community networks – Page 17 – Steve Blum's Blog

Landlords face down Google: who benefits from broadband?

16 July 2013 by Steve Blum
ab1299, broadband, casf, community networks, google, public policy, sb740

Complex issue for Kansas City complexes.

Google Fiber’s offer in Kansas City of at least 5 Mbps Internet service for at least seven years for a one-time $300 installation fee is a rocking good deal if you own a house, or even if you’re a renter who expects to be around for a couple of years. But the economics are different for apartment buildings, where landlords have to pay the fee and tenants get the free service.… More

Municipal broadband is an economic choice, not a holy crusade

15 July 2013 by Steve Blum
broadband, community networks, ftth, fttp, palo alto

The debate continues.

I’ve been taken to task for an article I wrote on the prospects for fiber-to-the-premise service in Palo Alto. It was just published in Broadband Communities, and was based on a study I did last year for the City of Palo Alto evaluating a particular business model.

Christopher Mitchell, the proprietor of MuniNetworks.org and an advocate of public ownership of telecoms networks, called it odd and misleading in a blog post.… More

Big Sur is broadband on the edge

14 July 2013 by Steve Blum
broadband, community networks, public policy

Fill up here. Next broadband sixty miles.

California’s rocky, tide-lashed Big Sur coast has tenuous electronic connections to the outside world. At its northern end, there’s an old navy listening post at Point Sur that now serves as, among other things, a cellular site. Head south, though, and it’s more than sixty miles before you’ll see modern telecoms facilities.

AT&T keeps copper-based phone service working for most of the scattered businesses and homes along this isolated stretch of State Route 1.… More

Handful of CASF projects ready to move forward

11 July 2013 by Steve Blum
broadband, casf, community networks, cpuc, public policy

Sorry, it’s not the popular boys who go to the head of the CASF line.

It’s been more than five months since thirty-two broadband infrastructure projects totalling nearly $250 million were proposed for funding by the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Five have been taken off the table for various reasons, leaving 27 still asking for about $223 million in grant money. Not all can be funded – there’s only $158 million left in CASF’s grant account – and not all may, in the end, be eligible.… More

Broadband infrastructure and public housing now a common cause

10 July 2013 by Steve Blum
ab1299, broadband, casf, community networks, cpuc, public policy, sb740

Doesn’t matter how many buckets you have if the well runs dry.

The officially amended version of a bill aimed at improving Internet access and increasing its use in public housing projects has been released, and its good news for broadband infrastructure in California.

Assembly bill 1299 would set aside $25 million from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) to wire public housing units and pay for marketing programs to encourage residents to sign up for service.… More

Primarily is primarily the problem with California broadband subsidies

8 July 2013 by Steve Blum
broadband, casf, comcast, community networks, cpuc, public policy, sb740

I did not have legislative relations with Comcast either.

The fate of the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) might come down to a single word. Last week, when an assembly committee killed senate bill 740, which that would have added money to the fund and expanded the list of eligible applicants, the heat of the debate focused on a single weasel word…

These requirements shall include that projects under this paragraph primarily provide last-mile broadband access to households that are unserved by an existing facilities-based broadband provider.

… More

Benicia, California is ready to invest in its broadband future

7 July 2013 by Steve Blum
benicia, broadband, community networks, public policy

Benicia’s broadband report card shows average or better service in revenue-dense residential areas, but failing grades in its industrial economic engine.

The City of Benicia, in the northern San Francisco Bay Area, is jumpstarting industrial grade broadband development. The city council gave a green light to a plan to put $750,000 the table and ask private companies to come up with ideas for bringing high capacity broadband access to a prime industrial park and the surrounding area.… More

Public housing projects go to the head of the line for California broadband subsidies

2 July 2013 by Steve Blum
ab1299, broadband, casf, community networks, cpuc, public policy, sb740

It’s only a flesh wound.

Broadband subsidies for public housing are still popular at the California state capitol, even if it means reducing already dwindling support for infrastructure construction in unserved and underserved areas. The senate energy, utilities and communications committee approved assembly bill 1299 this morning. It would take $25 million from the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and use it to install broadband facilities in public housing projects and support marketing programs aimed at convincing residents to sign up for service.… More

Cable lobby shovels California broadband subsidies to a halt

1 July 2013 by Steve Blum
broadband, casf, comcast, community networks, cpuc, public policy, sb740

A good day’s work for California cable lobbyists.

With utter disregard for truth and common sense, lobbyists from Comcast and the California cable industry successfully confused enough assembly members to halt senate bill 740 in its tracks. SB 740 would have added $90 million to the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF) and allowed independent Internet service providers and public agencies to apply for broadband infrastructure grants under some circumstances.

A long line of supporters – including, remarkably enough, AT&T – endorsed the compromise language negotiated last week.… More

Last chance to speak your mind on changes to California broadband subsidies

30 June 2013 by Steve Blum
ab1299, broadband, casf, community networks, cpuc, public policy, sb740

Expect a united front from industry lobbyists.

Monday and Tuesday will likely be the final opportunity for public comments on new money and rules for the California Advanced Services Fund (CASF). Two proposals – senate bill 740 and assembly bill 1299 – are set for committee hearings. If approved, the bills head back into the machinery of the legislative process, which operates behind closed doors for the most part.

SB 740 is first up. It’s considered by the assembly utilities and commerce committee on Monday afternoon.… More