BROADBAND COMMUNITIES is the leading source of information on digital and broadband technologies for buildings and communities. Our editorial aims to accelerate the deployment of Fiber-To-The-Home and Fiber-To-The-Premises.
Issue link: https://bbcmag.epubxp.com/i/232134
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Both candidates in the recent Seattle mayoral election supported Gigabit Seattle, indicating a broad base of public support for this and similar projects. the incumbent and the challenger – who won the election – supported the Gigabit Seattle efort, indicating that such projects have a broad base of public support. 8–13. North Carolina Research Triangle/Winston-Salem: In February 2013, a regional partnership, NC Next Generation Network (NCNGN) composed of Cary, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Durham, Raleigh and WinstonSalem, with the support of Gig.U university partners Duke University, NC State University, UNC Chapel Hill and Wake Forest University/ Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, along with their associated chambers of commerce, issued the nation's frst regional request for proposals for a next-generation network deployment. Learning from and building upon the approaches taken by Chicago and Seattle, the RFP provides potential service providers with a clear statement of what the communities hope will be built as well as commitments by the communities to improve the conditions for investment in the desired deployments. NCNGN received responses from eight entities and is currently reviewing the proposals. 14. Connecticut and the University of Connecticut system: Trough existing channels and new eforts, several interested policymakers have worked to make Connecticut's statutory and regulatory profle one that creates an open and competitive market based on easy and rapid access, and the statewide regulator is engaged in reducing entry barriers. Teir actions include 82 • Relying on the state's 2007 video-provider statute, which simplifes the process of becoming a video service provider • Ofering access to the state's Nutmeg Network, which provides multiple fber lines into each of the state's 169 towns and which is maintained by the state IT department from a data center in East Hartford. • Creating a Single Pole Administrator, anticipated to be implemented this year, that will use a statewide database of all pole attachments to provide all attachers with scheduling support for work. Te two electric companies have proposed performing the administrator role to begin managing access to the poles with standardized attachment agreements. • Revising the Municipal Gain Statute, which allows towns and other entities access to dedicated space at the top of the telecommunications stack without licensing fees, by expanding its scope to include municipal use "for any purpose" – though municipalities are responsible for make-ready costs. 15. Blacksburg, Va.: In September 2013, Blacksburg, working with a local tech entrepreneur and Virginia Tech, announced a new broadband service in the downtown area, consisting of a Wi-Fi ofering connected to a gigabit network. Te Wi-Fi is open to the public and free of charge. Te service currently supports a local business incubator | BROADBAND COMMUNITIES | www.broadbandcommunities.com and adjacent restaurants, but plans are to expand to other hightrafc areas, such as the library, schools and additional downtown restaurants, as well as other strategic locations in Blacksburg. Te community successfully used crowdfunding to raise funds for equipment and labor. Te project has already enabled the development of next-generation applications, such as a gigabit-enabled ftness application. 16. College Station, Texas: In October 2013, the Research Valley Technology Council, an economic development organization for Bryan and College Station, Texas, released an RFI, inviting network operators to build a gigabit residential network and to ofer 100 gigabit connections to local businesses. Te council recently held an information session, which was attended by a number of potential providers. 17. Louisville, Ky.: In November 2013, the city of Louisville, Ky., released an RFI similar to the College Station RFI. Te request has three goals: • Creating a world-leading, gigabit-capable network across the city or in targeted commercial corridors, as well as in residential areas with demonstrated demand, to foster innovation, drive job creation and stimulate economic growth • Providing free or heavily discounted 100 Mbps (minimum) Internet service over a wired or wireless network to underserved and disadvantaged residents across Louisville • Delivering gigabit Internet service at prices comparable to other gigabit fber communities across the nation. In addition, some rural communities are using currently unused spectrum to accelerate a step function increase in bandwidth. Tese include 18. Morgantown, W. Va.: Te nation's frst campus Super Wi-Fi network | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2013