Community Broadband Bits

Latest Episodes:

Improving Mid-Atlantic Internet Access – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 146 Apr 14, 2015

Show notes

When we last wrote about the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative, it was a coop focused on open access middle mile connections. Now it has become the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Communities Corporation and is starting to work on some plans to expand open access last mile access. This week, we speak with MBC President and CEO Tad Deriso … Continue reading "Improving Mid-Atlantic Internet Access – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 146" ★ Support this podcast ★

Muni Networks, Digital Liberty, and Surveillance – Community Broadband Bits Episode 145 Apr 07, 2015

Show notes

As more communities become service providers in order to provide a needed service to local businesses and residents, they are taking on an important responsibility to safeguard the data and privacy of subscribers. Unlike big providers like AT&T or big cable companies, municipal providers tend not to engage in data mining or violating their users' … Continue reading "Muni Networks, Digital Liberty, and Surveillance – Community Broadband Bits Episode 145" ★ Support this podcast ★

Opportunities and Challenges as Lafayette Considers Muni Fiber Expansion – Community Broadband Bits Episode 144 Mar 31, 2015

Show notes

After we heard that Lafayette's LUS Fiber was considering expanding to some nearby communities, we knew we had to set up an interview with Terry Huval, Director of the Lafayette Utilities System in Louisiana. In our interview this week, Terry and I discuss Lafayette's success, the legacy of the law creating special barriers that only … Continue reading "Opportunities and Challenges as Lafayette Considers Muni Fiber Expansion – Community Broadband Bits Episode 144" ★ Support this podcast ★

Explaining the FCC Muni Order Removing State Barriers – Community Broadband Bits Episode 143 Mar 24, 2015

Show notes

After anticipating this moment for many months, we have a ruling from the FCC that has restored local authority to build and expand networks in North Carolina and Tennessee. Though we have already pulled out the key passages for readers, we wanted to discuss the decision with Jim Baller of Baller, Herbst, Stokes, & Lide. … Continue reading "Explaining the FCC Muni Order Removing State Barriers – Community Broadband Bits Episode 143" ★ Support this podcast ★

Bozeman's Public-Private Approach In-Depth – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 142 Mar 17, 2015

Show notes

In Montana, local businesses and the city of Bozeman have been working on a public-private partnership approach to expanding Internet access that is likely to involve the city building an open access fiber network. We discuss their approach this week with Brit Fontenot, Economic Development Director for the city of Bozeman; David Fine, Bozeman Economic … Continue reading "Bozeman's Public-Private Approach In-Depth – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 142" ★ Support this podcast ★

Reaction to the FCC Decisions, Dissent, and Next Steps – Community Broadband Bits Episode 141 Mar 10, 2015

Show notes

After the FCC decisions to remove barriers to community networks and to reclassify Internet access as a Title II service to enforce network neutrality rules, Lisa and I spend some time discussing the decision and reactions to it. We also discuss my presentation at Freedom to Connect, where I offer some thoughts on what communities … Continue reading "Reaction to the FCC Decisions, Dissent, and Next Steps – Community Broadband Bits Episode 141" ★ Support this podcast ★

Rural Electric Co-Mo Coop Goes Gig – Community Broadband Bits Episode 140 Mar 03, 2015

Show notes

As high quality Internet has become more essential for business and quality of life, those who realized that the existing telecom providers had no intention to invest in better connections in their rural Missouri communities began to ask their electric cooperative – Co-Mo – to step up and do it. This week, we talk with … Continue reading "Rural Electric Co-Mo Coop Goes Gig – Community Broadband Bits Episode 140" ★ Support this podcast ★

Mesa's Focus on Dig Once and Fiber Leases Pays Off – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 139 Feb 24, 2015

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Arizona's city of Mesa is one of the largest communities in the nation to benefit from the city taking role in ensuring conduit and fiber are available throughout the area. This week we talk with Alex Deshuk, the city's Manager of Technology and Innovation that was brought on in 2008. We talk about how Mesa … Continue reading "Mesa's Focus on Dig Once and Fiber Leases Pays Off – Community Broadband Bits Podcast 139" ★ Support this podcast ★

Answering Questions About Title II and Munis – Community Broadband Bits Episode 138 Feb 17, 2015

Show notes

As we near the FCC open meeting at the end of next week, when it will decide on both the Chattanooga and Wilson petitions regarding their wish to expand as well as a proposal to reclassify Internet access a Title II service in order to ensure it can maintain the same open Internet we have … Continue reading "Answering Questions About Title II and Munis – Community Broadband Bits Episode 138" ★ Support this podcast ★

Rural Colorado Internet Access and Mountain Connect – Community Broadband Bits Episode 137 Feb 10, 2015

Show notes

Last year was the first year I attended Mountain Connect, an event in the Rockies west of Denver that discusses approaches to improving Internet access. Historically, they focused on rural communities but as co-chair of the event Jeff Gavlinski notes in our discussion this week, they are expanding it to include more urban issues as … Continue reading "Rural Colorado Internet Access and Mountain Connect – Community Broadband Bits Episode 137" ★ Support this podcast ★