Unbuffered

Ammon, a town of 14,000 in southeast Idaho, has been incrementally building an open access, fiber optic network that has connected community anchor institutions and is starting to become available to local businesses. Ammon Technology Director Bruce Patterson joins us to explain how the community has moved forward with its model for improving Internet access. … Continue reading "How Ammon, Idaho, Builds Digital Roads – Community Broadband Bits Episode 86"

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The Utah Telecommunications Open Infrastructure Agency, which we have written about many times, is at a crossroads. An Australian corporation specializing in infrastructure is prepared to infuse $300 million into the project but the Utah Legislature may prohibit it from expanding and even from using existing connections outside member cities. We asked Jesse Harris of … Continue reading "Fork in the Road For UTOPIA: Forward or Backward? Community Broadband Bits Episode #85"

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When the DC Circuit Court handed down a decision ruling against the FCC's Open Internet (network neutrality) rules, it also clarified that the FCC has the power to overrule state laws that limit local authority to build community networks. Harold Feld, Senior Vice President for Public Knowledge, joins us for Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] Episode #84 … Continue reading "A Roadmap for the FCC To Ensure Local Authority to Build Networks – Community Broadband Podcast #84"

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When we think about the threat of monopoly, we almost always focus on how monopolies can raise prices beyond what is reasonable. But there are many threats from monopolies and many are much more dangerous to a free society than higher prices. This week, monopoly expert Barry Lynn joins us for the Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] … Continue reading "The Real Threats from Monopoly – Community Broadband Bits Podcast #83"

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The municipal electric utility in Russellville has launched Kentucky's first citywide gigabit service on its FTTH network. [no-glossary]Russellville[/no-glossary] Electric Plant Board General Manager Robert White joins us to share their motivations for building a fiber network. The utility had originally offered some telecommunications services over a wireless system but recognized the need for a more … Continue reading "Meet Russellville, Kentucky's Broadband Speed Leader – Community Broadband Bits Podcast #82"

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After a listener suggested we do a show on the modern role of public access media, we decided to reach out to Mike Wassenaar, now a senior development officer at Free Press and formerly the Executive Director of Saint Paul Neighborhood Network, a great example of the promise of public access. Mike and I talk … Continue reading "Public Access Media and Community Owned Networks – Community Broadband Bits Podcast #81"

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Today, Lisa and I are joined by Eric Lampland for a discussion of how a community could justify building a community owned network from the indirect benefits that it would create, including the savings that each household realizes from competition driving down prices. Eric Lampland is the CEO and principal consultant of Lookout Point Communications, … Continue reading "Justifying a Network with Indirect Cost Savings – Community Broadband Bits Episode 80"

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This week, Don Means joins us to talk about public libraries, their role in the modern era, and an interesting pilot project involving several libraries and white spaces wireless technology. Don is the coordinator of the Gigabit Libraries Network and has a passion for both libraries and expanding Internet access to all. We offer some … Continue reading "Don Means on Libraries and White Spaces – Community Broadband Bits Episode 79"

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For those looking for our weekly podcast over the holiday break, we decided to recut one of our early interviews with Bob Frankston, a favorite of Lisa's, and put it back in the feed. We ran the original interview for episode 14 of our Community Broadband [no-glossary]Bits[/no-glossary] podcast and again now for episode 78. Frankston … Continue reading "Bob Frankston Encore Interview – Community Broadband Bits Episode #78"

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When a major employer in Auburn, a town of 13,000 in northeast Indiana, told the local government that it would have to move jobs to a different location unless it had improved Internet access, the local government first encouraged it to work with the telephone company. But when that telephone company, headquartered far from Auburn, … Continue reading "In Indiana, Auburn Built Fiber Network Incrementally – Community Broadband Bits Episode 77"

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