Cities are [taking advantage of broadband technology.] Spokane, Washington, yesterday established a wi-fi hot zone that allows users within a hundred block area of the city to obtain wireless broadband access. Imagine if you’re the head of a chamber of commerce of a city, and you say, ‘Gosh, our city is a great place to do business or to find work. We’re setting up a wi-fi hot zone, which means our citizens are more likely to be more productive than the citizens from a neighboring community.’ It’s a great opportunity . . . [T]his is a very exciting opportunity for the country. - The White House, President Bush: High Tech Improving Economy, Health Care, Education (June 24, 2004).
“I think we do a grave injustice in trying to hobble municipalities. Why don’t we encourage [municipal broadband] instead of having bills introduced [saying] – ‘Oh, you can’t do this because it’s interfering with somebody’s idea of the functioning marketplace’ – but the marketplace is not functioning in those places. - Michael Copps, Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission
To put this in context, imagine if Borders and Barnes & Noble, claiming it was killing their book sales, asked lawmakers to ban cities from building libraries. The legislators would laugh them out of the State House. Yet the same thing is happening right now with respect to Wi-Fi and other municipal broadband plans, and it is being taken all too seriously. - Municipal Broadband: Should Cities Have a Voice, Jon Leibowitz, FTC Commissioner Sept. 2005 |
History: Municipality involvement in communications has a long history.
- The USG funded part construction of the early telegraph network, funded its coast to coast expansion, and gave 1500 miles of telegraph line to Western Union after the civil war.
- Before the turn of the century, when Alexander Graham Bell's telephone patent expired, there was an onslaught of new independent telephone companies. Municipalities were involved in franchising the new local telephone services, finding them to be common carriers, granting them authority to operate, and setting fair rates.
- During World War I, AT&T was nationalized, and competition was illegal.
Municipalities are under the authority of state governments. Therefore state governments can say whether or not it is permissible for a municipality to offer broadband services. This is true even though the Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 USC 253(a), stated that no state could prohibit "any entity" from offering telecommunications service. The Supreme Court in Missouri Municipal League v. Nixon (SCt 2003) upheld that a municipality is not an "any entity" and that a state could limit the municipalities authority.
A plethora of states have passed laws restricting, conditioning, or prohibiting municipalies from offering broadband services. Some of these laws constitute nothing more than "don't stick your finger in your eye." These are requirements that states do due diligence, find out what the demand for broadband is and find out what service providers currently offer service in their market. Other states out right ban municipal action. And then there is the truly wierd Pennsylvania law which gives Verizon the right to veto any municipality, except Philadelphia, from offering broadband. Jim Baller points out that in the year 2005, there was a backlash against these laws; of the 14 legislative proposals introduced in 2005 to place barriers in the way of municipal broadband, 13 failed.
There is an important twist to these municipal broadband laws. Many of these laws prohibit the offering of "telecommunications service." However, as demonstrated in the Supreme Court case BrandX, broadband Internet services are information services, not telecommunications service. Thus, a law that prohibts telecommunications service would not block the offering of broadband Internet services by a municipality.
As this is a state issue, the Federal Communications Commission would appear to lacks jurisdiction over municipal broadband. The FCC has taken two important actions relevant to municipal broadband. First, the FCC created the Unlicenced Licensed Information Infrastructure, aka WiFi, for the purpose of creating broadband networks in cities. Second, the FCC has spoke on municipal broadband only once, listing it as a "Best Practice" and describing it as "the kinds of efforts that can successfully bring advanced services to a diverse range of communities."
Deployment of Advanced Telecommunications Capability: Second Report, ¶ 181 Best Practices (FCC August 2000) PDF (See Section 706)
- 171. In addition to the geographic area case studies, we have also conducted, in conjunction with the Federal-State Joint Conference on Advanced Services, a review of community-based deployment efforts to identify best practices which have led to increased access to advanced telecommunications capability. This information has been developed through the series of hearings and site visits sponsored by the Joint Conference, the development of the database on project characteristics and literature review. The field hearings, site visits, and the Joint Conference’s growing database of community deployment efforts,220 have provided important insights into the kinds of efforts that can successfully bring advanced services to a diverse range of communities. This section outlines some of these successful strategies.....
