Tag Archives: municipal broadband

Tips for Maximizing Service Providers’ Role in Community Broadband

By Craig Settles | Published: May 30, 2010

A mantra of self-sufficiency I’m passing on to communities that want better broadband is simple: “If broadband is to be, it is up to me.” With Congress’ latest move to create a legal framework for the FCC to implement its National Broadband Plan, the smoke of delaying tactics and the mirrors of incumbents’ PR trickery portends a […]

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Posted in Implementation strategies, Managing costs, Network business planning, Tactical thinking | Also tagged , | Leave a comment

Facts Can’t Trump Broadband Reality in North Carolina

By Craig Settles | Published: May 24, 2010



Recently I’ve written a few columns on this neat little campaign incumbents are running to fight off regulations from an FCC trying, in the face of mixed reviews, to make the market more competitive. “Facts are stubborn things,” a quote probably unearthed by a wise PR person, is their campaign to prove broadband competition is […]

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Posted in Legislative action, Smart grid | Also tagged , , , | Leave a comment

WiFi a Serious Technology in the Broadband Mix?

By Craig Settles | Published: May 19, 2010

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Money may or may not be the root of all evil, but it is certainly the tail threatening to wag the dog for many communities’ broadband planning teams. At the California Emerging Technology Fund’s Rural Connections workshop last week, a number of people representing communities expressed concern they can’t move broadband forward until they can […]

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Posted in Implementation strategies, Managing costs, Network business planning, Strategic thinking, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , | 5 Responses

Breaking the Broadband Monopoly: How Communities are Building the Networks They Need

By Craig Settles | Published: May 4, 2010



I have been a champion of public-owned broadband networks for years, writing about them for the same period of time. One thing communities and others have needed throughout these years is a detailed overview of the dozens of community networks that service consumers and businesses, along with a business, policy and political issues that affect […]

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Posted in General analysis, Implementation strategies, National broadband strategy, Network business planning, Strategic thinking | Also tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Sorry State of Broadband Competition – And How to Deal

By Craig Settles | Published: April 26, 2010

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In my 12 steps to move a community broadband project to successful completion, I put heavy emphasis on the needs analysis process. You can’t create the network that’s best suited to meet constituents’ needs if you don’t do this particular task well. But part of the assessment involves understanding the provider marketplace. “It sucks!” may […]

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Posted in Making the business case, National broadband strategy, Needs analysis, Network business planning, Strategic thinking, Uncategorized | Also tagged , , , , , , | 6 Responses

Join N Carolina Again in Fight Against Anti-Muni Network Laws

By Craig Settles | Published: April 19, 2010

Like a bad rash, Time Warner is back this week trying to stifle municipal networks in North Carolina. Not only that, our less-than-competent-broadband-provider Fairpoint is trying to kill a bill this week in New Hampshire that will make it easier for municipalities in that state to pursue the broadband option of their choice. This is the […]

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Posted in Legislative action, National broadband strategy | Also tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Even Broadband Can Use a 12-Step Program

By Craig Settles | Published: April 12, 2010

Last week I announced Communities United for Broadband, a group dedicated to harnessing the enthusiasm for gigabit broadband Google stirred up into a national campaign for community broadband. We believe communities working together can produce higher levels of success for each community. We’re giving people information they can put into action, links to knowledge resources, […]

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Posted in Implementation strategies, National broadband strategy, Network business planning | Also tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Going for Google Broadband Gold (one NC community’s approach)

By Craig Settles | Published: February 24, 2010

Sponsor Less Pain More Gain Simplify the mapping, planning and buildout of your network Google recently turned the broadband world on its ear by announcing it’s going to set up fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) networks for a handful of lucky communities that will deliver 1 gigabit per second speeds. Dozens of cities large and small are lining […]

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Posted in Broadband stimulus, National broadband strategy, Needs analysis, Strategic thinking | Also tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eliminate Weeks from Your NOFA 2 Prep Time!

By Craig Settles | Published: January 27, 2010

Promotional Announcement Some of you have followed my blog for months and know I’m pretty spot-on with my assessment of the broadband stimulus terrain, and broadband strategy in general. I bring this expertise to my evaluations of the few 3rd-party services I select to complement mine. Here are two that pass the test. Eliminate weeks […]

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Posted in Administration, Broadband stimulus, Managing costs, Network business planning | Also tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Top 10 Prescriptions for Getting Broadband Done

By Craig Settles | Published: January 7, 2010

Every January, analysts, bloggers and other random industry luminaries write a list of predictions for the new year. Good way to get a little visibility. If you write really well, you could sound like the original Oracle of Delphi (or Oracle of Delphia if you come from Philly). I decided, heck with that game. I’m […]

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Posted in Broadband stimulus, National broadband strategy, Network business planning, Strategic thinking | Also tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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