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  2. March 2017

March 2017

EUGNet Offers Uncommon Gigabit Deployment Model

An uncommon model for municipal broadband network deployment comes from Eugene (OR) where the local utility company is partnering with the city and other entities to build the network, dubbed EUGNet. The entities involved in the partnership to create EUGNet include the Eugene Water and Electric Board (EWEB); the city of Eugene; the Lane Council of Government, an association of local governments in Lane County; and the Technology Association of Oregon.

In an effort to encourage local businesses to connect to the network, a substantial portion of connection costs will be subsidized for those who sign up during the initial construction period, explained Matt Sayre, director of EUGNet partner Technology Association of Oregon. “During the downtown construction project, the one-time connection fee for each building is $2,000,” says the EUGNet website. “After that time, property owners will have to pay the full cost of their connection, which we estimate will be about $10,000 per building.”\ EUGNet hopes to connect about 120 buildings in downtown Eugene. Funding for the project comes primarily from Eugene’s Downtown Urban Renewal District.

Commissioner Mignon Clyburn Releases Final #Solutions2020 Call to Action Plan

Our office is pleased to release a final version of the #Solutions2020 Call to Action Plan. We believe these recommendations, if acted upon in a timely manner, can deliver robust, affordable, and reliable connectivity within the next four years. Taken together, these recommendations would narrow the opportunities divide, support the growth of our economy and greatly improve the quality of life for all Americans. Implementation will require bipartisan action, support from leaders at the federal, state and local levels as well as buy-in from representatives of the technology and telecommunications industries. I look forward to working with my fellow Commissioners, Members of Congress, state and local government partners, the public interest community and industry to bring about real and lasting change by the end of this decade.

Overall Recommendations:
1) Ensuring Affordable Communications
2) Empowering Communities
3) 5G and Beyond for All Americans
4) Enhancing Consumer Protections
4) Broadband as a Driver of Imporved Health Services
6) Promoting a More Diverse Media Landscape

Democracy Fund and First Look Media Make Major Commitments to Support Independent, Free Press

At a time when news organizations find themselves under attack, the Democracy Fund along with our partners at First Look Media are announcing the largest grants either organization has made to date in support of journalism.The Democracy Fund is joining with First Look Media to make major commitments of more than $12 million to support an independent, free press. Included in this commitment are grants of $3 million each to three national nonprofit newsrooms, the Center for Investigative Reporting, the Center for Public Integrity, and ProPublica.

The Democracy Fund will complement its support for these national newsrooms with a $1 million contribution towards the creation of a State and Local Investigative Fund to support the crucial investigative work of local reporters, as well as a $200,000 contribution to the recently announced Knight Prototype Fund on misinformation and trust in journalism. The Democracy Fund and First Look Media are also announcing grants to the Investigative Reporting Workshop at American University and a new program led by NYU Professor Jay Rosen to establish a laboratory for community-supported investigative reporting.

Consumer Alert: 'Can You Hear Me' Scams

The Federal Communications Commission is alerting consumers to be on the lookout for scam callers seeking to get victims to say the word “yes” during a call and later use a recording of the response to authorize unwanted charges on the victim's utility or credit card account.

Why Silicon Valley isn't fighting to save the Internet (yet)

"I'm surprised the tech industry isn't speaking out more forcefully," said Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator. "My guess," he said, "is there are bigger problems people are focused on right now." The industry has entered legal fights against President Trump over immigration and transgender rights. At the same time, it's trying to build bridges with the new administration on key business issues like tax reform and regulations.

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