matter - Network Neutrality and Transparency
I was briefly checking out the Open Internet Workshop when I got into a short tweet-argument with someone I did not know. Bear with me as I recount the discussion then explain why I think it worth delving into for a post.
FCC Commissioner Tells NC Audience, States Should Not Preempt Community Broadband
Thanks to Catharine Rice, who tipped me off to FCC Commissioner Mignon Clyburn's presentation at the SEATOA Conference yesterday. SEATOA is a regional group of states from the southeast of the US that are part of NATOA.
Gentlemen, Please - Dealing with a Divided Market
Susan Crawford recently posted "The Gentlemen's Agreement," noting that major cable companies have divided the national market and tend not to compete with each other (they actually help each other in some circumstances).
Though bad for
Update on Salisbury Fiber Network
After focusing on the North Carolina battle at the Legislature (regarding whether cities should be allowed to choose to build their own broadband networks or if they should solely have to beg the private sector for investment), I wanted to check in on Salisbury, which is building a FTTH network.
Salisbu
Time Warner Pushes Moratorium in North Carolina
Time Warner continues to fight for monopoly protections in North Carolina with legislation to hamstring municipalities, preventing them from building the essential broadband infrastructure they need.
Cable Cos, Wi-Fi, and Limiting Competition
David Pogue, a NY Times Tech columnist, recently wrote about a partnership between cable companies to share Wi-Fi access points:
I, a Cablevision customer, can now use all of Time Warner’s and Comcast’s hot spots in these three states.
North Carolina Considers Pro-Monopoly, Anti-Competition Broadband Bill
Stop the Cap! sounded the alarm that North Carolina is once again considering a bill to prevent competition by effectively banning communities from building their own networks.
What is Wrong With This - Lancaster Edition
From an article in the local paper about Lancaster, Pennsylvania's Google Gigabit Application:
Brogan said that if Lancaster is selected, it would not run afoul of the state Telecommunications Act.
FCC and Network Neutrality - A Quick Take
A quick reaction to the court decision that the FCC cannot currently prevent Comcast from telling subscribers where they can and cannot go on the Internet: This is what happens when private companies own infrastructure.
Comcast owns the pipes so it makes the rules.
Free UTOPIA Podcast - Discussion with Todd Marriott
Jesse Harris interviews Todd Marriott, Executive Director of UTOPIA about the network, its relationships with the member cities, and their round two application for broadband stimulus funds.
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Audio Interview: Future of Telecom in Minnesota
Last week, I spoke with Jeff Pesek and Peter Fleck of Tech.mn about telecom and broadband in Minnesota.
Salisbury FTTH Network Picks a Name: Fibrant
The folks in Salisbury, North Carolina, have picked a name for their new FTTH network, Fibrant.
Video Pitches UTOPIA to Google for Gigabit Network
As part of his pitch to Google to partner with UTOPIA in Google's gigabit network experiment, Jesse Harris gives some of the history of the UTOPIA project.