Focus Archive - Telecommunications

Please note that Focus section links were valid at the time of their original posting. However, since Web sites and addresses change frequently, we cannot guarantee that all links will remain operative.

MRSC Services Survey (October 21)
MRSC is conducting a brief survey to assess whether or not our existing services are meeting your needs and to determine your interest in any additional services. We would appreciate your taking a few minutes to respond to these nine questions. Thank you.

National Broadband Plan (August 12)
NATOA, the National League of Cities, King County, and other groups and communities have joint comments in FCC proceedings involving the development of a national broadband plan. This document explains the significant issues; there are numerous articles available on the web if you wish to keep up to date as the broadband plan is developed.

Telecommuting and the Broadband Superhighway (July 15)
The nation’s next transportation funding legislation must promote the telecommuting option…aggressively. More from New Geography.

Local Governments Oppose Bill to Ban Higher Cell Phone Taxes (June 17)
NLC weighed in this week on legislation that would establish a five-year moratorium on new or increased taxes on wireless telecommunications infrastructure and services. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

MRSC's In Focus e-Newsletter for Councilmembers and Commissioners (May 20)
MRSC's bi-weekly In Focus e-newsletter is an excellent way for your elected officials to stay informed about the latest news, research, events and trends affecting Washington city and county governments. Sign them up today.

Broadband — at Any Price (May 06)
Small cities are eyeing stimulus money to bring high-speed Internet to all. More from Governing.

Celebrating 75 Years of Research and Services! (April 23)
MRSC proudly continues the program begun as the Bureau of Governmental Research and Services in 1934 at the University of Washington. In honor of our organization’s 75th anniversary, we hope that you will enjoy a multimedia slideshow containing highlights of our history. Also see “Twenty-Five Years of Governmental Research and Service” prepared in honor of the Bureau’s 25th anniversary in 1959.

MRSC Blog: Selected Local Government Press Releases (April 22)
We have launched our blog containing selected local government press releases to keep you informed on new Washington local government programs and initiatives. Each entry is assigned a category (finance, planning, etc.) and a tag (wetlands, urban forestry, etc.) so you can sort them by topic. If you have not already done so, please add blog@mrsc.org to your agency's press release distribution list.

Stimulus Stirs Debate Over Rural Broadband Access (March 18)
This piece from National Public Radio looks at the debate over plans to use more than $7 billion from the stimulus plan to expand broadband Internet access in rural areas.

Government Seeks Major Input on Broadband Build-Out (March 11)
By design, there were a lot more questions than answers at the first meeting of the three government agencies charged with overseeing the broadband deployment portion of the economic stimulus package. More from Broadcasting & Cable.

Broadband Provisions in Federal Stimulus Bill (March 04)
Grants through the broadband stimulus bill can potentially bring significant job creation and other economic benefits to small towns and rural communities. However, few of these benefits will reach full fruition if you don't pay attention to D.C. during the next 30 days. More from consultant Craig Settles.

Telecoms and Advocacy Groups Unite over Broadband "Stimulus" (December 11)
A “Call to Action” statement advocating a national broadband strategy was issued by a diverse array of America’s communications providers in Washington, D.C. on December 2nd. More from ars technica.

APPA Municipal Fiber Broadband Study (November 13)
The American Public Power Association (APPA) has issued a study titled: The Municipal and Utility Guidebook to Bringing Broadband Fiber Optics to Your Community. Communities considering broadband for either residential or commercial deployment should review this thorough report, which details the experiences of several jurisdictions.

Good Question! (October 02)
Regular users of this site know that we feature an "inquiry of the week" on the MRSC home page (see right-hand column). We have now incorporated a compilation of these questions and responses into the MRSC Index. The MRSC Index is a one-stop listing of all web pages, documents and inquiries that we have on any given topic. Browse the index by topic or search it by keyword.

Local Government Budget Library (October 02)
MRSC maintains an extensive collection of local government budgets organized by city, county and special purpose districts. We also link to online budgets (along with other documents and services) within the profiles that we maintain for each city and county.

New Feature - National News Clippings (September 04)
We've added a new feature to our "Local Governments in the News" section below. Now, in addition to our regular local news source clippings, we will also be featuring news clippings from various national news sources highlighting current events, trends and other news affecting Washington city and county governments and special districts.

Muni Fiber Networks Bounce Back (August 28)
Despite some high-profile failures, the deep-seated need for broadband keeps municipalities on the fiber-to-the-home-track. More from Telephony Online.

The Promise of Municipal Broadband (August 19)
Broadband is too important to the economy, education, and, well, democracy to be at the mercy of Comcast, Verizon, or AT&T. More from The Progressive.

NATOA’s Broadband Principles (July 24)
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (NATOA) has published their concise “Broadband Principles,” outlining the need for a national broadband policy and for local governments to take all possible steps to provide fiber to the premises for their communities.

Quick Links to City/County Information (July 17)
MRSC recently expanded the types of key documents (e.g., budgets and comp plans) and services (e.g., council broadcasts and online service request forms) that we track in our "city profiles" page. Use these profiles for quick access to city and town documents and services. For county information, see our "county profiles" page.

