Community Broadband Networks
@communitynets.bsky.social
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.
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Although we have been in this work for nearly two decades, if you are not familiar with ILSR's Community Broadband Networks team, allow us to introduce ourselves in this thread...
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🚨 Webinar alert! 🚨
Join us Nov 20 @ 12 noon ET for “Building Smarter Cities and the Cost of Doing Nothing” — a free, 60-minute live discussion on why smart fiber infrastructure matters and what cities lose if they sit still
Story w/registration link here ⬇️
communitynetworks.org/content/webi...
Join us Nov 20 @ 12 noon ET for “Building Smarter Cities and the Cost of Doing Nothing” — a free, 60-minute live discussion on why smart fiber infrastructure matters and what cities lose if they sit still
Story w/registration link here ⬇️
communitynetworks.org/content/webi...
November 11, 2025 at 5:19 PM
🚨 Webinar alert! 🚨
Join us Nov 20 @ 12 noon ET for “Building Smarter Cities and the Cost of Doing Nothing” — a free, 60-minute live discussion on why smart fiber infrastructure matters and what cities lose if they sit still
Story w/registration link here ⬇️
communitynetworks.org/content/webi...
Join us Nov 20 @ 12 noon ET for “Building Smarter Cities and the Cost of Doing Nothing” — a free, 60-minute live discussion on why smart fiber infrastructure matters and what cities lose if they sit still
Story w/registration link here ⬇️
communitynetworks.org/content/webi...
Decorah, Iowa is building a city-owned fiber network through a new public-private partnership — bringing fast, affordable Internet to every home
Bravo to Decorah who took matters into its own hands — proving small towns can lead the way on digital equity + local control
Our story here 🌐💻 ⬇️
Bravo to Decorah who took matters into its own hands — proving small towns can lead the way on digital equity + local control
Our story here 🌐💻 ⬇️
Decorah, Iowa Strikes Partnership to Build City-Owned Fiber Network | Welcome to Community Networks
Decorah, Iowa has launched a public private partnership with West Union Trenching to deploy a modern fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network that passes every household in the city. The project is the culmin...
communitynetworks.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Decorah, Iowa is building a city-owned fiber network through a new public-private partnership — bringing fast, affordable Internet to every home
Bravo to Decorah who took matters into its own hands — proving small towns can lead the way on digital equity + local control
Our story here 🌐💻 ⬇️
Bravo to Decorah who took matters into its own hands — proving small towns can lead the way on digital equity + local control
Our story here 🌐💻 ⬇️
Four years after Congress mandated broadband nutrition labels, a new study shows that many ISPs aren’t doing a great job
Meanwhile, the Trump FCC recently announced it's taking formal steps to weaken the rules as part of the agency’s frontal assault on consumer protections
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
Meanwhile, the Trump FCC recently announced it's taking formal steps to weaken the rules as part of the agency’s frontal assault on consumer protections
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
Trump FCC Votes To Weaken Broadband ‘Nutrition Label’ Rule That Already Saw Mixed Compliance | Welcome to Community Networks
The Trump FCC has announced that it's taking formal steps to weaken or eliminate the rules as part of the agency’s broad, frontal assault on consumer protections. On October 30, the The Trump FCC unde...
communitynetworks.org
November 5, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Four years after Congress mandated broadband nutrition labels, a new study shows that many ISPs aren’t doing a great job
Meanwhile, the Trump FCC recently announced it's taking formal steps to weaken the rules as part of the agency’s frontal assault on consumer protections
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
Meanwhile, the Trump FCC recently announced it's taking formal steps to weaken the rules as part of the agency’s frontal assault on consumer protections
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
NTIA admin Arielle Roth recently said her agency will withhold federal broadband deployment funds fr any state that enacts affordability laws
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Experts: Withholding BEAD Funds Because of State Affordability Laws On Shaky Legal Ground | Welcome to Community Networks
Legal analysts are questioning the recent assertion by the head of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) that the agency can legally withhold federal broadband deployme...
communitynetworks.org
November 4, 2025 at 12:43 AM
NTIA admin Arielle Roth recently said her agency will withhold federal broadband deployment funds fr any state that enacts affordability laws
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
Legal experts say it should be "laughed out of the room"
But it may be enough to dissuade some states from moving bills forward. Our story here 💻🌐📶⬇️
More cities are discovering the power of open access networks in transforming the digital landscape to bring competition to markets long dominated by monopoly providers offering subpar service
In Superior, WI its new city-owned network is now live!
