Municipal Networks

Chattanooga, Tennessee, is considered ahead of the game with multi-gig connectivity, as in 2022 it introduced citywide 25-gig service for consumers and businesses.

Colorado repealed the referendum requirement for community broadband projects with the passage of Senate Bill 183. Support came from all sides, including the cable industry, which was neutral on the legislation. But there was another reason for the timing: federal broadband funding. The Colorado Broadband Office wasn’t sure if communities that hadn’t opted out would be eligible for a piece of the up to $1 billion in federal broadband funds Colorado could receive.

Our broadband internet connection at home must be as rock-solid and dependable as any other utility.

The Florida Legislature recently passed a bill that brings poles under state jurisdiction for any electric cooperative that elects to enter the broadband business.

Patrick Redmond, Nebraska’s interim broadband director, described his workspace as “an office of one.” Given the Nebraska Broadband Office was just created in January 2023, he said “there’s a big learning curve” in tackling the broadband landscape. One order of business is to get the state’s broadband maps up and running. Redmond said Nebraska has been working with a vendor since February 2023 to develop a map prototype.

Loveland Pulse, a municipal broadband network in Loveland (CO), has seen considerable success since turning up its first residential customer in June 2020, and the company will be expanding to neighboring communities. Loveland Pulse was formed in 2018 by the city of Loveland and its local utility with the goal of getting high-speed broadband available community-wide.

Gigi Sohn will serve as the Executive Director of the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB). Sohn will ensure public entities will have a visible, powerful, and consistent voice that will make the positive case for states to fund and communities to choose public broadband and oppose barriers to local choice. Founded by state and local broadband officials, AAPB is a 501 (c)(6) non-profit organization that will build a diverse membership of public broadband networks nationwide and advocate for municipal broadband and local choice at the federal, state, and local levels.

Governor Jared Polis (D-CO) signed the bipartisan Senate Bill 23-183 (SB23-183), removing the biggest barrier to providing all Coloradans with access to high-speed broadband and allowing the state to capitalize on upcoming federal broadband funding for capital projects and digital adoption programs. SB23-183 revises a law established in 2005, SB05-152, which prohibited most uses of municipal or county money for infrastructure to improve local broadband service without obtaining voter approval to opt-out.

While a municipal broadband system in Worcester (MA) could cost the city upwards of $250 million, officials are still considering the feasibility of such a project to address gaps in digital access among residents. Chairwoman and City Councilor Etal Haxhiaj requested the city administration conduct a feasibility study to “serve as a blueprint for a broadband master plan that outlines policies, designs, business and financial model options,” as well as apply for the state’s Municipal Digital Equity Planning Program to help learn what digital equity gaps exist in Worcester. Currently, Charter

Broadband partnerships have emerged as an attractive option for deployment in many areas of the country. However, in order to be successful in developing a mutually beneficial Network Operating Agreement (NOA), the parties should keep the big-picture goals of the project in mind throughout the negotiations. A successful NOA will typically address the following ten core issues: