Cybertelecom Federal Internet Law & Policy An Educational Project

Municipal Broadband Reference

Legislation

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 Release June 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) Cosponsors (5): Coleman, Feingold, Graham, Kerry, McCain
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

State and Local Issues and Municipal Networks Senate Commerce Committee February 14 2006

• Statements:
• U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska)
• Mr. Robert Sahr : SD PUC (also 14 State Qwest Oversight Committee)
• Ms. Diane Munns NARUC
• Mr. John Perkins National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates
• Mr. Michael F. Altschul CTIA
• Mr. Douglas A. Boone Premier
• Mr. Donald Berryman Earthlink
• Ms. Dianah Neff City of Philadelphia

Hearings

• Hearing on State and Local Issues and Municipal Networks: Hearing Before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, 109th Cong. (2006)
• Hearing on The Provision of Telecommunications and Information Services by the Federal Government in Competition with the Private Sector, Hearing Before the House Government Information and Individual Rights Subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations, 97th Cong. (1982)

FTC

• Municipal Broadband: Should Cities Have a Voice, Jon Leibowitz, FTC Commissioner Sept. 2005
• FTC Report: Should Municipalities Provide Wireless Internet Service? Oct 2006

FCC

• FCC RELEASES MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER PREEMPTING CERTAIN CHALLENGED PROVISIONS OF TENNESSEE AND NORTH CAROLINA LAW RESTRICTING MUNICIPAL PROVISION OF BROADBAND SERVICE.   Granted the preemption petition of the Electric Power Board of Chattanooga, TN, and granted in part the preemption petition of the City of Wilson, NC, finding that they are barriers to broadband infrastructure investment and thwart competition. (Dkt No.  14-116 14-115 ). Action by:  the Commission. Adopted:  02/26/2015 by MO&O. (FCC No. 15-25).  WCB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A1.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A2.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A3.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A4.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A5.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A6.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A1.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A2.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A3.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A4.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A5.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-15-25A6.pdf

• STATEMENT BY CHAIRMAN TOM WHEELER ON COMMUNITY BROADBAND.  STMT. OCHTW  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-331805A1.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-331805A1.pdf

• FCC GRANTS PETITIONS TO PREEMPT STATE LAWS RESTRICTING COMMUNITY BROADBAND IN NORTH CAROLINA, TENNESSEE.   Opened the door for two community broadband providers to expand service, preempting state laws in Tennessee and North Carolina that prevented these and similar broadband providers in the two states from meeting local demand for broadband service.  News Release. Adopted:  02/26/2015. News Media Contact: Mark at 0253, email: Mark.  WCB  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A1.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A2.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A3.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A4.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A5.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A6.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A1.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A2.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A3.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A4.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DOC-332255A6.pdf

• Released:  07/28/2014.  PLEADING CYCLE ESTABLISHED FOR COMMENTS ON ELECTRIC POWER BOARD AND CITY OF WILSON PETITIONS, PURSUANT TO SECTION 706 OF THE TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1996, SEEKING PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS RESTRICTING THE DEPLOYMENT OF CERTAIN BROADBAND NETWORKS. (DA No.  14-1072). (Dkt No 14-116 14-115 ). Comments Due:  08/29/2014. Reply Comments Due:  09/29/2014.  WCB . https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-1072A1.docx
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-1072A1.pdf
  https://apps.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/DA-14-1072A1.txt
• STATEMENT FROM FCC CHAIRMAN JULIUS GENACHOWSKI ON PROPOSED MUNICIPAL BROADBAND LEGISLATION.  STMT. News Media Contact:
  TXT
• Statement by FCC Commissioner Mignon L Clyburn on Proposed Anti-Municipal Broadband Legislation, April 4, 2011“I recently learned that several state legislatures are considering bills that are contrary to the deployment objectives of the Broadband Plan. For example, in North Carolina, the state legislature is currently evaluating legislation entitled ‘Level Playing Field/Local Government Competition.’ Last week the North Carolina Ho use passed the bill, and it currently awaits consideration in the Senate. This piece of legislation certainly sounds goal-worthy, an innocuous proposition, but do not let the tit le fool you. This measure, if enacted, will not only fail to level the playing field; it will discourage municipal governments from addressing deployment in communities where the private sector has failed to meet broadband service needs. In other words, it will be a significant barrier to broadband deployment and may impede local efforts to promote economic development.""
• Remarks of FCC Commissioner Michael J Copps, SEATOA 10th Annual Conference, May 10, 2011
• "Among the other recommendations of the National Broadband Plan, I know that many folks in this room cheered the recognition of the importance of the ability of tribal, state, regional and local governments to build their own broadband networks. My colleague Commissioner Mignon Clyburn has been highlighting the importance of municipal broadband as an important tool to address the digital divides in our country. As most of you know, I have been pushing municipal broadband for a long, long time. When incumbent providers cannot serve the broadband needs of some localities, local governments should be allowed--no, encouraged--to step up to the plate and ensure that their citizens are not left on the wrong side of the great divide. So it is regrettable that some states are considering, and even passing, legislation that could hinder local solutions to bring the benefits of broadband to their communities. It's exactly the wrong way to go. In this context, too, our previous infrastructure challenges must be the guide. The successful history of rural electrification, as one example, is due in no small part to municipal electric cooperatives that lit up corners of this country where investor-owned utilities had little incentive to go. Those coops turned on the lights for a lot of people! You know, our country would be a lot better off if we would learn from our past rather than try to defy or deny it."
• National Broadband Plan Rec. 8.19: Congress should make clear that state, regional and local governments can build broadband networks.
• Connected & on the Go; Broadband Goes Wireless, Report of the FCC Wireless Broadband Access Task Force, Feb. 2005
• Mo. Mun. League, 16 FCC Rcd. 1157, 1158 (2001), vacated , 299 F.3d 949, 952 (8th Cir. 2002), rev’d , 541 U.S. 125 (2004) ([T]he legal authorities that we must look to in this case compel us to deny the Missouri Municipals’ petition . . . . The Commission has found that municipally-owned utilities and other utilities have the potential to become major competitors in the telecommunications industry. In particular, we believe that the entry of municipally-owned utilities can further the goal of the 1996 Act to bring the benefits of competition to all Americans, particularly those who live in small or rural communities.”)

Papers

• Jeff Stricker, Casting a Wider 'Net: How and Why State Laws Restricting Municipal Broadband Networks Must Be Modified, 81 GWLR 589 (2013)
• J.J. Po-An Hsieh, Mark Kell, Jonny Holmstrom, Lynette Kvasny, The Bumpy Road to Universal Access: An Actor-Network Analysis of US Municipal Broadband Internet Initiatives, The Information Society: An International Journal, pp. 264-283 (Aug. 9, 2012).
• HAROLD FELD ET AL., CONNECTING THE PUBLIC: THE TRUTH ABOUT MUNICIPAL BROADBAND 4 (white paper issued by the Consumer Federation of America, Media Access Project, and Freepress)*
• Angsana Techatassanasoontorn et al., Learning Processes in Municipal Broadband Projects: An Absorptive Capacity Perspective, 34 TELECOMMUNICATIONS POL. 572, 584 (2010)
• John Blevins, Death of the Revolution: The Legal War on Competitive Broadband Technologies, 12 YALE J.L. & TECH. 85, 110 (2009)
• DAVID CHAFFEE & MITCHELL SHAPIRO, MUNICIPAL & UTILITY GUIDEBOOK TO BRINGING BROADBAND FIBER OPTICS TO YOUR COMMUNITY, PUB. TECH. INST., 18 (2008)
• E. Casey Lide, Balancing the Benefits and Privacy Concerns of Municipal Broadband Applications, 11 N.Y.U. J. LEGIS. & PUB. POL. 467 (2008)
• Bert Sadowski; Uwe Matzat; Alberto Nucciarelli Municipal Glass Fiber Networks and High Speed Access; Case Study Evidence from the Netherlands (TPRC 2008)
• Matthew Dunne, Note, Let My People Go (Online): The Power of the FCC to Preempt State Laws that Prohibit Municipal Broadband, 107 COLUM. L. REV. 1126 (2007)
• Janice A. Hauge, Mark A. Jamison, R. Todd Jewell, Bureaucrats as Entrepreneurs: Do Municipal Telecommunications Providers Hinder Private Entry? TPRC 2006
• "Evolving Wireless Access Technologies for Municipal Broadband," with Marvin Sirbu and Sharon Gillett, Government Information Quarterly , 2006. ( PDF )
• Carlos Osorio, The Economic Effect of Municipal Broadband: Evidence from Municipal Electric Utilities in the United States TPRC 2006 PDF
• Bar, François and Namkee Park (2006), "Municipal Wifi: The Goals, Practices, and Policy Implications of the U.S. Case", Communications & Strategies, no. 61, 1st quarter 2006, 107-125
• Wi-Fi's Promise and Broadband Divides: Reconfiguring Public Internet Access in Austin, Texas Telecommunications and Information Policy Institute, University of Texas
• 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
• François Bar & Namkee Park, Municipal Wi-Fi Networks: The Goals, Practices, and Policy Implications of the U.S. Case, 61 COMMUNICATIONS & STRATEGIES 107 (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
• William Lehr, Marvin Sirbu and Sharon Gillett, "Municipal Wireless Broadband: Policy and Business Implications of Emerging Access Technologies," Competition in Networking: Wireless and Wireline, London Business School, April 13-14, 2004
• William Lehr, Marvin Sirbu and Sharon Gillett, "Broadband Open Access: Lessons from Municipal Network Case Studies," 32nd Annual TPRC 2004
• William Lehr, Sharon Gillett and Carlos Osorio, "The Municipal Role in U.S. FTTH Market Growth, FTTH Council's 3rd Annual FTTH Conference and Expo, October 4-6, 2004, Orlando, FL
• Marvin A. Sirbu, Sharon Gillett, Sharon Gillett, Broadband Open Access: Lessons from Municipal Network Case Studies, TPRC 10/2/2004 ( pdf )
• Sappington, D., G. Sidak,. Incentives for Anticompetitive Behavior by Public Enterprises. Review of Industrial Organization, 22, 183-206. (2003)
• Steven C. Carlson, A Historical, Economic, and Legal Analysis of Municipal Ownership of the Information Highway, 25 RUTGERS COMPUTER & TECH. L.J. 1, 8 (1999).
• Ronald J. Rizzuto and Michael O. Wirth, “Costs, Benefits, and Long-Term Sustainability of Municipal Cable Television Overbuilds,” Denver: GSA Press, 1998.
• Best Practices
• Municipal Wireless: Request for Proposal (RFP) Best Practices, p. 6 Civitium: Demand Assessment (July 2005) PDF
• Digital Community Best Practices, Intel
• Wireless Broadband – The Foundation for Digital Cities A Cookbook for Communities Muniwireless
• INTEL, DIGITAL COMMUNITY BEST PRACTICES (2005) PDF