Our story here on the transformation underway 🌐💻⬇️
In Superior, WI its new city-owned network is now live!
Our story here on the transformation underway 🌐💻⬇️
Superior, Wisconsin’s ‘Game Changing’ Open Access Fiber Network Goes Live | Welcome to Community Networks
Superior, Wisconsin’s community-owned open access fiber network has gone live in its first two deployment neighborhoods, as the city works toward providing affordable next-generation fiber access to t...
communitynetworks.org
October 31, 2025 at 2:33 PM
More cities are discovering the power of open access networks in transforming the digital landscape to bring competition to markets long dominated by monopoly providers offering subpar service
In Superior, WI its new city-owned network is now live!
Our story here on the transformation underway 🌐💻⬇️
In Superior, WI its new city-owned network is now live!
Our story here on the transformation underway 🌐💻⬇️
Electric co-op's are at the leading edge of bringing fiber Internet service to rural America
Congrats to Conexon Connect for completing its seventh fiber to the home project in Georgia
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
Congrats to Conexon Connect for completing its seventh fiber to the home project in Georgia
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
Connexon Completes Grady EMC Fiber Build In Cairo, Georgia | Welcome to Community Networks
Conexon Connect, the ISP arm of fiber broadband builder Conexon, says it has completed its new fiber build in Cairo, Georgia in close collaboration with Grady Electrical Membership Corporation (EMC). ...
communitynetworks.org
October 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Electric co-op's are at the leading edge of bringing fiber Internet service to rural America
Congrats to Conexon Connect for completing its seventh fiber to the home project in Georgia
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
Congrats to Conexon Connect for completing its seventh fiber to the home project in Georgia
Our story here 💻🌐⬇️
A new Federal Reserve Bank of NY study details how to more accurately measure the elusive nature of affordable broadband
It also points to the state of local infrastructure and how it can force poor households to choose between cell service or home Internet service
Our story here 🌐💻⬇️
It also points to the state of local infrastructure and how it can force poor households to choose between cell service or home Internet service
Our story here 🌐💻⬇️
Federal Reserve Study Offers Broadband Affordability Advocates ‘Novel New Measure’ | Welcome to Community Networks
A recently published study by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York details how to more accurately measure the elusive nature of affordable broadband costs at the community level. It also pinpoints mul...
communitynetworks.org
October 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
A new Federal Reserve Bank of NY study details how to more accurately measure the elusive nature of affordable broadband
It also points to the state of local infrastructure and how it can force poor households to choose between cell service or home Internet service
Our story here 🌐💻⬇️
It also points to the state of local infrastructure and how it can force poor households to choose between cell service or home Internet service
Our story here 🌐💻⬇️
Insightful story here by Route 50 that cites our own @sportshotchris.bsky.social on how federal policy failures and disinvestment keep Native and Black farmers offline but also includes examples of how community broadband is providing a way forward in solving the digital divide
Broadband’s broken promise: How federal failures and funding fights keep Native and Black farmers offline
Across the US, Indigenous and Black farmers face ‘digital redlining,’ a web of barriers to affordable broadband even as billions in federal dollars flow to internet providers. Rooted in high costs, po...
