Community Broadband Bits

Just what does it take to have a market? It may be more complicated than you think — and in large part because of the things most of us don't notice that governments do. We discuss this and the role of broadband planners with Alex Marshall on Community Broadband Bits podcast 260. Alex is the author … Continue reading "Broadband Planning and How Government Creates Markets – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 260" ★ Support this podcast ★

For episode 259 of the Community Broadband Bits podcast, we are going back to the well in Ammon, Idaho – one of the most creative and forward-thinking fiber network deployments in the country. Strategic Networks Group has completed a study examining the impact of Ammon's open muni fiber network on local businesses and residents.To discuss … Continue reading "Ammon Examines Muni Fiber Impact – Community Broadband Bits 259" ★ Support this podcast ★

As the telecommunications and broadband market has become more and more consolidated, it has drawn more attention, leading to more attention from people that actually care about functioning markets. Enter the Roosevelt Institute and their report, Crossed Lines: Why the AT&T-Time Warner Merger Demands a New Approach to Antitrust.Roosevelt Institute Senior Economist and Fellow Marshall … Continue reading "Roosevelt Institute Argues for Better Broadband Policy – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 258" ★ Support this podcast ★

One of the very many treats at Mountain Connect this year was a keynote from Chattanooga EPB's Director of Fiber Technology, Colman Keane. (Watch it here.) After discussing their remarkable successes, we snagged an interview with him (he was last on the show for episode 175).We discuss whether or not Chattanooga is an appropriate role … Continue reading "Chattanooga Fiber Surpasses Expectations, Offers Lessons – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 257" ★ Support this podcast ★

In an exciting milestone, this is podcast 100000000. Or 256 in decimal – you know, for the squares. While at the always-amazing Mountain Connect event in Colorado, I snagged an interview with Doug Seacat of Deeply Digital and Clearnetworx. They sought a grant from the Colorado Broadband Fund to deploy fiber and wireless to underserved Ridgway … Continue reading "Colorado Chooses to Subsidize DSL Rather than Fiber – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 256" ★ Support this podcast ★

While attending the Broadband Communities Summit in Dallas, Christopher had the opportunity to interview some of the people he’s been wanting get on the show, including Kyle Hollifield, Senior Vice President from Magellan Advisors.Magellan and Kyle have been working with a growing list of communities across the country exploring opportunities to improve local connectivity. In addition … Continue reading "Considering PPPs, Marketing For Munis – Broadband Bits Podcast 255" ★ Support this podcast ★

Some time ago, when speaking with Joshua Breitbart, the Senior Advisor for Broadband to the New York City CTO Miguel Gamiño, he mentioned to me that any subset of the issues they face with regard to improving Internet access in New York City is itself a massive issue. Joshua joins us to elaborate on that … Continue reading "NYC Works With Grassroots for Low-Income Access – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 254" ★ Support this podcast ★

Bonus episode! We did several interviews while at the Broadband Communities Summit and Dallas, so we are publishing two episodes this week. Diane Kruse joined us for today's discussion, episode 253, with an update about progress around community broadband in Colorado and great advice for communities considering an investment.Diane is the CEO and President of … Continue reading "Great Community Advice and Colorado Update – Broadband Bits Podcast 253" ★ Support this podcast ★

If you picked up the Institute for Local Self-Reliance dictionary, under “public-private partnership,” it would say “See Westminster and Ting fiber-optic network.” We discussed it with Westminster City Council President Robert Wack in episode 100 of Community Broadband Bits and he rejoins us for episode 252 to update us on the progress they have made.We … Continue reading "Update on Westminster's High Profile PPP Network – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 252" ★ Support this podcast ★

We’ve been covering the East-Central Vermont Community Fiber-Optic Network (ECFiber) since 2009; it has come a long way from inception. ECFiber is a group of rural Vermont towns that are working together to deploy a regional network to offer high-quality Internet access to communities typically stuck with slow, unreliable connections such as DSL and dial-up. In … Continue reading "ECFiber Connecting Rural Vermonters To The Speed They Need – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 251" ★ Support this podcast ★