- Public Investment
- 181. Direct public investment in desired infrastructure has also been used. There are many instances where a municipality, usually one that already provides another utility service like cable or electricity, builds its own high-speed telecommunications facilities and directly serves customers. In other instances, states have invested in substantial fiber networks to schools or other customers.
182. Hawarden, Iowa took this approach. The City of Hawarden operated a successful electric and cable utility. Unhappy with the telecommunications service options available to them, the City decided to build its own advanced telecommunications facilities. They have now built a hybrid fiber coaxial cable network throughout the town. Businesses in the community that previously feared being left behind in a digital age, no longer fear being forced to relocate to have access to the modern communications they need. 229 In Orange City, Iowa the town government formed a partnership with its local telephone companies and is building a wireless system that is bringing high-speed Internet to its citizens. The case studies of both Waltham, Massachusetts and the Muscatine, Iowa illustrate the strong role public investment has played in those communities.230
- See also FCC,
CONNECTED & ON THE GO, BROADBAND GOES WIRELESS, REPORT BY THE WIRELESS
BROADBAND ACCESS TASK FORCE p 32 (2005) (“FCC Report”) PDF (“community networks can act
as a low-cost alternative where access to cable modem or DSL service is either unavailable or too
expensive.”) & p 33 ("“Ensuring that all citizens have access to broadband
services is of increasing importance to local governments.”")
There are multiple federal legislative proposals addressing municipal broadband, likewise running the gamut of ensuring that they are permitted to declaring that they are prohibited. The Telecommunications reform proposal that was passed out of the Senate Commerce Committee in June of 2006 would prevent states from prohibiting their own municipalities from offering broadband services; municipalities who do plan to offer broadband must solicit bids for service, although they would not be obligated to accept any of these bids. [Senate Moves to Ease Muni Wifi , ZDNet June 29, 2006]
Senate Advanced Telecommunications and Opportunity Reform Act
Commerce Committee Press ReleaseJune 2006
S 2686 Communications, Consumer's Choice, and Broadband Deployment Act of 2006 (Introduced in Senate)[S.2686.IS]
Community Broadband Act - Amends the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to prohibit any state or local government statute, regulation, or other legal requirement from prohibiting any public provider from providing, to any person or any public or private entity, advanced communications capability or any service that utilizes the advanced communications capability provided by such provider. Provides safeguards, including that a public provider may not provide advanced communications capability to the public unless the provision of such capability by that public provider is subject to the same laws and regulations that would apply if the advanced communications capability were being provided by a nongovernmental entity.
S 1294 Community Broadband Act
Title: A bill to amend the Telecommunications Act of 1996 to preserve and protect the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services.
Sponsor: Sen Lautenberg, Frank R. [NJ] (introduced 6/23/2005)
See Topic Muni Broadband
[PDF]COMMUNITY BROADBAND COALITION December 13, 2005 Dear Senator:
HR 2726 Preserving Innovation in Telecom Act of 2005
Title: To prohibit municipal governments from offering telecommunications, information, or cable services except to remedy market failures by private enterprise to provide such services.
Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32] (introduced 5/26/2005)
See Topic Muni Broadband
S.1504 Broadband Investment and Consumer Choice Act
Title: A bill to establish a market driven telecommunications marketplace, to eliminate government managed competition of existing communication service, and to provide parity between functionally equivalent services. Sponsor: Sen Ensign, John [NV], Thomas 8/5/2005
See Topic Muni Broadband
Jim Baller’s response to Senator Ensign’s municipal networks provision
Killer Applications: The use of VoIP has been described as a killer application for Muni Wifi. [Aaron Kaplan, Funkfeuer Network presented at NAF (Feb. 6 2008)] It could present a compelling alternative to over priced mobile telephone service with the use of such things as Skype Wifi phones.