www.route-fifty.com
October 23, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Insightful story here by Route 50 that cites our own @sportshotchris.bsky.social on how federal policy failures and disinvestment keep Native and Black farmers offline but also includes examples of how community broadband is providing a way forward in solving the digital divide
The Trump administration's illegal “termination” of the Digital Equity Act continues to have devastating real world impacts on everything from affordable broadband access to protecting Americans from skyrocketing online scams
Our story here on how the legal fight expands as the fallout increases 🌐💻
Our story here on how the legal fight expands as the fallout increases 🌐💻
A Constitutional Crisis in Broadband and The Fight to Restore Digital Equity Funding | Welcome to Community Networks
The Trump administration's illegal “termination” of the 2021 Digital Equity Act continues to have devastating real world impacts on everything from affordable broadband access to protecting Americans ...
communitynetworks.org
October 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The Trump administration's illegal “termination” of the Digital Equity Act continues to have devastating real world impacts on everything from affordable broadband access to protecting Americans from skyrocketing online scams
Our story here on how the legal fight expands as the fallout increases 🌐💻
Our story here on how the legal fight expands as the fallout increases 🌐💻
As part of our ongoing series highlighting the complex challenges of bringing high-speed Internet access to multi-dwelling units...
Our story on a new California law that lets renters opt out of bulk-billing arrangements that force them to pay for Internet service from a specific provider 🌐💻📶⬇️
Our story on a new California law that lets renters opt out of bulk-billing arrangements that force them to pay for Internet service from a specific provider 🌐💻📶⬇️
California Law Lets Renters Opt Out Of Landlord ‘Bulk Billing’ Broadband Arrangements | Welcome to Community Networks
California lawmakers approved new legislation letting renters opt out of bulk-billing arrangements that force them to pay for Internet service from a specific provider. Lawmakers say they didn’t ban t...
communitynetworks.org
October 16, 2025 at 3:13 PM
As part of our ongoing series highlighting the complex challenges of bringing high-speed Internet access to multi-dwelling units...
Our story on a new California law that lets renters opt out of bulk-billing arrangements that force them to pay for Internet service from a specific provider 🌐💻📶⬇️
Our story on a new California law that lets renters opt out of bulk-billing arrangements that force them to pay for Internet service from a specific provider 🌐💻📶⬇️
On our latest podcast @mmasnick.bsky.social of @techdirt.com joins @sportshotchris.bsky.social to unpack the myths around Section 230, how reform efforts could backfire, and why protecting free speech requires more nuance than most policymakers are willing to give
Don’t Break the Internet - Episode 662 of the Community Broadband Bits Podcast | Community Broadband Bits | Episode 662
Mike Masnick of Techdirt joins us to unpack the myths around Section 230, how reform efforts could backfire, and why protecting free speech online requires more nuance than most policymakers are willi...
share.transistor.fm
October 13, 2025 at 8:20 PM
On our latest podcast @mmasnick.bsky.social of @techdirt.com joins @sportshotchris.bsky.social to unpack the myths around Section 230, how reform efforts could backfire, and why protecting free speech requires more nuance than most policymakers are willing to give
CBN director @sportshotchris.bsky.social explains to the Tribune-Enterprise in Wisconsin how the Trump Admin is forcing Wisconsin "to significantly decrease" meaningful infrastructure investment "in order to write a bigger check to SpaceX...rather than making sure everyone has good Internet access."
Musk’s satellite internet company contests Wisconsin’s rural installation plans
A representative of Elon Musk’s rocket venture SpaceX, the parent company of its satellite internet company Starlink, publicly challenged plans in Wisconsin and other states to fund high-speed interne...
www.hngnews.com
October 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
CBN director @sportshotchris.bsky.social explains to the Tribune-Enterprise in Wisconsin how the Trump Admin is forcing Wisconsin "to significantly decrease" meaningful infrastructure investment "in order to write a bigger check to SpaceX...rather than making sure everyone has good Internet access."