Statistics

• Number of Municipal Electric Uti lites 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

• Supporters
  • AT&T Chicago's main phone company, AT&T, says it similarly would not be opposed to a city-initiated effort. "AT&T always has believed that the best approach is to stimulate investment in broadband," spokesman Rick Fox said. "As long as you're working with the private sector, that's a good thing." Chicago Planning City Wifi CNN March 2006
  • Civitium
  • Earthlink Municipal Broadband
  • Free Press - Community Internet - States (comprehensive and excellent)
  • InfoDev World Bank
  • Media Access Project
  • Media Alliance
  • Muni Consortium
  • MuniWireless.com: Reports on municipal wireless and broadband projects.
  • Public Knowledge
  • Tropos Networks
  • US Connected Communities Assoc at ion
• Opponents
  • Heartland
  • Institute for Policy Innovation
  • Reason Foundation
  • The Municipal Broadband Compact, Reason Foundation
  • US Internet Industry Association
• Benton State and Local Strategies for Connecting Communities
• Rural Broadband Coalition
• Wireless Internet Institute
• WCA Intl
• Canada

Links

• Baller Herbst Law Group: Represents a number of muni broadband efforts

News & Blogs

• The FCC Rules Against State Limits on City Run Internet, The Washington Post Feb. 26, 2015 ("On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commissions voted 3-2 to override laws preventing Chattanooga, Tenn., and Wilson, N.C. from expanding the high-speed Internet service the cities already offer to some residents.")
• FCC Commissioner slams N. Carolina attack on city-owned broadband, Ars Technica 4/8/2011
• FCC Commissioner Clyburn Releases Statement on Proposed Anti-Municipal Broadband Legislation, NATOA 4/4/2011
• North Carolina Votes Today To Cripple Community Broadband - AT&T And Company Try Once Again To Speed Bill Through, dslreports 2/25/2011
• The price of muni broadband? Eternal war with Time Warner Cable, Ars Technica 11/3/2010
• Incumbent Dirty Tricks In Wilson, NC - Telecom push pollsters arrive in the Carolinas..., dslreports 5/1/2009
• Time Warner Cable Wants to Take Internet Away From N.C. Residents, Save the Internet 4/28/2009
• After Five Years Of Fighting, Lafayette Gets Their Fiber - Symmetrical 10Mbps($28.94), 30Mbps($44.95) and 50Mbps ($57.95), dslreports 2/10/2009
• Lafayette Fiber Goes Live Next Month - What a long strange trip it's been, dslreports 12/23/2008
• City-owned fiber network a go as judge tosses telco lawsuit, Ars Technica 10/10/2008
• Muni Wi-Fi in Iraq, Muni 9/25/2008
• Milpitas May Make Use Of Old Earthlink Wi-Fi Network - Google to recreate Mountain View network in Milpitas, dslreports 8/27/2008
• "The Promise of Municipal Broadband" & white spaces, Google 8/27/2008
• Fauquier County, Virginia issues RFP for countywide broadband network, Muni 8/27/2008
• Winston-Salem, NC puts Wi-Fi network on hold, Muni 7/28/2008
• Philly Wi-Fi Network Use Skyrockets - Who knew that people prefer free services?, dslreports 7/28/2008
• Muni Wi-Fi in Iraq, Muni 9/25/2008
• Milpitas May Make Use Of Old Earthlink Wi-Fi Network - Google to recreate Mountain View network in Milpitas, dslreports 8/27/2008
