Community Broadband Bits

Last week, we discussed how Shafter's plans in California for a community fiber network changed with the Great Recession. Today we have an interview with Shafter Assistant City Manager Scott Hurlbert with an expanded discussion of how the community adjusted and what its next steps will be. Shafter transitioned from leased T1 lines to a … Continue reading "Shafter Fiber Network, Then, Now, and Next – Community Broadband Bits Episode #56" ★ Support this podcast ★

Following up on our first “Responding to Crazy Talk” episode last month, we decided to publish a second edition this week. Again, Lisa Gonzalez and I respond to real arguments made by those who oppose community owned Internet networks. Today, we used three arguments from a debate in 2011 that included myself, Jim Baller, Jeff … Continue reading "Responding to More “Crazy Talk” – Community Broadband Bits Podcast #55" ★ Support this podcast ★

For our 54th episode of the Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] podcast, we are back in Tennessee to interview Brian Skelton, General Manager of the Tullahoma Utilities Board. They built the network in 2008 and have weathered the tough economy, meeting the business plan while greatly benefiting the community. This is a particularly content-rich interview, covering the … Continue reading "Tennessee Town Tullahoma Tells us Why They Built a Network – Community Broadband Bits Episode #54" ★ Support this podcast ★

Waverly, a town of 10,000 in Iowa, decided to create a city owned telecommunications utility with a successful referendum vote in 2000 but has only recently decided to move forward with a major investment to offer services. Mike Litterer, Interim General Manager of Waverly Light and Power, joins us to discuss the project. Following the … Continue reading "Waverly Waits 13 Years to Build Fiber Network – Community Broadband Bits Episode #53" ★ Support this podcast ★

We welcome Harold Feld, Senior Vice President of Public Knowledge back to the show to discuss the latest update in the so-called IP Transition. Back in episode 32, Harold explained the five fundamental protections needed for our telecommunications system. Today he returns to discuss the ways in which some of the islands devastated by Sandy … Continue reading "IP Transition Catches Fire Island – Community Broadband Bits Podcast Episode #52" ★ Support this podcast ★

Clarksville is the fifth largest city in the state but was among the first networks in nation to offer symmetrical fast connections with a 10 Mbps basic offering when it launched. Christy Batts, Broadband Division Manager of Clarksville Department of Electricity, joins us to share some of the lessons learned and successes from Clarksville, which … Continue reading "Catching Up on Clarksville – Community Broadband Bits Episode #51" ★ Support this podcast ★

For our 50th episode, we're trying something new: Lisa and I respond to three common claims made by opponents of community owned networks. We owe these three particular arguments to the Executive Director of the trade association of Wisconsin telephone companies. Each of the clips we respond to come from claims he made at a … Continue reading "Responding to “Crazy Talk” – Community Broadband Bits Episode #50" ★ Support this podcast ★

The United States has long recognized that everyone should have access to a telephone and has established a variety of government programs to achieve that end. In recent months, the Lifeline program has come under attack and some have labeled it the “Obamaphone” program. In this week's Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] podcast, Sarah Morris joins us … Continue reading "Understanding the Lifeline Program – Community Broadband Bits Episode #49" ★ Support this podcast ★

At any conference dealing with building broadband networks, one hears talk of open trench policies or “dig once” approaches. For today's episode of Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary], City Manager Scott Lazenby of Sandy, Oregon, joins us to talk about how Sandy has proactively placed conduit underground for fiber use. We discuss the instances where it is … Continue reading "Exploring Conduit Policies – Community Broadband Bits Episode #48" ★ Support this podcast ★

The city of San Leandro has formed a partnership with a local company now named Lit San Leandro to expand business access to the Internet. We talk with San Leandro's Chief Innovation Officer Deborah Acosta and Judi Clark, a consultant with Lit San Leandro, to learn more about their approach. San Leandro already had conduit … Continue reading "Unraveling the Public-Private-Partnership in San Leandro – Community Broadband Bits Episode #47" ★ Support this podcast ★

