NEW

July 7, 2008

ILSR Releases Burlington Telecom Fact Sheet

Much misinformation has been disseminated about Burlington Telecom (BT).

Here are the facts. BT is a city department of Burlington, Vermont, which owns a fiber-to-the-home network and offers triple play services (phone, cable, internet). The network depends entirely on subscriber revenues and is not subsidized in any form by the City. BT has saved the City money while being built entirely with investor money -- no tax dollars have been or will be used.

BT remains current on its debt service, is adding 40 subscribers a week and has a take rate above 40% in the area it first began offering services.

Download pdf

June 19, 2008

VidChat Discussion of Community Broadband

Christopher Mitchell discusses community broadband with Geoff Daily of App-Rising.com.

June 17, 2008

Who decides what you can watch on your television?

Fiber-optic networks have sufficient capacity to offer many tens of thousands of channels. Communities across the United States are building these networks to make sure they remain relevant in the digital economy. So, when a community builds a fiber-optic network, who decides what content is offered?

June 11, 2008

Christopher Mitchell Discusses Broadband on KFAI

Christopher Mitchell was featured on "Truth to Tell," an hour long program on KFAI, a radio station broadcasting in the Twin Cities. Listen to Mitchell discuss municipal broadband networks via a stream on KFAI or download an mp3. We cut, spliced, and trimmed the interview into a short version (22 min) but are also making the full version (60 min) available.

June 4, 2008

Monticello Fiber Network Fighting Frivolous Lawsuit - ILSR Press Release

May 20, 2008

Muni Broadband Networks: In for the Long Haul - ILSR Press Release

March 2, 2008

Public Ownership of Broadband Access Is Best - by Christopher Mitchell, originally published in the Eureka Reporter.

January 22, 2008

Municipal Broadband Policy Brief: Demystifying Wireless and Fiber-Optic Options

This policy brief examines the broadband options available to communities and examines their tradeoffs. Wireless offers mobility, but only fiber solves speed and capacity concerns.

December 5, 2007

Fiber-optic networks - the roads of the digital age - by Christopher Mitchell, originally published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press

September 18, 2007

ILSR on American Public Radio's Future Tense

Listen to Christopher Mitchell discuss his recent Burlington Case Study with John Gordon from Future Tense.

September 1, 2007

Burlington Telecom Case Study

This brief examines how one community in Vermont solved its broadband problems and created a new revenue source by building a city wide fiber optic network.

May 16, 2007

Localizing the U.S. Broadband Problem

"Asking for federal help in solving the U.S. broadband problem is like asking Microsoft to take the lead on ensuring universal program interoperability: They don’t see the situation clearly, they’re predisposed to underestimate the problem because they created the circumstances that caused it, and any fixes they offer may well make the problem worse."

February 26, 2007

What about the Word “Public” Is So Hard to Understand?

There seems to be a rather wide range of interpretations of what constitutes public broadband...Perhaps it is time for those of us who advocate municipal broadband to more clearly explain what we mean by “public.”

January 26, 2007

A study commissioned by the San Francisco Board of Supervisors recommends publicly owned fiber network to promote economic development and bridge the digital divide. Download the full report, "Fiber Optics for Government and Public Broadband: A Feasibility Study" from the city's web site.

NEW RULES

Saint Louis Park, MN - Municipally owned fiber and wireless network

Maine's ConnectME Authority - Promoting broadband deployment in underserved areas

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