The larger focus of our work in the Community Broadband Networks Initiative is to ensure communities have the networks they need. Our guest for Community Broadband Bits episode 250 is an expert in how markets break and the policies that make them work. Gary Reback is a well known Silicon Valley lawyer and Of Counsel at … Continue reading "Policies to Make Markets Work – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 250" ★ Support this podcast ★

As we continue to cover the growing movement of rural electric cooperatives to bring high quality Internet networks to their members, we wanted to bring Alyssa Clemsen-Roberts back on the show. Alyssa was last on the show for episode 109 and has since moved from the Utilities Telecom Council to Pedernales Electric Co-op in Texas.Though Pedernales … Continue reading "Rural Electric Co-ops as Reluctant Warriors for Broadband – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 249" ★ Support this podcast ★

Located in southeast Pennsylvania, Lancaster will soon have some of the fastest Internet access in the entire state due to its partnership with a local telecommunications firm, MAW Communications. We reported on many details about this approach here, but Community Broadband Bits podcast episode 248 offers an in-depth look.Lancaster Business Administrator Patrick Hopkins and MAW … Continue reading "LanCity Connect Partnership Brings Gig to Southeast Pennsylvania – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 248" ★ Support this podcast ★

While at the annual Iowa Association of Municipal Utilities Broadband Conference, I forced Ken Demlow to be our guest on Community Broadband Bits Podcast 247. Ken is the Sales Director for Newcom Technologies, where he has worked with many different fiber-optic deployments on the ground and is a fun guy to talk to more generally.Our discussion focuses … Continue reading "Using Fiber for Smart Grid and the Pole Problem in Nashville – Community Broadband Bits 247" ★ Support this podcast ★

After discussing this issue time and time again, with community after community, we finally recorded our thoughts on how communities should get started when considering a community network. Eric Lampland, the guy behind Lookout Point Communications, is our guest on Community Broadband Bits podcast episode 246. We talk about common mistakes and the importance of developing … Continue reading "Feasibility Study? How to Start a Community Network – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 246" ★ Support this podcast ★

Like other urban centers in the U.S., Boston is filled with multi dwelling units (MDUs) and buildings that house multiple business tenants. Obtaining high-quality connectivity in such an environment can be a challenge, especially if choices are limited to just one or two incumbents with little or no competition. With the advancement of new fixed … Continue reading "netBlazr Offering Blazing Fast Fixed Wireless – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 245" ★ Support this podcast ★

West Plains is one of the many population centers of rural regions that have been left behind by big cable and telephone companies. Located in the scenic Ozarks of southern Missouri, they are taking their digital future into their own hands with a modest fiber-optic investment.City Administrator Tom Stehn strolls by our podcast this week … Continue reading "West Plains Builds Network to Preserve Jobs – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 244" ★ Support this podcast ★

As an increasing number of rural electric cooperatives are working to bring high-quality Internet access to their members, we’re learning more about new projects and the people behind them. This week, we talk with the CEO of the North Arkansas Electric Cooperative, Mel Coleman. As an added bonus, we get Mel’s insight as President of … Continue reading "What's NEXT In North Arkansas? – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 243" ★ Support this podcast ★

Susan Crawford has come back to the podcast to tell us about her recent travels in North Carolina and Tennessee, talking to people on the ground that have already built fiber-optic networks or are in the midst of figuring out how to get them deployed.Susan is a professor at Harvard Law, the author of The … Continue reading "Susan Crawford's Road Trip – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 242" ★ Support this podcast ★

One of the most recurring complaints about cable television is the bundles – people resent having to pay for channels that they do not watch. Especially when those cable prices go up consistently. The cable companies tend to absorb most of the blame and anger for this model, but they aren't entirely responsible.To explain how … Continue reading "The Cable UnBundling Challenge – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 241" ★ Support this podcast ★