Information Rules

Fiber Optic Network Ordinance - Ammon, Idaho

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 15:40:03 -0500

Ammon, Idaho, is a community of approximately 15,000 outside Idaho Falls in eastern Idaho. Ammon has struggled to boost economic development in part because providers in Ammon offer slower, more expensive services than are available in Idaho Falls. For years, Ammon has sought to expand access to next generation networks, including an application to the broadband stimulus program in 2010.

However, it became clear that the City would have to move ahead without assistance from the federal government. Having studying their options and existing technology for years, they were well equipped to begin building their own network and have embraced an incremental approach to building the network they need.

Ammon is currently building the core of a network that will eventually connect all residents and businesses if the vision succeeds. In the meantime, they are expanding the open access network opportunistically to keep costs low.

Chelan Public Utility District - Fiber-Optic Line Extension Policy

christopher — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:53:03 -0500

Chelan is in a rural region of Washington state and was a pioneer in rural fiber networks, investing high-speed connections for citizens and businesses long before private companies saw any reason to do so. They have adopted an interesting line-extension policy that may lower the cost of the network to the PUD and allow households to take greater responsibility for connecting.

In short, the new policy is that the PUD will connect subscribers if the cost of doing so is less than $1500 (or average cost for a group of subscribers). If the cost exceeds $1500 per subscriber, the subscribers will have to pay the difference or make alternate arrangements to lower the cost. This alternate arrangement is where we think the rule is interesting. A homeowner, or group of homeowners that want to trench their own property and backfill can lower the costs, benefiting everyone.

Broadband Infrastructure Loan Program - Virginia

christopher — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 16:18:32 -0500

States that want to spur broadband in their state would do well to look at the Virginia Resources Authority. Created in 1984, the VRA helps municipalities and other public entities to secure funding for important infrastructure projects. In 25 years, the VRA has helped create more than $3.1 billion in communities around the state.

In 2009, Joe May of the House of Delegates led an effort to improve broadband access in communities across the state with HB 2665 - creating the Broadband Infrastructure Loan Fund, a revolving loan program modeled on the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund.

Open Standards and Open Access in Vancouver, Canada

christopher — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 09:19:24 -0500

On May 21, 2009, Vancouver passed an important resolution to encourage technological openness in the City. The city is committing to making more data available, which will encourage citizen oversight and understanding of what the city government is doing.

The city is committing to open/accessible data, open standards, and open source software (not by mandating it, but by mandating its consideration when replacing or acquiring new systems).

Community Broadband - Robust Core Network in Saint Paul, MN

christopher — Tue, 26 May 2009 15:35:46 -0500

Building the core network (a network that will first serve the public needs of the city, schools, state, and Ramsey county but could later be the backbone of a network serving others in the city) correctly the first time offers the freedom later to expand at a reasonable cost, if the city chooses. This is the smart decision because it does not commit the city to any further action but frees it consider what is best at a future date. Should it later be expanded, the core will be ready; if it is never expanded, the city will still benefit from a more reliable and secure network than would be built if only looking to solve current needs.

Community Broadband - Grant of Authority to Municipalities - Vermont

christopher — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 15:41:01 -0500

Prior to June 2007, a Vermont town that wanted to create a community broadband network would have to amend the town charter and get it approved by the Vermont Legislature to gain the necessary authority to do so. Public Act 79 of 2007 changed that, granting broad authority to communities to create their own networks.

The national telecommunications companies like Comcast and Verizon had largely ignored Vermont, like other upper New England states. These companies invested little in the low density communities – preferring to invest where they could maximize profits. Realizing the future required fast broadband networks, the Vermont Legislature and Governor Douglas partnered, forming an overwhelming majority to pass legislature to encourage broadband investment.

Open Access - Burlington, Vermont

christopher — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 14:37:19 -0500

Some networks are purely open access, as in UTOPIA, where the network owner provides no services (leaving the provision of services to multiple third parties). Burlington, Vermont (see our Case Study and Fact Sheet) has taken a different approach.

In its fiber-to-the-home network, Burlington Telecom (a city department), offers the full triple play of television, phone, and fast Internet services. But it has also committed to making the network available to competitors - at the same wholesale rate it charges itself internally.

Community Broadband - Broadband Technology Opportunities Program

christopher — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:41:37 -0500

As part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress set aside $7.2 billion to be used for expanding broadband availability and demand. The Broadband Technology Opportunities Program is designed to expand broadband access to those who do not have it, either because they are underserved or unserved [terms that were yet to be defined by the FCC and NTIA]. Additionally, some of the funds were marked to be used for educational purposes, such as training and support.

Crucially, it privileges entities accountable to the public for grants. Though private companies are able to apply, they must be judged to be in the public interest to receive funds.

Commercial Free Schools Act - San Francisco, CA

christopher — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:04:57 -0600

In June 1999, San Francisco became the largest school district yet to approve policies on commercialism in schools.

The Act requires all long-term corporate sponsorships to be approved by the Board of Education. It also prohibits teachers from using corporate sponsored educational materials, including Channel One and ZapMe.

Ban on Textbook Advertising - California

christopher — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 13:02:26 -0600

In September 1999, the state of California passed AB 116, banning commercial images in public school textbooks. AB 116 is a strong law, according to the Center for Commercial-Free Public Education. It backs up a California State Dept. of Education policy already on the books, prohibiting advertising in textbooks.

Ban on Advertising to Children - Sweden

christopher — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:57:42 -0600

Advertisements may not come immediately before or after a program or a portion of a program which is oriented primarily to children under 12 years of age, insofar as there isn't any question of messages addressed in § 8 [JB: § 8 deals with "unsponsored" transmissions, e.g., public service announcements].

Ban on Advertising to Children - Norway

christopher — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 12:55:44 -0600

Children and adolescents are increasingly becoming target groups for aggressive forms of marketing practices and for commercial pressure with a view to stimulate and increase their consumption. One reason for this is that they play an important role as consumers. In addition, children and adolescents have a vital role in choices concerning consumption in the family economy. At the same time, consumer goods are becoming more important factors in shaping the identities of children and youngsters. This means that minors are concerned with the symbolic value of objects and that their perception of these factors are more important than the actual functions of objects. We see too many examples of commercial interests that cynically exploit the uncertainty children and adolescents feel about their identity and self-esteem.