At ILSR's 50th Anniversary Gala last year, we presented Jim Baller with a Lifetime Achievement Award, noting how he "worked on the first municipal broadband project (and) shaped many of the people” working in this space
It's nice to see Broadband Communities give Jim his props as well
It's nice to see Broadband Communities give Jim his props as well
Baller's journey as a broadband, economic development champion - Broadband Communities
For James Baller, emphasizing the relationship between broadband and economic development has always been a labor of love.
bbcmag.com
October 3, 2025 at 3:22 PM
At ILSR's 50th Anniversary Gala last year, we presented Jim Baller with a Lifetime Achievement Award, noting how he "worked on the first municipal broadband project (and) shaped many of the people” working in this space
It's nice to see Broadband Communities give Jim his props as well
It's nice to see Broadband Communities give Jim his props as well
Our third Building for Digital Equity livestream of the year brought together policy experts and frontline workers to explore how community-driven connectivity solutions are inextricably tied to building local trust
If you missed it, the entirety of the event can be viewed here
If you missed it, the entirety of the event can be viewed here
Building for Digital Equity #B4DE - Moving at the Speed of Trust
YouTube video by Institute for Local Self-Reliance
www.youtube.com
October 3, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Our third Building for Digital Equity livestream of the year brought together policy experts and frontline workers to explore how community-driven connectivity solutions are inextricably tied to building local trust
If you missed it, the entirety of the event can be viewed here
If you missed it, the entirety of the event can be viewed here
The Trump FCC has voted to kill two different programs that helped bring free Wi-Fi to school kids in underserved poor and rural U.S. communities
It’s the latest casualty of an administration that has been taking a hatchet to FCC consumer protection and affordability initiatives
Our story here 💻📶⬇️
It’s the latest casualty of an administration that has been taking a hatchet to FCC consumer protection and affordability initiatives
Our story here 💻📶⬇️
Trump FCC Kills Popular Program That Brought Free Wi-Fi To Low Income School Kids | Welcome to Community Networks
The Trump FCC has voted to kill two different programs that helped bring free Wi-Fi to school kids in underserved poor and rural U.S. communities. It’s the latest casualty of an administration that ha...
communitynetworks.org
October 2, 2025 at 3:28 PM
The Trump FCC has voted to kill two different programs that helped bring free Wi-Fi to school kids in underserved poor and rural U.S. communities
It’s the latest casualty of an administration that has been taking a hatchet to FCC consumer protection and affordability initiatives
Our story here 💻📶⬇️
It’s the latest casualty of an administration that has been taking a hatchet to FCC consumer protection and affordability initiatives
Our story here 💻📶⬇️
Not too late to register for our Building For Digital Equity livestream today at 3 pm ET
Join us as we explore why “Moving at the Speed of Trust” is the key to creating community-driven digital futures
We have a powerful lineup of guests who will offer both insights and inspiration
Join us as we explore why “Moving at the Speed of Trust” is the key to creating community-driven digital futures
We have a powerful lineup of guests who will offer both insights and inspiration
Countdown to Next Building for Digital Equity Event: Moving at the Speed of Trust | Welcome to Community Networks
Slated for October 1 at 3 pm EST, the next B4DE virtual gathering will spotlight local strategies for digital equity and explore why it’s necessary for frontline digital inclusion practitioners to be ...
communitynetworks.org
October 1, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Not too late to register for our Building For Digital Equity livestream today at 3 pm ET
Join us as we explore why “Moving at the Speed of Trust” is the key to creating community-driven digital futures
We have a powerful lineup of guests who will offer both insights and inspiration
Join us as we explore why “Moving at the Speed of Trust” is the key to creating community-driven digital futures
We have a powerful lineup of guests who will offer both insights and inspiration
Imagine one of the big corporate ISPs sharing profits w/community members👌😂
Now when it comes to community-owned networks like Paul Bunyan Communications in northern MN that's literally what happens: the cooperative recently announced it was giving $3.6 million back to its members
Our story here
Now when it comes to community-owned networks like Paul Bunyan Communications in northern MN that's literally what happens: the cooperative recently announced it was giving $3.6 million back to its members
Our story here
Minnesota’s Paul Bunyan Communications Shares $3.6 Million Windfall With Members | Welcome to Community Networks
The electric cooperative-owned Paul Bunyan Communications in Northern Minnesota recently announced it was giving a $3.6 million profit windfall back to local community members. It’s the fourth such pa...