States
State |
Law |
Service |
Restriction |
Public Networks |
| Alabama |
|
|
|
Scottsboro (c)
Sylaugua (f) |
| Arkansas |
Prohibited |
basic local exchange service |
Exchange service prohibited. Facilities may be provided after hearing. |
Paragould (c) |
| Arizona |
|
|
|
Chandler (w)
Phoenix (w)
Tempe (w) |
| California |
|
|
|
Alameda(f)
Anaheim (w)
Cerritos
Cupertino (w)
Fullerton (w)
Galt
Hermosa Beach (w)
Loma Linda (f)
Lompoc (w)
Long Beach (w)
Palo Alto (f)
Sacramento
San Francisco (w)
San Manteo (w)
Santa Clara (w)
Sunnyvale (w)
|
| Colorado |
Regulated |
Cable, Telecom and advanced services |
Referendum required before entrance. |
Denver |
| Connecticut |
|
|
|
| Florida |
Regulated |
Communications service |
Referendum, hearings, and business plan required before entrance |
Gainsville (f)
Lake County (f)
Orlando (w)
Miami Beach (w)
Quincy (f)
St. Cloud (w) |
| Georgia |
|
|
|
Adel (w)
Atlanta (w)
Dalton (f)
Ellaville
Houston County (w) |
| Hawaii |
|
|
|
Honolulu |
| Illinois |
|
|
Referendum required?? |
Aurora (w) |
| Indiana |
|
|
|
Auburn (f)
Fort Wayne (w)
Scottsburg (w) |
| Iowa |
Regulated |
Local Exchange Service |
Referendum required before entrance; rules against subsidization |
Cedar Falls (f)
Harlan (c)
Sanborn
Spenser (f) |
| Kansas |
|
|
|
Western (w)
Wheatland Electric Cooperative |
| Kentucky |
|
|
|
Glasgow (c)
Owensboro (w) |
| Louisiana |
Regulated |
Cable, Telecom, or Advanced Services |
Referendum required before entrance |
Lafayette (f)
New Orleans (w)
Vivian (w) |
| New Mexico |
|
|
|
Rio Ranch (w) |
| Maine |
Regulated |
|
|
| Maryland |
|
|
|
Allegany County (w)
Caroline County
Talbot County
Washington County |
| Massachusetts |
|
|
|
Brookline |
| Michigan |
Regulated |
Telecommunications services |
Must solicit competitive private sector bids before entrance |
Grand Haven (w)
Grand Rapids |
| Minnesota |
Regulated |
Telephone exchange |
Referendum required before entrance |
Buffalo (w)
Chaska (w)
Minneapolis (w)
Morehead
Windom (f) |
| Missouri |
Prohibited |
Telecom facilities or service (Internet type services explicitly permitted) |
|
Carthage
Nevada (w)
North Kansas (f)
Springfield |
| Nebraska |
Partial Prohibition |
Broadband, telecom, internet services |
Public power utilities may offer the service; no other public entity may. Municipalities may offer dark fiber. |
| New Mexico |
|
|
|
Sandoval County (w)
Rio Rancho (w) |
| New York |
|
|
|
| Nevada |
Prohibited |
Telecom Service |
Prohibition is based on size |
| Ohio |
Regulated |
|
|
Akron (w)
Cincinatti (w)
Cleveland
Cuyahoga Falls (w)
Dalton (f)
Dublin (w)
Lebanon (HFC) |
| Oklahoma |
|
|
|
Sallisaw (f) |
| Oregon |
|
|
|
Ashland (f)
Portland (w)
The Dalles (f) |
| Pennsylvania |
Restricted |
|
|
Flinton
Kutztown (f)
Philadelphia (w)
Pittsburgh |
| South Carolina |
Regulated |
Telecom Service |
No subsidies; cost accounting restrictions |
Charleston
Columbia
Camden |
| South Dakota |
|
|
|
City of Timber Lake |
| Tennessee |
Regulated |
Cable, video, telecom, or Internet services |
Office of Comptroller must prepare a report before entry |
Jackson (f) |
| Texas |
Regulated |
|
|
Addison (w)
Austin (w)
Burleson (w)
Corpus Cristi (w)
Farmers Branch (w)
Granbury (w)
Houston (w)
Linden (w)
Plano (w)
South Lake (w) |
| Utah |
Restricted |
Cable or telecom services |
Retail offering prohibited. May do it wholesale. Hold hearing, conduct feasibility study, have legislative body adopt the feasibility study before entry |
