NC

Media Minutes: May 27, 2011

Candace Clement — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:22:23 -0400

Comcast’s effort to stifle an organization for criticizing its political work created a bigger problem for the media giant. And North Carolina’s broadband future is looking grim with a new law that severely restricts community broadband networks.

North Carolina Cities Mobilize Against Anti-Muni Broadband Bill

Stevie Converse — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:29:18 -0400

Full article: Ars Technica
Matthew Lasar
At least six cities in North Carolina have passed resolutions against cable-backed state legislation that would hamstring new municipal broadband projects. All oppose House of Representatives Bill H129 and its equivalent in the Senate, Bill 87. The proposed laws would bar new municipal ISPs from selling broadband to consumers in neighboring cities or pricing their services too low. The legislation has passed in the House.

More Broken Promises: Reps. Howard & Avila Renege and End Negotiations With North Carolina Cities

Stevie Converse — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 10:19:19 -0500

Full article: Stop the Cap!
Phillip Dampier
Despite promises to protect North Carolina’s existing community-owned broadband providers, Reps. Julia "My Word is My Bond" Howard and Marilyn "I Do What Time Warner Tells Me" Avila have reneged and intend to ram through their anti-community-broadband bulldozer bill. Asheville and Rockingham County have joined the city of Raleigh issuing resolutions opposing H129 and are openly wondering why state legislators are so contemptuously overruling the interests of North Carolina communities for the benefit of out-of-state corporations.

Asheville Opposes Rep Avila's Attempt to Enshrine Time Warner Cable Monopoly

Stevie Converse — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 09:38:57 -0500

Full article: Community Broadband News
In response to N.C. State Rep. Marilyn Avila's championing of a Time Warner power grab for broadband services, the city of Asheville has passed a resolution against the bill. Avila's own city of Raleigh has also opposed the bill.

Media Minutes: July 16, 2010

Candace Clement — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:50:52 -0400

Warning that insufficient government oversight has resulted in higher cable and Internet service prices, Free Press President and CEO Josh Silver urged the FCC to stop the Comcast-NBC merger at the agency's public hearing in Chicago. And a victory for the people of North Carolina: An industry-written bill to ban municipal broadband was killed by the legislature.

Media Minutes: July 16, 2010

Candace Clement — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:46:23 -0400

N.C. Muni Broadband Bill Quietly Tucked into Another Bill

Stevie Converse — Fri, 25 Jun 2010 08:55:40 -0400

Full article: Save NC Broadband
Brian Bowman
A North Carolina Senate bill that would effectively kill municipal broadband initiatives in the state has been tucked into another bill. Senate Bill 1209 has been moved to House Bill 1840, apparently to get around an unfriendly committee.

TV White Space Networks Tested

Stevie Converse — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:46:56 -0500

Full article: CNet
Marguerite Reardon
The city of Wilmington, N.C., and the surrounding county of New Hanover, N.C., are among the first communities to test wireless applications using TV white space technology. The network is using an experimental license and focuses exclusively on providing monitoring capabilities and data collection.

Wilmington Tests Wi-Fi in White Spaces

Stevie Converse — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:48:39 -0500

Full article: Broadcasting & Cable
John Eggerton
Wilmington, N.C., which served as a test bed for the DTV transition, has become another testing ground. City officials will take the wraps off a test of a municipal Wi-Fi network (it has been up and running for over a month) using the so-called white spaces between those DTV channels.

ARRA Broadband Grant and Loan Application Workshop - Fayetteville

Stevie Converse — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:07:53 -0500

Start: 02/11/2010 - 00:00

Timezone: Etc/GMT-5

The Department of Commerce's National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) and the Department of Agriculture's Rural Utilities Service (RUS) announced its second series of public workshops connected to the application process for the second round of broadband grants and loans under the Recovery Act.