communitynetworks.org
September 30, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Imagine one of the big corporate ISPs sharing profits w/community members👌😂
Now when it comes to community-owned networks like Paul Bunyan Communications in northern MN that's literally what happens: the cooperative recently announced it was giving $3.6 million back to its members
Our story here
Now when it comes to community-owned networks like Paul Bunyan Communications in northern MN that's literally what happens: the cooperative recently announced it was giving $3.6 million back to its members
Our story here
Join us Oct 1 at 3 pm EST
Our next B4DE will focus on the fundamental importance of "moving at the speed of trust"
Our guests will illuminate why trust building is not just a soft, emotional concept but a measurable, actionable asset and foundational element of community-driven initiatives
📶💻
Our next B4DE will focus on the fundamental importance of "moving at the speed of trust"
Our guests will illuminate why trust building is not just a soft, emotional concept but a measurable, actionable asset and foundational element of community-driven initiatives
📶💻
Countdown to Next Building for Digital Equity Event: Moving at the Speed of Trust | Welcome to Community Networks
Slated for October 1 at 3 pm EST, the next B4DE virtual gathering will spotlight local strategies for digital equity and explore why it’s necessary for frontline digital inclusion practitioners to be ...
communitynetworks.org
September 24, 2025 at 8:17 PM
Join us Oct 1 at 3 pm EST
Our next B4DE will focus on the fundamental importance of "moving at the speed of trust"
Our guests will illuminate why trust building is not just a soft, emotional concept but a measurable, actionable asset and foundational element of community-driven initiatives
📶💻
Our next B4DE will focus on the fundamental importance of "moving at the speed of trust"
Our guests will illuminate why trust building is not just a soft, emotional concept but a measurable, actionable asset and foundational element of community-driven initiatives
📶💻
Reposted by Community Broadband Networks
2. Not having high-speed internet is a huge obstacle to carrying out basic tasks, like applying for a job. But it's more than that; as my colleague @sportshotchris.bsky.social points out, this is about equality and freedom. mainemorningstar.com/2025/09/22/r...
Fewer households, businesses will get high-speed internet under revamped federal plan • Maine Morning Star
Tens of thousands of homes and businesses without internet access will not receive it.
mainemorningstar.com
September 24, 2025 at 12:29 PM
2. Not having high-speed internet is a huge obstacle to carrying out basic tasks, like applying for a job. But it's more than that; as my colleague @sportshotchris.bsky.social points out, this is about equality and freedom. mainemorningstar.com/2025/09/22/r...
A bill to address broadband affordability in CA was killed over the summer
But the California Public Utilities Commission is looking to include new broadband affordability requirements as part of the state’s looming approval of Verizon’s massive $20 million merger with Frontier Communications
But the California Public Utilities Commission is looking to include new broadband affordability requirements as part of the state’s looming approval of Verizon’s massive $20 million merger with Frontier Communications
California Regulators To Include Broadband Affordability Requirements In Verizon Frontier Merger Approval | Welcome to Community Networks
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is poised to include new broadband affordability requirements as part of the state’s looming approval of Verizon’s massive $20 billion merger with Fro...
communitynetworks.org
September 19, 2025 at 4:16 PM
A bill to address broadband affordability in CA was killed over the summer
But the California Public Utilities Commission is looking to include new broadband affordability requirements as part of the state’s looming approval of Verizon’s massive $20 million merger with Frontier Communications
But the California Public Utilities Commission is looking to include new broadband affordability requirements as part of the state’s looming approval of Verizon’s massive $20 million merger with Frontier Communications
Reposted by Community Broadband Networks
Missed the return of the Community Broadband Film Series last week? 📽️ No problem - you can stream AAPB and @communitynets.bsky.social’s premiere of Rocketeers: The UTOPIA Fiber Story below, and stay tuned after for a Q&A!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjb-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjb-...