Details Emerge on Nationwide Cell Phone Alert System (June 12)
A nationwide alert system that will send text messages to cell phones and other mobile devices when an emergency occurs is beginning to take shape. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Public Safety - Out of Tune (June 05)
When the FCC tried to fix a twisted public safety communications network, they found the lines were hard to unravel. More from American City & County.

City Government Business Drives Wireless Network Implementation (May 29)
Despite the high profile collapse of deals to build and maintain large wireless networks for public Internet access in San Francisco and Philadelphia, many cities continue to express interest in building wireless networks. More from Government Technology.

Receive RSS Feeds of In Focus (May 23)
We’ve added another option for you to receive information from MRSC: RSS Feeds. Simply click on the RSS button to create an “MRSC In Focus” folder in your email program or RSS reader. You will automatically begin receiving updates to our main Focus page, “Local Governments in the News,” the four Advisor columns, and our “What’s New” section. You can unsubscribe at any time by simply deleting the folder from your RSS reader or email program.

Fail-Proofing Telecom (May 01)
Government employees rely so heavily on communications systems that many assume they will be available whenever they need them, even in an emergency. More from American City & County.

Virtual Traffic (April 23)
How will the rise of the virtual work place, where workers operate in small-office settings with PCs and communication technology as key back up tools, affect traffic patterns? More from Forbes.

A New Era in Television - What Your Residents Need to Know (April 17)
The Federal Communications Commission and service providers say these are five key things your residents should know about the conversion to all-digital broadcasting. More from ICMA.

Is In-Vehicle Wi-Fi a Boon For Commuters? (April 17)
By deploying a wireless infrastructure, public transportation companies, like King Metro, are offering free Wi-Fi access for riders—an amenity that could help boost ridership. More from Wi-Fi Planet.

Locate Sample Ordinances, Contracts, RFPs (March 13)
You can use MRSC's search system to locate a wide variety of local government documents. Note the new options to the right of your search results that allow you to limit your results by agency type, population range, region, form and class of government. Watch a brief tutorial to learn more about using our advanced search features.

Transition to Digital TV (March 13)
Local governments should be aware of the upcoming transition to digital television broadcasting. All analog over the air TV transmissions will end after February 17, 2009. Jurisdictions should consider providing information to residents, perhaps through your regular newsletter, if you have one. There are many resources for information regarding the DTV transition including the FCC's DTV page.

Federal Proceedings and Cable Franchising (March 06)
The Miller & Van Eaton law firm has posted an excellent summary of the FCC proceedings which are leading toward major changes in local cable franchising. Local governments have been opposing the changes.

USDA, FCC Launch Rural Broadband Web Site (February 07)
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently announced the launch of a new online resource that can be used to help deliver broadband services to rural communities. More from The USDA.

Beyond Wi-Fi (January 02)
It’s time for local, state and federal leaders to focus on making the U.S. more competitive when it comes to broadband. More from Governing.

FCC Issues Two 'Report and Order' documents in 2007 (November 28)
In 2007 the Federal Communications Commission has moved toward big changes in how local governments franchise new competitive providers, and the FCC is providing significant relief to existing cable providers in regard to refranchising. More from Municipal Communications Law.

FCC Cell Tower Order Affecting Municipalities (October 17)
Neil Lehto, a telecommunications attorney who advises local governments nationally, has issued a notice alerting jurisdictions to new federal requirements concerning backup power supplies for cellular antenna facilities. Those dealing with the permitting of antenna facilities, or administering existing leases for antennas on public property should pay heed.

A Nationwide Public Safety Wireless Broadband Network (October 17)
The ability of public safety agencies to have seamless nationwide roaming capability on a wireless broadband network is not only achievable but essential for public safety agencies to meet their increasing responsibilities. More from The Police Chief.

Where's My Free Wi-Fi? (October 03)
City dwellers won't be able to get high-quality wireless Internet access for free. If they want it, collectively, they'll have to pay for it. More from Slate.

Tune in to NLC TV (September 19)
The National League of Cities (NLC), in partnership with TV Worldwide, recently launched an Internet-based TV channel, NLC TV, in an effort to communicate the latest news, issues and views of the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents.

Municipal Wi-Fi - Reality Bites (September 19)
American cities' plans for ubiquitous internet access are running into trouble. More from The Economist.

NLC Launches Monthly Newscasts for Municipal Governments (July 16)
The National League of Cities (NLC) is launching www.nlctv.org, an Internet-based TV channel about and for cities. NLC TV is also premiering its first monthly newscast, which will showcase the latest news about cities and the views of city officials on the pressing issues of the day. Read Press Release

The Blogging Revolution: Government in the Age of Web 2.0 (June 29)
An examination of blogging; a growing tool for promoting online and offline engagement of citizens and public servants. Th author, David C. Wyld develops a set of lessons learned and a checklist of best practices for public managers interested in following in their footsteps. Read the Report from the IBM Center for Business and Government

The Effects of Broadband Deployment on Output and Employment (June 25)
This study, a cross-sectional analysis of U.S. data on broadband, provides new estimates of the effects of broadband penetration on both output and employment, in the aggregate and by sector, using state level data. Read the study from the Brookings Institution

NATOA Annual Conference in Portland (June 22)
NATOA's 27th Annual Conference: Promoting Community Interests in Communications will be in Portland, October 2-6, 2007. See Conference Information.