iProvo (f)
Spanish Fork
UTOPIA (f) |
| Vermont |
|
|
|
Island Pond (w)
Montpelier (w) |
| Virginia |
Regulated |
Telecom Service |
Must acquire certificate, have open facilities, and comply with accounting rules |
Alexandria (w)
Arlington (w)
Bristol (f)
Dickenson (w)
Manassas (bpl) |
| Washington |
Restricted |
Telecom services |
Provide wholesale only |
Benton County (w)
Chelan (f)
Clallam (f)
Douglas (f)
Grant (f)
Mason Counties (f)
Pasco (w)
Tacoma (f) |
| West Virginia |
|
|
|
| Wisconsin |
Regulated |
Cable, Telecom, or Broadband services |
Hold a hearing with a financial report, or referendum, or survey finds no service providers, or offers only facilities - and uses revenue to replay cost |
Jackson (w)
Madison
Milwaukee
Reedsburg (f)
Waupaca (w) |
| Wyoming |
|
|
|
Key:: Prohibited : Entrance is not allowed :: Restricted : Entrance is only partly allowed :: Regulated : Entrance allowed if conditions are met ::
See Muniwireless.com February 2006 list of US cities and regions wifi Muni Wifi PDF
Free Press (good summaries)
Civitium (Excellent)
Network Neutrality
Some Municipality RFPs have explicitly stated Network Neutrality as a condition. See SF RFP Sec. 2.1 PDF
The Network Operator shall promote the open and interconnected nature of the public Internet by operating the Network in a neutral manner that ensures consumers are entitled to:
• Run applications and use services of their choice, subject to the needs of law
enforcement
• Access the lawful Internet content of their choice
• Connect their choice of legal devices that do not harm the network
• Competition among network providers, application and service providers, and content providers.
Anti Government Sentiment
See History of the Internet and Timeline. An argument lodged against Municipal Networks is that governments can not be trusted to run a network - they will botch things up and they will not innovate. Contrast this argument with the reality that the Internet (aka the ARPANet) was funded and operated at some level for the first 30 years of its existence. The Innovation, the evolution, the success of the Internet was founded on a partnership between government and academics. - Genny Pershing.
Papers
- Janice A. Hauge, Mark A. Jamison, R. Todd Jewell, Bureaucrats as Entrepreneurs: Do Municipal Telecommunications Providers Hinder Private Entry? TPRC 2006
- Carlos Osorio, The Economic Effect of Municipal Broadband: Evidence from Municipal Electric Utilities in the United States TPRC 2006 PDF
- Andrea H. Tapia, Julio Angel Ortiz, Municipal Responses to State-Level Broadband Internet Policy, TPRC 2006 PDF
- Jed Kolko, Why Should Cities Provide Wireless Broadband Access? TPRC 2006
- Catherine A. Middleton, Graham Longford, Andrew Clement, Amelia Bryne Potter, ICT Infrastructure as Public Infrastructure: Exploring the Benefits of Public Wireless Networks TPRC 2006
- Don Berryman, Municipal Networks, Earthlink (2006) Slides PDF (Earthlinks Muni Wifi Business Plan)
- Muniwireless.com February 2006 list of US cities and regions wifi Muni Wifi PDF
- Lehr, Sirbu, Gillett, Wireless is Changing the Policy Calculus for Municipal Broadband, Government Information Quarterly 2006
- CNET Municipal Broadband Nationwide, Map 2005
- James Salter, CEO Atlantic Engineering Group, Municipal Broadband Deployments: Lessons Learned
