Posts Tagged: Digital Divide

Is Broadband Really “The New Dial-Tone?”

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Abstract Digital network communication digital concept

No question about it, broadband is infrastructure, and it gets compared to other types of vital infrastructure all the time in the course of the ongoing discussion about improving broadband speeds and coverage, including highways, plumbing and public water, electricity, and even telephone service. This phenomenon was in full force last week when Maine got it’s first-ever (we think) visit from a sitting FCC Commissioner, newly re-appointed democrat Jessica Rosenworcel, who joined United States Senator… Read more »

Creating a Broadband Policy without Doughnut Holes

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People are working to get broadband access to rural areas in companies like OTELCO and at town halls, state houses and Federal agencies across the country.  The latter two groups are focused on two different vehicles for promoting broadband.  First, they set policies to promote broadband expansion and the construction of new networks.  Second, they distribute state and Federal monies in the form of grants to subsidize construction of networks where there isn’t necessarily a… Read more »

Broadband in Maine: A Compelling Case Study of Its Benefits

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Broadband in Maine

Dirigo:  Broadband in Maine, We SHOULD lead Last week we discussed a couple of the many bills regarding broadband in Maine that are floating around the Legislature.  We also hosted “Breakfast and Broadband” in Augusta with a dozen or so legislators joining us. Our presentation focused on OTELCO’s company history, some of the insights we shared in last week’s blog, and a recap of our ConnectME funded FTTP projects.  As great as it was to… Read more »

Regional Broadband Approaches: Achieving Scale with Community Networks

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The fall foliage surrounds a quaint New England village in an aerial photogrph

More and more, communities are considering the possibility of building publicly-owned broadband infrastructure. In the process, some are finding that regional broadband approaches offer economies of scale and other benefits. It can be difficult for multiple communities to work together while competing for resources and economic opportunity, but a handful of groups are making the attempt to build regional broadband networks in New England. The Benefits of Regionalization in Broadband Regional broadband approaches provide many benefits… Read more »

Fiber to the Premise in Leverett, MA Offers an Excellent Public Private Partnership Model

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We have been talking about Municipalities and their desire to have reliable broadband and fiber to the premise for their communities for quite some time now.  Since every community is unique, there is no clear-cut model of what a municipally initiated fiber network should look like. There are different examples all across the country. Most recently, we talked about our new relationship with Leverett, MA. Having become very well acquainted with the Leverett model, we’d… Read more »