Texas State Rep. Charles “Doc” Anderson, R-Waco, filed two bills this legislative session that aim to increase broadband access for people who live where access to reliable internet service is limited, largely in rural areas. The proposals “call for the creation of a broadband office in the Public Utility Commission of Texas and the establishment of a grant program to support public or private broadband investment. Anderson’s plan would also include coordination between the broadband office and the Texas Department of Transportation and require reports to the Legislature about the office’s progress.”
Charlemont residents vote in favor of building town-owned broadband network
Charlemont, MA, residents "are supporting a town-owned fiber broadband network proposal, instead of a cheaper offer from Comcast." 56 percent of residents voted in favor of the town building its own municipal broadband network, despite it being about $1 million more expensive than...
Centennial's fiber backbone construction complete
The City of Centennial, CO’s vision to provide dark fiber "with simple terms of access and usage has come to fruition with the completion of FiberWorks, a 432-fiber-strand backbone connecting key city sites and community anchor institutions." More than 50 miles of fiber back...
Charlemont rejects Comcast broadband offer; opts to build $1.4M fiber optic network
Comcast’s $462,123 proposal, which would have connected 96 percent of households in Charlemont, Massachusetts with high-speed internet was rejected by town meeting voters. Instead, Charlemont has decided to build its own fiber optic broadband network. The project funding wou...
Nicasio's fiber optic network goes live
In 2016, the California Public Utilities Commission recommended Inyo Networks, a telecomunications company based in California, to help initiate a project to build Nicasio’s broadband service. The commission also granted to city $1.5 million, 60 percent of the total cost for...
County, town finalize broadband agreement
An agreement between the town and county of Orange allowing the school system’s broadband project to continue through the town’s right-of-way has been finalized. The agreement allows the project’s contractors to work within the town’s right-of-way laying fi...
Government-owned broadband is costly — try these alternatives
According to a 2017 report from the University of Pennsylvania that studied 20 municipal broadband projects in the United States, "only two ‘earned enough to expect to cover their project costs during the useful life of the networks.’" Instead of having the government ...