- Lehr, Osorio, Gillet, Sirbu, Measuring Broadband's Economic Impact, Presented at TPRC 2005
- Ben Scott, Telco Lies and the Truth About Municipal Broadband Networks Free Press April 2005
- Ford, Koutsky, Broadband and Economic Development: A Municipal Case Study from Florida, Applied Economic Studies April 2005
- MICHAEL J. BALHOFF & ROBERT C. ROWE, MUNICIPAL
BROADBAND: DIGGING BENEATH THE SURFACE (2005)
- Robert McChesney and Jon Podesta, Let There be WiFi, Washington Monthly 2005
- "The Case for Municipal Broadband" FMEA White Paper
- "Connecting the Public: The Truth About Municipal Broadband", MAP 4/11/2005
- Sharon Gillett, Municipal Trends, Broadband Properties Sept 2004
- Municipally Owned Broadband Networks: A Critical Evaluation, Heartland Institute 2004
- Unlicensed Wireless Broadband Profiles Community, Municipal & Commercial Success Stories New America 2004
- Municipal Broadband in Concord: An In-Depth Analysis BHI Policy Study , Beacon Hill at Suffolk University 2004
- William Lehr, Carlos Osorio, Sharon Gillett, Municipal Electric Utilities' Role in Telecommunications Services, TPRC 10/2/2004
- Marvin A. Sirbu, Sharon Gillett, Sharon Gillett, Broadband Open Access: Lessons from Municipal Network Case Studies, TPRC 10/2/2004
- Sappington, D., G. Sidak,. Incentives for Anticompetitive Behavior by Public Enterprises. Review
of Industrial Organization, 22, 183-206. (2003)
- Ronald J. Rizzuto and Michael O. Wirth, “Costs, Benefits, and Long-Term Sustainability of Municipal Cable Television Overbuilds,” Denver: GSA Press, 1998.
- Best Practices
Statistics
- Number of Municipal Electric Utilites doing Communications. Source: APPA - Sharon Gillett, Municipal Trends, Broadband Properties Sept 2004
- 2000: 300+ - 2001: 450 - 2002: 511 - 2003: 569
- FTTH Homes Passed in US - Sharon Gillett, Municipal Trends, Broadband Properties Sept 2004
- 2002: 27% Muni, 67% CLEC, 5.4% Small ILEC, 0.6% Other (including RBOC)
- 2003: 32% Muni, 42% CLEC, 6% Small ILEC, 3% Other (including RBOC)
Links
Links
- Cincinnati metro bus route to get free Wi-Fi, Muni 3/20/2008
- More Thoughts of Philly: Three Months After the Philadelphia Story., Sascha Meinrath 3/13/2008
- Wireless meter reading expected to save $18.7M, Muni 3/10/2008
- New Pittsburgh partner offers Wi-Fi for free, Muni 3/5/2008
- Houston Seeks Wi-Fi Network Builder to Replace Earthlink - Getting back on that horse, dslreports 3/3/2008
- Minneapolis: Citywide Wi-Fi Success Story - 95% of the city to be connected by March 11th, dslreports 2/25/2008
- Chicago Transit Authority deploys Wi-Fi mesh in rail yards, Muni 2/15/2008
- Earthlink Lost $80 Million On Muni-Fi Last Year - Anybody want to buy some failed Wi-Fi ambition?, DSLreports 2/13/2008
- Minneapolis' Wi-Fi network nets local praise, Muni 2/13/2008
- Earthlink Lost $80 Million On Muni-Fi Last Year - Anybody want to buy some failed Wi-Fi ambition?, DSLreports 2/13/2008
- Minneapolis' Wi-Fi network nets local praise, Muni 2/13/2008
- The Future of Municipal Wireless Power Point Presentations., Sascha Meinrath 2/7/2008
- Philadelphia Makes Back-Up Plan In Case Earthlink Bails - The city is prepared to take over if need be, DSLreports 2/1/2008
- ILSR advocates mixed fiber/wireless networks, Muni 1/24/2008
- Longmont, Texas, becomes "one, big, free Wi-Fi hotspot", Muni 1/17/2008
- Meraki to create citywide Wi-Fi network in San Francisco, Muni 1/8/2008
