community networks

Sheer tenacity primes Boron FTTH for California broadband subsidy


Boron upgrades from twenty mules to a gigabit.

On its fourth try, Race Telecommunications seems set to get public grant backing to build a fiber-to-the-home system in the small Mojave desert town of Boron. California Public Utilities Commission staff have released a draft resolution that, if approved by commissioners, would spend up to $3.4 million from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) to pay 60% of the cost of building a fiber optic network to serve about 900 customers in the Boron area, plus cover the cost of any state or federal income tax on the grant.… More

Watsonville moving ahead with city fiber project to replace Charter service

18 September 2013 by Steve Blum
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New conduit is in blue, existing conduit in red, existing fiber in green.

The Watsonville, California city council voted last week to ask for bids to build a fiber optic backbone network that will connect public facilities from one end of the city to another.

The first phase of the project, which is now out to bid, involves installing a total of about one mile of conduit that will link up to another three miles or so of existing conduit and fiber lines, creating a continuous path.… More

California legislature adds $90 million to broadband subsidy fund

12 September 2013 by Steve Blum
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What will Jerry do? No, the other one.

The California legislature approved senate bill 740 yesterday, adding $90 million to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and widening, a bit, the list of broadband providers who can apply for construction subsidies.

The state assembly gave its blessing on a 59 to 16 vote, and sent it over to the senate, where it was approved 34 to 3. The bill now goes to Governor Brown for his approval, or not.… More

Clock ticking down on California broadband policy initiatives

11 September 2013 by Steve Blum
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High noon is nearer than it seems.

Of all the ancient traditions and lofty values of the California legislature, few have the moral imperative of the three day weekend. Although this Friday is a work day – the end of session deadline – on the official calendar, leaders in both the California senate and assembly want to wrap up business by tomorrow evening.

So today is critical to efforts to top up the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF), and sorta expand eligibility for broadband infrastructure construction subsidies to independent Internet service providers and cities.… More

Santa Cruz County considers sweeping new broadband deployment policies


Streamlining tech, Santa Cruz style.

What would be one of California’s most comprehensive broadband infrastructure development policies goes before the Santa Cruz County board of supervisors on Tuesday. A report prepared by county staff recommends taking several steps to clear the way for immediate construction of broadband facilities and lay a foundation for long term infrastructure planning and deployment…

  1. Finalize conduit specifications in collaboration with Public Works and broadband providers.
  2. Work with County Counsel and Public Works to establish master lease agreements that allow the installation of broadband infrastructure on utility poles, light standards and County assets.
… More

Provo proves Comcast can offer better service at a lower price when there's no other choice

6 September 2013 by Steve Blum
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Comcast’s patron saint.

“You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone.”
Al Capone

Comcast guards what it considers to be its turf with a ferocity that makes a Chicago gangster look like a social worker. Now, it’s putting a move on Provo.

As Utah broadband blogger Jesse Harris tells it…

I spoke with one of their sales guys who confirmed that Comcast will be offering a package of 250Mbps/50Mbps for $70 starting in September, but only in Provo.

… More

CPUC approves $10 million and maybe a bit more for Digital 395

5 September 2013 by Steve Blum
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Flakes raise costs

Digital 395 got $9.9 million from the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) this morning. As expected, commissioners approved the additional money, as a grant from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Full details are in the final draft of the resolution.

Another $938,000 is on hold, pending environmental reviews and subsequent approval, or not, by the commission.

The money will cover the net cost overruns generated by the project. Originally budgeted at $101 million, 80% of the cost was to be covered by a grant from the 2009 federal broadband stimulus program.… More

CPUC plans to approve extra $10 million for Digital 395 without discussion

4 September 2013 by Steve Blum
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Digital 395 gets the fast track and cash.

A last minute change to tomorrow’s California Public Utilities Commission agenda put a request for an extra $10 million for the Digital 395 project on the meeting’s consent calendar. Assuming no commissioner asks otherwise, that means the money will be approved without questions, debate or public comment.

A new draft resolution was also circulated a few days ago, identifying a single, unified Digital 395 fiber backbone network, stretching from Reno to Barstow down the eastern edge of California, as the commission’s top goal.… More

The California assembly will vote on funding broadband infrastructure

30 August 2013 by Steve Blum
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Legislative leadership lines up behind broadband.

Californian broadband subsidies are back on track and heading, it seems to a vote by the full assembly. Big thanks to Elizabeth Munguia in senator Alex Padilla’s office for the news that the assembly leadership released senate bill 740 from the appropriations committee’s suspense file, which puts it in play for the final, hectic two weeks of the legislature’s current session.

SB 740 would add $90 million to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and make it possible – although maybe not practical – for independent Internet service providers and cities to apply for grants and loans to build out broadband infrastructure.… More

Chattanooga notches up a major geek milestone with Ironman selection


I’ve been waiting a long time for an excuse to post one of my Ironman finisher photos.

When people outside of the industry ask me “What do you do?”, I usually answer “Swim, bike, run. Eat, sleep. Repeat.” If pressed, I’ll admit to doing something or other with broadband, then quickly steer the conversation back to triathlon, particularly the ultra-distance form of the addiction sport. So I can’t resist the temptation of a press release from the World Triathlon Corporation and the Chattanooga Sports Committee, announcing Ironman Chattanooga, a new race beginning in 2014.… More