Community Broadband Film Series II - Rocketeers: The UTOPIA Fiber Story
YouTube video by Institute for Local Self-Reliance
www.youtube.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Missed the return of the Community Broadband Film Series last week? 📽️ No problem - you can stream AAPB and @communitynets.bsky.social’s premiere of Rocketeers: The UTOPIA Fiber Story below, and stay tuned after for a Q&A!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjb-...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bjb-...
The Trump Administration is Doubling Down on its policy to Defund Rural Internet Access projects. The latest - not yet publicly documented - appears to be a super secret round with secret caps on fiber projects to pressure ISPs to switch more people to expensive satellite.
In Our View: Trump Administration Doubles Down on Pulling Investment Away from Rural Internet Access | Welcome to Community Networks
NTIA, the federal office administering the largest single investment to expand Internet access across the nation, appears to once again be changing the BEAD program in ways that would only force state...
communitynetworks.org
September 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
The Trump Administration is Doubling Down on its policy to Defund Rural Internet Access projects. The latest - not yet publicly documented - appears to be a super secret round with secret caps on fiber projects to pressure ISPs to switch more people to expensive satellite.
Exciting new Connect This! about to start at 2ET (archived at same link) to discuss latest in BEAD, Starlink, USI Fiber and T-Mobile - inside an ISP sale - and more! Trying a new platform so bear with us and watch on YouTube! www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZFA...
Recent Broadband News | Connect This! Show Episode 120
YouTube video by Institute for Local Self-Reliance
www.youtube.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Exciting new Connect This! about to start at 2ET (archived at same link) to discuss latest in BEAD, Starlink, USI Fiber and T-Mobile - inside an ISP sale - and more! Trying a new platform so bear with us and watch on YouTube! www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZFA...
Here is our first installment of an ongoing series we are calling Connected Complex
It looks at how states, local communities, and ISPs are working to address the complex challenges involved in bringing high-speed Internet access to multi-dwelling units
communitynetworks.org/content/mass...
It looks at how states, local communities, and ISPs are working to address the complex challenges involved in bringing high-speed Internet access to multi-dwelling units
communitynetworks.org/content/mass...
August 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
Here is our first installment of an ongoing series we are calling Connected Complex
It looks at how states, local communities, and ISPs are working to address the complex challenges involved in bringing high-speed Internet access to multi-dwelling units
communitynetworks.org/content/mass...
It looks at how states, local communities, and ISPs are working to address the complex challenges involved in bringing high-speed Internet access to multi-dwelling units
communitynetworks.org/content/mass...
How come most of us don't have a choice in choosing Internet service providers?
Why is there is there so very little competition?
The CBN team cuts right to quick in discussing it with @karlbode.com @sportshotchris.bsky.social @seangon.bsky.social and @jpittman.bsky.social 🌐📶💻
#LostPackets
Why is there is there so very little competition?
The CBN team cuts right to quick in discussing it with @karlbode.com @sportshotchris.bsky.social @seangon.bsky.social and @jpittman.bsky.social 🌐📶💻
#LostPackets
August 20, 2025 at 1:47 PM
How come most of us don't have a choice in choosing Internet service providers?
Why is there is there so very little competition?
The CBN team cuts right to quick in discussing it with @karlbode.com @sportshotchris.bsky.social @seangon.bsky.social and @jpittman.bsky.social 🌐📶💻
#LostPackets
Why is there is there so very little competition?
The CBN team cuts right to quick in discussing it with @karlbode.com @sportshotchris.bsky.social @seangon.bsky.social and @jpittman.bsky.social 🌐📶💻
#LostPackets