- Muni Wi-Fi on the march in south Florida, Muni 1/3/2008
- Philadelphia as a Wi-Fi Case Study - New report reviews the history of the developing system, DSLreports 12/18/2007
- Senate Committee Approves Broadband Bill - Step forward for municipal broadband, DSLreports 11/5/2007
- City Wi-Fi networks get Senate panel nod, again, CNET 11/1/2007
- Senate Panel Blesses Community Broadband, Internet news 11/1/2007
- T-Mobile opens hotspots in S. California, MuniWireless 10/26/2007
- San Francisco's Wi-Fi dream lives on, CNET 10/23/2007
- Esme Vos, CW 10/10/2007
- WSJ on why free Wi-Fi is failing, PFF 9/27/2007
- Citywide Wi-Fi isn't dead yet, CNET 9/25/2007
- Despite ConnectKentucky, Kentucky loses jobs, MuniWireless 9/25/2007
- GoogleWiFi One Year Later - Municipal problems didn't stop growth, DSLreports 8/29/2007
- Chicago scraps costly Wi-Fi project, CW 8/29/2007
- AT&T Scraps Springfield Wi-Fi - The muni-Fi implosion continues..., DSLreports 8/29/2007
- EarthLink's Wi-Fi dreams may be fading, CNET 8/29/2007
- Why Wi-Fi networks are floundering, America's Network 8/24/2007
- Cisco writing muni broadband's next chapter?, MuniWireless 8/16/2007
- Muni wireless is hero in Minneapolis bridge disaster, MuniWireless 8/9/2007
- New Wi-Fi network proves critical in Minneapolis bridge disaster, CW 8/8/2007
- Senate bill would reduce state prohibitions on muni deployments, MuniWireless 7/27/2007
- New report predicts muni market will reach $6.4 billion in 2012, MuniWireless 7/27/2007
- In Suburbs, Locked Into a High-Tech Lure, Wash Post 5/22/2007
- Opinion: Turning muni-wireless into community wireless, MuniWireless 6/15/2007
- City wi-fi plans under scrutiny, BBC 6/5/2007
- Nortel takes on more municipal wireless projects, CNET 6/5/2007
- Eyes on Anaheim and Earthlink - A summary of the municipal WiFi issue, Broadband Reports 6/1/2007
- March 2007 update of wireless cities and counties in the US, MuniWireless 4/5/2007
- Forget WiMax, Stockholm's got cable to spare, Register 4/3/2007
- Verizon On Munis: 'More Power To Them' - Quite a change in position from 2004..., Broadband Reports 3/1/2007
- It’s launch party time: Philadelphia and Corpus Christi, Muniwireless 11/21/2006
- Democratic Congress puts municipal Wi-Fi on the agenda, MuniWireless 1/23/2007
- ILSR Report: Five Ways Public Ownership Solves US Broadband Problem, MuniWireless 1/9/2007
- Welcome to Wi-Fi-Ville Pop. 300 towns and growing, Time 1/5/2007
- Report Ties Broadband to Economic Growth, MuniWireless 12/19/2006
- Response to 'Bogus Experts, Bogus Concern' - The think tank push to ban municipal broadband, Broadband Reports 11/2/2006
- Can a publicly owned municipal Wi-Fi network be viable?, Muniwireless 9/26/2006
- September 2006 update of wireless cities and counties in the US, Muniwireless 9/12/2006
- Muni Wi-Fi now almost de rigueur, Telephony 9/12/2006
- AT&T gets into the municipal Wi-Fi game, Network World 9/1/2006
- Municipal Broadband is Making Progress, Says Report, Telecom Magazine 7/25/2006
- Toronto Hydro nearing launch of wireless internet access, 680 News 7/21/2006
- AT&T, start-up team in citywide Wi-Fi bid, CNET 7/21/2006
- Paris Wants Wireless Internet Access Across City, Reuters 7/5/2006
- Only Six Million U.S. Homes Will Have Access to Municipal Broadband Says Report, GT News 6/14/2006
- A cure to citywide Wi-Fi woes?, CNET 5/23/2006
