Localism Over Consolidation: An Exploration of Public Broadband Options

New America Foundation
Wednesday May 28, 2014
9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.

Think Verizon, Comcast, AT&T, or Google are the nation's only option for broadband? Well, think again. Over the last decade hundreds of communities across the U.S. have built public broadband networks to meet the civic needs of their citizens. Cities like Chattanooga TN and Wilson, NC built fiber-to-the-home networks that offer residents and businesses some of the fastest broadband speeds available in the U.S and the world. Many more communities have made public investments in broadband to improve access for sectors like education, healthcare, and public safety.

Today, more and more communities are thinking of broadband as a local issue. Even large cities like Baltimore, Seattle and Los Angeles have recently begun public discussions about ways to improve broadband services and what role the local government could play in that improvement. Current technology policy debates about net neutrality and the potential Comcast-Time Warner Cable merger mean it is more important than ever that local governments play a more active role in ensuring their communities do not get left behind in the digital age.

Join New America's Open Technology Institute as we discuss various approaches to local investment in broadband. The panel features a diverse set of experts on public broadband networks and projects, including the manager of a municipal fiber network in Wilson, NC. Panelists will discuss different approaches communities have taken so far and share thoughts on what steps other local governments can take going forward to support access to affordable and high-speed broadband.

Chris Mitchell
Director, Telecommunications as Commons Initiative, Institute for Local Self-Reliance

Joanne Hovis
President, CTC Technology & Energy

Will Aycock
General Manager, Greenlight, Wilson, NC

Catharine Rice
President, SouthEast Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (SEATOA)

Moderator:
Sarah Morris
Senior Policy Counsel, New America's Open Technology Institute

To RSVP for the event:
http://newamerica.org/events/2014/localism_over_consolidation

If you are unable to join us in person, please tune in to our live webcast of the event here. No sign up is required to view streaming video.

Join the conversation online by following @OTI.

For questions, contact Kirsten Holtz at New America at (202) 735-2806 or holtz@newamerica.org