ArlFiber

If you missed our amazing October 4 forum on the benefits of community broadband, you can find both a video and audio-only recording of it here: #muninets arlfiber.org/2021/09/25/ben…

We can "build a digital landscape that provides world-class connection to all, is sustainable, privacy-enhancing, rights-preserving, innovative, and democratic by design" BUT it will take bold leadership. #muninets

@Matt4Arlington @CD4arlington @libbygarvey @TakisKarantonis @JDforArlington @maureencoffeyva @JonathanForVA @Susan4Arlington Arlington-based Reuters journo mentions local ArlFiber efforts to create a municipal broadband service.

Here's what solving the digital divide looks like: youtu.be/5LWYHN7B7-A?t=…

Ultimately @kcristol @libbygarvey @CD4arlington @TakisKarantonis @Matt4Arlington need to ask serious Qs about how we ensure that ALL residents have access to the same quality of connection at a price that's affordable to them. Comcast and Verizon won't ever provide that.

Many thanks to @jobethkroeker for covering this story at @ARLnowDOTcom . Other cities our size are bridging the digital divide by building fiber-to-the-home networks that provide service to everyone. Hillsboro has gig service to l/i households for $10/m. arlnow.com/2023/01/06/arl…

Arlington's long awaited (by us, at least) broadband study is finally underway. Unfortunately, it's already not looking good... arlfiber.org/2022/08/26/rfp…

@Matt4Arlington @TakisKarantonis @Arl_CDorsey @kcristol @libbygarvey "[Fiber] is really the future-proof technology, meaning it’s one of the only technologies out there that’s not going to have a defined shelf life." #muninets dailyprogress.com/news/local/edu…

Thanks, @ilsr / @MuniNetworks for this informative video. youtu.be/qr9zjtfHR-w

“If you’ve got a problem, you can use your ARPA money to fix it. I mean, it could not be plainer.” - @DougDawson_CCG Catch this week’s episode of Connect This!, out now on connectthisshow.com

We love to see it. Fiber-to-the-home connection to all who want it provided by a community-oriented, not-for-profit provider (electric coop subsidiary). Sadly, too much public money in VA is creating new for-profit monopolies like All Points Broadband. smithfieldtimes.com/2021/12/28/sur…

@danielweir @TheoForARL @CivFed @diomasaigh But they didn't and now Alexandria is striking out on its own, trying to build its own version of ConnectArlington and using a public conduit carrot to try to entice private entrants. Oh well. muninetworks.org/content/alexan…

@danielweir @TheoForARL @CivFed @diomasaigh When we first met with the County Board, we explained that Broadband Authorities could be formed by more than one locality and urged them to reach out to Alexandria and City of Falls Church.

@danielweir @TheoForARL @CivFed @diomasaigh But RS Fiber was a major inspiration for us, not least of all because it's a regional effort: muninetworks.org/content/nbc-ne…

@danielweir @TheoForARL @CivFed @diomasaigh Yes, coops are well established institutions up there. Frankly it's surprising more rural areas haven't resorted to fiber coops, given the long history of electric & phone coops (that said existing utility coops are the main source of new fiber to the home service in rural US).

@TheoForARL @danielweir @CivFed @diomasaigh We try to remain agnostic to the actual provider model, though. An Ammon-style open access network would seemingly be libertarian friendly, but in our case the public provider model would prolly be a safer bet and pay off the bonds faster. fastcompany.com/90416863/the-c…

@TheoForARL @danielweir @CivFed @diomasaigh The reason our group is called ArlFiber is because our original goal was to create a member/worker-owned broadband cooperative like RS Fiber in MN - but urban. When the pandemic hit, though, we pivoted to the muni model, since it seemed the most expedient.

@alongthepike Thanks for letting us know! We hadn't seen that yet...

Looks like the Invitation to Bid for the Arlington Broadband Study is open. @ArlFiber vrapp.vendorregistry.com/Bids/View/Bid/…

We are happy to announce that the @ArlingtonVA Board has allocated a total of $200K for a community broadband feasibility study! Also there will be panel discussion next week at the @CivFed on forming a broadband authority for Arlington. #MuniNets arlfiber.org/2021/12/08/cou…