- The GAO Makes the Case for Community Broadband, Wetmachine 5/23/2006
- Thumbs Down on Muni Wi-Fi, Networking Pipeline 5/5/2006
- Cities Should Use Muni-Wi-Fi for Local Information, IP Democracy 4/20/2006
- Strategy Paper explains how Community-wide Wireless is coming to the rescue, Center for Digital Government 4/18/2006
- Is A Publicly Owned Information Network for Minneapolis a Wise Public Investment?, ILSR 4/18/2006
- Critics hit Wi-Fi plan on privacy, interference, CW 4/12/2006
- Advocates Urge Rural Communities to Push for High-Speed Internet Access, Free Press 4/12/2006
- F2C Panelists: Muni Broadband is a Viable Business, IP Democracy 4/5/2006
- Michael Powell on municipal wireless and net neutrality legislation, Muniwireless 4/5/2006
- Whose Internet Is It?, Justice Talking 3/28/2006
- 'Largest Wireless Network' Planned For Arizona, Internet Week 3/21/2006
- Muni-Fi: An Explosive Trend - Incumbents can't beat 'em, join 'em..., Broadband Reports 3/21/2006
- Fairfax, Virginia issues RFP for citywide Wi-Fi network, Muniwireless 3/21/2006
- Municipal Wi-Fi Gets Backers, Red Herring 3/14/2006
- Municipal Wi-Fi Gets Backers, PK 3/14/2006
- Must-read analysis of Amsterdam FTTH project, Muniwireless 3/14/2006
- Cable company and wireless ISP team up to unwire cities, Muniwireless 3/14/2006
- Coming Soon: Viruses Spread By RFID Tags, Internet Week 3/21/2006
- Open Hotspots And Your Liability... - If someone drives by and commits a crime, Broadband Reports 3/21/2006
- Rural Areas Find Internet Answer in the Air, Wash Post 3/14/2006
- City Encounters Wi-Fi Problems, IP Democracy 1/13/2006
- Reed Hundt: muni wireless restrictions leave US at risk, Muni 10/18/2005
- eWeek Special Report Municipal Wifi
- Metros connected, rural areas lag on Internet, Bizjournal 7/29/2005
- Jim Baller's reaction to Sen. Ensign's municipal networks provision, Free Press 7/29/2005
- Muniwireless Second Anniversary Report, Muni 8/2/2005
- Bush energy bill: "Bye-bye municipal utilities", Isen 8/9/2005
- Battle over municipal Wi-Fi networks, FCW 8/19/2005
- What's Stupider Than Calling the Internet an "Information Superhighway"?, EFF 7/8/2005
- W: The Effect of Municipal Broadband Networks on Competition, Firstmile.us 6/29/2005
- Muniwireless 2005, Sept 26-27 in San Francisco, Muni 6/15/2005
- Proposed wireless ban enrages local official, Free Press 6/14/2005
- Community broadband in the UK, Muni 5/13/2005
- WiFi ban bill lives, Houston Chronicle 5/13/2005
- Life, Liberty and Free WiFi, Public Knowledge 5/3/2005
- Cities brace for broadband war, Public Knowledge 5/3/2005
- Municipal broadband and wireless projects map, CNET 5/3/2005
- GigaFight, Mother Jones 5/3/2005
- Cities ask: Why not Wi-Fi?, PK 4/15/2005
- High-speed internet access via the electricity grid: Commission seeks to create new market opportunities, Europa 4/8/2005
- The real digital divide, Economist 3/11/2005
- Bill could pull the plug on municipal Internet access, Bizjournals 3/11/2005
- EdgeNet ? A Community-driven Intranet at Edgewood Terrace, Washington DC, DDN 3/9/2005
- Harold Feld on Competition: why we need to keep the muni option open, Muni 3/2/2005
- Dianah Neff says: hands off our network!, Muni 2/11/2005
- Nuisance or Competitive Threat, Telephony Online Aug 2004 ( “Many cities that waited for the private sector to serve them became dust,” Jim Baller said.)
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