• "The Promise of Municipal Broadband" & white spaces, Google 8/27/2008
• Fauquier County, Virginia issues RFP for countywide broadband network, Muni 8/27/2008
• Philly Wi-Fi Network Use Skyrockets - Who knew that people prefer free services?, dslreports 7/28/2008
• Winston-Salem, NC puts Wi-Fi network on hold, Muni 7/28/2008
• Austin, Minnesota citywide Wi-Fi launches in October 2008, Muni 7/15/2008
• Delray Beach, Florida looks for Wi-Fi alternatives, Muni 7/8/2008
• NYC Wireless Network Tackles Both Roadkill and Terrorism - Northrop Grumman's 'NYCWIN' network aids cleanup, safety...., dslreports 6/30/2008
• Philly Wi-Fi network gets stay of execution, CNET 6/18/2008
• Free Wi-Fi In San Francisco Before Year's End - Meraki repeaters are seen throughout the city, dslreports 6/17/2008
• Update on Michigan muni Wi-Fi projects: wireless Oakland county and others delayed, Muni 6/16/2008
• MetroFi Shuttering Citywide Wi-Fi Networks - Still looking for buyers ahead of June 20 D-day...., dslreports 6/13/2008
• Naperville says no more free Wi-Fi for you!, Muni 6/13/2008
• San Francisco wants you to have free Wi-Fi (via Meraki), Muni 6/13/2008
• Glenn Strachan on America's wrong view of municipal Wi-Fi, Muni 6/13/2008
• Documentary on Dying Philly Wi-Fi Network - Network to be shuttered on June 12 (this Thursday), dslreports 6/10/2008
• Guest commentary: FTTH or wireless, which is more cost-effective?, Muni 6/10/2008
• Oklahoma City Builds World's Largest Muni-Fi Network - Though it will only be used for municipal functions, dslreports 6/6/2008
• Craven County, North Carolina goes wireless: rural Wi-Fi connects schools, towns, Muni 6/6/2008
• Bye Bye, WiFi? Local Governments Abandoning Network Plans, Ecommerce Times 5/28/2008
• Public transport Wi-Fi is hot: SF BART to be unwired, Muni 5/28/2008
• MetroFi Pulls Out of Municipal Wireless Game - Portland and other cities can buy their networks or hope for a sale, Muni 5/22/2008
• Guest commentary: what went wrong with muni Wi-Fi, what cities can do now, Muni 5/22/2008
• Earthlink Announces it's Dismantling the Wireless Philadelphia Network., Sascha Meinrath 5/15/2008
• EarthLink notifies Philly subscribers of network shutdown, Muni 5/13/2008
• EarthLink to pull Philly's Wi-Fi plug, Globe and Mail 5/13/2008
• Earthlink Threatens To Shut Down Philly Wi-Fi - Unless the city acts to take the network off its hands., dslreports 5/9/2008
• Scottsdale downtown Wi-Fi service shuts down, Muni 5/6/2008
• Ohio cities go forward with municipal wireless networks, Muni 4/24/2008
• Two cities agree to take Wi-Fi networks off of EarthLink's hands, CW 4/17/2008
• Corpus Christi poised to take over EarthLink muni Wi-Fi network, Muni 4/15/2008
• Wi-Fi on public transport is suddenly hot, muni 4/15/2008
• St. Louis downtown Wi-Fi network goes live, muni 4/15/2008
• St. Charles, Illinois citywide Wi-Fi launch set for June 2008, Muni 4/8/2008
• NJ city plans to cover itself with a wireless canopy, Muni 3/25/2008
• Municipal Wireless Success Demands Public Involvement, Experts Say., Sascha Meinrath 3/25/2008
• 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.)