@communitynets
Internet access touches almost every aspect of our daily lives. At CommunityNetworks.org, we have assembled the nation's largest storehouse of information on communities building publicly-owned networks directly accountable to the communities they serve.
Vermont's CUDs "continue to make steady inroads in delivering high-quality broadband access to long-neglected rural Vermont residents."
Read more from @communitynets.bsky.social:
communitynetworks.org/content/chit...
DOJ's recent 6th Circuit filing misspelled:
Voters as “Votors”
Emergency as "Emeregency"
United States as "United Staes"
And, it included a non-party in the caption.
These are the people who want access to your sensitive voting records and who my team fights in court every day.
Now that CNN and WBD are set to become state media in a sale to Paramount/Oracle/TikTok, it is especially important to support independent media.
Off the top of my head:
www.thehandbasket.co
404media.co
www.garbageday.email
Add your favorites in the replies. Fuck state-backed media monopolies.
The richest man owns X.
The second and third richest men control Google.
The fourth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp.
The fifth richest man owns The Washington Post.
And now the sixth richest could soon take over both Paramount and Warner Bros.
See the problem here?
The "need for BEAD" has always been to get durable broadband infrastructure built in places where there isn't any. If you think Starlink dishes eliminate that need, well okay, pull the plug on BEAD. (Hint: Not gonna happen!) But there's no reason to spend BEAD $$$ on Starlink marketing subsidies.
New Mexico just showed how quickly affordable legislation can pass when the stars align
Today NM Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed SB-152, creating the 1st state-level ACP-style Internet affordability program in the nation - passed in 25 days fr legislative start to finish⚡
Congrats New Mexico!
Jason Mittler returned to our podcast and joined host @sportshotchris.bsky.social to talk about how Fort Pierce, FL is expanding its fiber network
They also discuss digital equity efforts in Lincoln Park, and how municipal ownership allows the city to lower rates while strengthening its utilities
And here we have a feature story on the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa getting started on construction of a $20 million Tribally-owned network
@tribal-bb-bootcamp.bsky.social @matthewrantanen.bsky.social @sportshotchris.bsky.social
⚡We've add new features and functionality to our Community Network Map to show more detail on where (and what) publicly owned networks are across the U.S.
Today, we take a big step: adding Tribal networks serving their communities⚡
Link below ⬇️
communitynetworks.org/content/our-...
Will states get their "non-deployment" BEAD dollars to help tackle the nation's massive digital divide or will NTIA flout the law?
Our story at link below in light of recent developments 🌐⬇️
communitynetworks.org/content/ntia...
On our latest podcast, @sportshotchris.bsky.social is joined by @dougdawsonccg.bsky.social & @seangon.bsky.social to dive into the wave of major telecom mergers, what growing market power means for consumers, and dig into new research fr Chattanooga on the economic benefits of municipal fiber
🌐💻
California regulators recently signed off on Verizon’s $20 billion merger with some notable affordability conditions
Still, affordability advocates "remain concerned about the long-term impacts of major telecommunications mergers on the broadband landscape in California."
Our story here
While our broadband team focuses on local connectivity solutions, our GIS specialist @cthemaplady.bsky.social made time to create an interactive map for one of ILSR's other initiatives (Independent Business)
It maps food deserts & shows how corporate concentration has reshaped food access in the US
They don't want oversight? Fine. No money then.
Understand that once StarLink has a monopoly, it will quadruple or 10x its prices, install horrible filtering, and steal all your data.
Elon’s behaviour is consistent.
StarLink is not “cheaper“; it is TEMPORARILY subsidised by Bad People to build a monopoly that it can then *exploit brutally*
And here is an incisive update that @karlbode.com wrote for us on how Starlink is demanding less oversight
communitynetworks.org/content/star...
On our latest podcast, @sportshotchris.bsky.social, Doug Adams and @karlbode.com break down Starlink’s behind-the-scenes push to rewrite BEAD rules, what it means for accountability and public dollars, and why communities could once again be left holding the bag
NTIA has threatened to without federal broadband $$ from states that enact affordable broadband legislation
But, a Maryland lawmaker tells NTIA to hold his beer as he filed an affordable broadband bill along with 25 co-sponsors that may just dodge a Trump admin bullet
Our story here 🌐💻⬇️
NY Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a dramatic expansion of the state’s Municipal Infrastructure Program, relying on American Rescue Plan $$
Meanwhile, the current admin has been busy undermining the intent of the BEAD program, which states are relying on to close the digital divide
Our story here 🌐💻⬇️
Our Senior Researcher Jessica Auer recently published a piece in Tribal Business News about how the future of tribal broadband has quietly but fundamentally shifted over the last few months
What's shifted? ⬇️
⚡“Navigating the Legal Landscape of Community Broadband” free webinar starts in 30 mins. Join us where we’ll be joined by Keller & Heckman attorneys Sean Stokes & Casey Lide⚡
Community leaders, policymakers & broadband advocates nationwide this one's for you
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BItC...
⚡Join us today at noon ET for our free webinar with @aapbroadband.bsky.social and our special expert guests
We'll have Sean Stokes and Casey Lide from Keller & Heckman exploring laws, risks & solutions shaping local broadband networks⚡
communitynetworks.org/content/aapb...
Community matters - especially now
Publicly-owned, locally-controlled broadband is one way communities strengthen themselves, putting connectivity in local hands and opening the digital world to everyone
We celebrate the muni networks that were launched in 2025 here! 🎉🌐💻
Critics are fond of saying municipal broadband is a "boondoggle" for taxpayers
Never mind the fact that it's NOT true, lookie here
Charter got $2 mil in tax dollars back in May 2023 to expand Internet access in Richland County. Now local officials are worried Charter won't meet the 2026 deadline
Next week: join us, @communitynets.bsky.social for “Navigating the Legal Landscape of Community Broadband,” where we’ll be joined by Keller & Heckman attorneys Sean Stokes and Casey Lide.
Learn to tackle legal, governance, and regulatory hurdles head-on.
Register: sites.google.com/ilsr.org/ils...
⚡Our webinar series with @aapbroadband.bsky.social returns on Jan 20
Communities kicking the tires on building a municipal network or thinking about a public-private partnership are not going to want to miss this free event
Navigating the Legal Landscape of Community Broadband
We are always happy to speak with reporters about broadband and its real-world impacts
In this excellent Meditech Today piece, our Senior Researcher Jessica Auer offers some insights on how the current administration is shortchanging connectivity in Indian Country
Blair Levin joined the Community Broadband Bits podcast to review 2025 while raising the key issues we should watch for in 2026 on matters of telecom, Internet access, etc. And we put it on YouTube!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zc44...
