Associate Director for Communications at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) Community Broadband Networks Initiative Find our work here https://communitynets.org/ [Digital Equity Advocate, #Broadband Access for All Evangelist, #BlackMastodon Connoisseur, Word Doctor, Net Worker, Script Flipper, Story Teller, Big Picture Seer, People Connector, #music #movies, #books, #NBA & #chess nut]
If you are in the U.S., you can buy produce directly from black farmers and they will ship it to you. It can cost less than your supermarket and will piss off people in power.
https://blackfarmersindex.com/
#interesting #youshouldknow #food #economy #business #smallbusiness
For my $$ Janet Abette’s “Inventing The Internet” is THE definitive book on how the Internet came to be
I mean Janet explains packet switching in a way anyone can understand
She masterfully weaves together all of those involved in the development of The #Internet beginning with ARPANET
And not only showcases the brilliance of the co-founders like Vint Cerf but also delves into the variety of significant contributors and where their contributions fit in
Today, we unveiled our updated list of the 16 states w/preemption laws that either prevent or restrict local municipalities from building and operating publicly-owned networks
This, despite the fact that wherever muni #broadband networks operate, they almost always offer faster connection speeds, more reliable service, and lower prices
These laws are often ghost-written by lobbyists to protect ISP monopolies fr competition
Ck out our map and read the full story here
https://communitynets.org/content/state-state-preemption-stalled-moving-more-competitive-direction
For many in #broadband, keeping up with “the maps” has been hellacious. Many have been frustrated or even horrified at what they find lurking in the #maps
So with #Halloween here, we thought we'd take a short break from dwelling on such a tricky topic and instead offer you a treat
Christine Parker, our Senior GIS Analyst, mapped the locations of disguised telecom towers across the nation
Read how/why she did it & ck out the pics & map she created here
https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/6d8d80b8e6434c5bb0d377f636de7044
Communities and states looking to leverage American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for broadband or other local infrastructure need to act soon or ...
... risk losing access to a once-in-a-generation funding resource
Our story at link below
#Internet #InternetForAll #broadband
https://communitynets.org/content/shot-clock-winding-down-arpa-funds-broadband-projects
Imagine having an #Internet service provider that pays you whenever they turn a profit.
Sounds like a tall tale. But it's not.
Paul Bunyan Communications just announced yet another payout to its members worth $3 million. That's on the heels of $6.3 million returned to members in 2022 and $2.2 million in 2018.
Community #broadband networks are on the rise for a reason.
My story at link below
https://communitynets.org/content/paul-bunyan-communications-payout-members-not-tall-tale
Proud of my hometown
Oakland, CA secured a $15 million grant to construct a city-owned, open-access, hybrid middle mile/last mile fiber network that will support the city housing authority's Free Internet Initiative
My story (at link below) also includes insights for community broadband leaders elsewhere as #OaklandUndivided advocates discuss how they beat back challenges from AT&T and Comcast with data
The award-winning municipal broadband network in Fort Collins, Colorado, Connexion, continues to grow.
And to celebrate signing up its 20,000th subscriber they are giving away a year of free Internet access to 20 randomly chosen subscribers
My colleague @KarlBode story at link below
Brownsville was recently ranked as one of best places to live in Texas & one of the most affordable places in the U.S. to retire
Now the city is transforming its digital landscape w/a citywide fiber network where residents have affordable choice: from $15/mo up to gig speed service for just $70/mo. No contracts, no data caps
Charter launched an ad campaign to sink the project but lost the battle for hearts & minds. Now residents can reap the benefits
My story here
https://communitynets.org/content/brownsville-texas-lit-and-ready-launch-future
@PublicWolf I haven’t read that one. Def will add to my next Cal Newport book shortlist! Appreciate the recommendation 😎
Fresh off a much needed social media break and let me tell y'all:
I came across Cal Newport. His #podcast & #books on cultivating a "deep life," how to think abt & manage "deep work" for knowledge workers, and his super practical insights on being productive w/ "slow productivity" has completely transformed my thinking & habits
If you're a knowledge worker wrestling with #burnout but not familiar with Cal, do yourself a favor and find his stuff ASAP
Missouri is 1 of 16 states with preemption laws that restrict municipal broadband
Still, there are 8 muni networks in the Show Me State
In the small City of Houston, they are showing how its possible to build a community-owned fiber network and offer big city Internet connectivity that's affordable
City officials say its "been one of the best things to come in recent years.”
My story at link below
Vermont is known for its cheddar cheese and fall foilage
Now its becoming known for delivering fiber Internet service -- the gold standard of Internet connectivity
In partnership with the Benton Institute for Broadband and Society, this week we (ILSR) released a new report examining how the state is supercharging its telecommunications infrastructure to reach the unconnected by investing in community broadband-driven efforts
In the Crenshaw District of South Central LA, Destination Crenshaw is transforming the neighborhood into an "open air museum" embedded within a “Digital Equity Zone”
It involves "pocket parks," murals, free community WiFi, and a proposed open-access fiber network
My story at link below on how DC is empowering neighborhood residents with strategic investments rather than displacing them through gentrification
@bhawthorne @philip Brian, would be great to connect and hear about your experience in Plainfield. Btw I’m based on Cape Cod so not far from you (relatively speaking) 😎
@rsf92 @pluralistic I spent 15 years, from 2005 to 2020, working with my neighbors to build a fiber network in our rural town (Plainfield, Mass. pop. 600) in western Massachusetts. Most of that time was dealing with funding and regulatory issues, but by the time everyone stayed home to avoid the pandemic in 2020, working with the local municipal gas/electric/fiber department in the city of Westfield we had the network in place and most of the homes installed. 1 Gbps for $85, symmetrical, uncapped. It meant that while families in other towns were driving to library parking lots so their kids could use the WiFi to do their schoolwork, in our town they had faster broadband in their homes.
4 years later and we have not had to change prices. We are now interconnected with 5 neighboring towns in a mesh to share diverse backhaul paths and get increased economies of scale. We are building a stabilization fund to cover insurance deductibles, equipment replacement, and upgrades, and we are keeping more dollars in the regional economy instead of having it siphoned off to Verizon shareholders.
The #NetNeutrality debate was/is really a debate over monopoly power
My colleague @KarlBode breaks it down here for us at communitynets.org
https://communitynets.org/content/net-neutrality-really-debate-over-monopoly-power
Besides giving Jim Baller a Lifetime Achievement Award at our 50th Anniversary Gala, we also honored Hoopa Valley PUD GM Linnea Jackson as a Connectivity Champion
HVPUD is making Tribal broadband history and a shining example for Tribal nations working to establish digital sovereignty across Indian Country.
#Internet #IndigenousMastodon
My colleague Jessica Auer wrote about Linnea's award here https://communitynets.org/content/hoopa-valley-pud-general-manager-honored-connectivity-champion
Glad to be a part of this fascinating panel at Broadband Communities Summit 2024 in Houston on the specific challenges of bridging digital divide in cities
Friday's are usually considered the "best" (no one paying attention) days to drop bad news
This Friday though -- a bit of good news ...
That anti muni broadband budget amendment that was floated in NY didn't survive
#Internet #InternetForAll #MunicipalBroadband #broadband #digitalequity
https://communitynets.org/content/anti-muni-broadband-budget-amendment-gets-nixed-new-york