The North Georgia Network was the first recipient of a BTOP (Broadband Technology Opportunities Program) stimulus grant in the nation and has been an interesting success story. For the latest episode of our Community [no-glossary]Broadband Bits[/no-glossary] podcast, President and CEO Paul Belk of the NGN joins us to discuss the history, present, and future of … Continue reading "North Georgia Network Brings Gig to Schools, Jobs to Region – Community Broadband Bits Episode #46" ★ Support this podcast ★

This is a show I have been wanting to do for years – discussing some of the common mistakes that have been make by community owned networks. Offering broadband and other telecommunications services is a difficult business for any entity, public or private and all network owners make mistakes. The vast majority of these errors … Continue reading "Andrew Cohill Explains Common Mistakes in Community Networks – Community Broadband Bits #45" ★ Support this podcast ★

Episode #44 of our Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] podcast expands on our story exploring a major victory over bad AT&T-driven legislation in Kentucky. We welcome Mimi Pickering of Appalshop and Tom FitzGerald of the Kentucky Resources Council. We discuss why the AT&T-authored bill to gut consumer protections was bad for Kentucky and how a terrific coalition … Continue reading "Kentucky Coalition Takes Down AT&T Bill to Remove Consumer Phone Protections – Community Broadband Bits #44" ★ Support this podcast ★

Chief Information Officer for the Carroll County Public Schools Gary Davis joins me to explain why the Carroll County Government, Public Schools, Public Library, and Community College partnered to build their own fiber optic network. He is also the Chairman of the resulting Carroll County Public Network (CCPN) of Maryland. The story starts the same … Continue reading "Carroll County Explains Many Benefits of County Owned Fiber – Community Broadband Bits #43" ★ Support this podcast ★

The home of the first web browser (Mosiac) is now building an exciting open access network – the twin cities of Urbana-Champaign received a stimulus award for UC2B (2B = Big Broadband). Episode #42 of Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] features Carol Ammons of the U-C Indepedent Media Center and Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, who is on the policy … Continue reading "Catching Up on UC2B in Illinois – Community Broadband Bits Podcast #42" ★ Support this podcast ★

Sascha Meinrath, Director of the Open Technology Institute (OTI) at the New America Foundation, joined me at the National Conference for Media Reform to discuss what OTI does and to discuss the Commotion Wireless project. Commotion is a project that is making it easier for anyone to build wireless mesh networks that allow for secure, … Continue reading "Sascha Meinrath Causes a Commotion on Community Broadband Bits #41" ★ Support this podcast ★

Opelika Mayor Gary Fuller and Jennifer McCain, partner of the Motive Group discuss why this Alabama town is the first to build its own fiber optic network in the state. In short, Opelika had long been fed up with the services offered by Charter Cable and Charter was not amenable to meeting the community’s needs. They decided to … Continue reading "Opelika Builds First Full Fiber Network in Alabama – Community Broadband Bits Episode 40" ★ Support this podcast ★

Mike Scott, City Manager of Moultrie in Georgia, joins us for Episode #39 of the Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] podcast to share the origins of the Community Network Services (CNS) network that joins four towns in four counties in rural southwest Georgia. In this interview, Mike Scott shares some of the benefits of the network for … Continue reading "Moultrie City Manager Discusses Origins of CNS Network in Georgia for Community Broadband Bits Episode 39" ★ Support this podcast ★

Nearly 20 years ago, a small community between Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, began building a fiber optic network to connect key municipal facilities. In the years since, Mt Vernon has expanded the network to many community anchor institutions and businesses locally, including in two nearby towns. Information Systems Director Kim Kleppe and Community & Economic … Continue reading "In Washington, Mt. Vernon Attracts Businesses with Open Access Network – Community Broadband Bits Episode 38" ★ Support this podcast ★

Blair Levin is Executive Director of Gig.U. Prior to that, he was in charge of developing the National Broadband Plan and long before that was Chief of Staff for the FCC during the Clinton Presidency. He's had a lot of experience in telecommunications policy but here we focus on what can be done to move … Continue reading "Blair Levin Discusses Gig.U and More for Community Broadband Bits Episode #37" ★ Support this podcast ★