Telecom vs. Cable Battle Moves to States (May 30)
To get into consumers’ homes more quickly, the phone companies, who are now competing with cable companies to deliver TV programming, want to bypass the city-by-city approval process cable companies have followed for decades and are seeking statewide agreements instead. More from Stateline.org.

Working Without Wires (May 09)
Municipal WiFi is coming. Government employees, not citizens, may be the biggest users. More from Governing.

eNATOA Seminar set for May 21st (May 09)
This web-based seminar deals with "Strategic Planning for New Funding for PEG." Those dealing with PEG channel funding will get tips on how to diversify their funding base.

NATOA Annual Conference in Portland this October (May 01)
This year you can stay up-to-date on telecommunications issues by attending the National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors annual conference right here in the Northwest.

Well Served (April 24)
Streaming video is coming of age as more local government Web sites are hosting live and on-demand videos of public meetings, employee training and public education programs. More from American City & County.

Cloudy Forecast (April 24)
Regional clouds represent the next step in municipal wireless networks' evolution. More from Government Technology.

NATOA INets E-Seminar on April 16th (April 10)
In an era when cable companies are increasingly unwilling to negotiate Inets under franchise agreements, how will local governments meet their communications networking needs in cost-efficient ways? This eNATOA seminar will explore potential strategies by which to plan, negotiate, and implement internal communications networks to serve the same purposes as Inets -- but independent of the franchising process. Registration closes April 12th.

Governments Ask for Reversal FCC's Video Franchise Ruling (April 10)
Local government organizations representing municipal and county officials across America asked the Federal courts last week to reverse the recent franchising order adopted by the Federal Communications Commission. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Broadband’s Buzzwords (March 22)
To understand the debates over telecom policy taking place at the state and federal levels, it helps to know the video franchising lingo. More from Governing.

One Tiny Town Becomes Internet-Age Power Point (March 13)
While much of the U.S. frets over a residential real-estate slump, this small farming town on Washington State's plains has the opposite worry: A boom-town economy is inflating housing prices. More from The Wall Street Journal.

How Can a Metro Wi-Fi Network Benefit Your Community? (March 13)
In the past few years, an emerging technology known by a variety of names, including "metro-scale Wi-Fi," "municipal Wi-Fi," and "mesh networking," has been doing for high-speed Internet access what cellular telephones did for voice services. More from Public Management Magazine.

Local Wireless Networks - A Prerequisite for the Future (March 07)
More than 140 cities and counties in the United States (compared with 12 municipalities in 2004) are pursuing wireless networks while another 200 are studying the issues or are in the feasibility phase. More from Public Management Magazine.

Local Governments Offer the "Truth" on Telecom Reform (March 07)
Facing fierce lobbying efforts, national local government associations launched a new Web site to present the "real truth" on the potential effects of telecommunications reform on communities and consumers. More from Government Technology.

State-Wide Franchise Legislation Introduced (February 22)
HB 1983 would provide for state-wide franchising of companies that want to offer competitive video services, removing the authority of local governments to issue such franchises. This legislation is being pushed by telephone companies and other telecommunications providers that want to compete with traditional cable companies, minus the same requirements and obligations.

Less Oversight Not Good for Consumers (February 06)
Despite the telephone and cable industry’s poor reputation for customer service and pricing, lobbyists have been working overtime to convince state and federal legislators that less oversight of their clients’ businesses will be good for consumers. More from ICMA.

FCC Oversteps Authority with Proposed Cable Franchising Rules (January 31)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) overstepped its legal authority in its December 2006 decision to change the way cable franchises are granted in communities across the country, according to NACo Executive Director Larry Naake. More from NACo's County News.

FCC Order will Preempt Local Video Franchising Authority (December 28)
Despite opposition from the National League of Cities and other local government groups, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) adopted an order last week that would federally mandate how video franchising would occur in the United States. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Nationwide Interoperability for First Responders within Reach (December 20)
According to a new report from the Homeland Security Department’s Safecom Program, more than two-thirds of emergency response agencies in the United States use some degree of interoperable communications, allowing them to speak directly with other agencies. More from Government Computer News.

Comcast and Telecommunications Tax (December 15)
The City of Seattle recently prevailed in litigation with Comcast over whether the city's telecommunications tax applied to the cable modem services offered by Comcast. The decision (Community Telecable Of Seattle V. City Of Seattle) should be read carefully by city attorneys and/or finance directors. Seattle's success stemmed in part from the tax being grandfathered and not prohibited by the federal Internet Tax Freedom Act. We are unsure at this time how many cities might benefit from this decision.

Telecommunications: A Post-Election Analysis (December 06)
In The Impact of the Mid-term elections on Local Government’s Communications Agenda (83 KB), Gerry Lederer, Miller & Van Eaton, assesses the impact of the elections on the House and Senate Commerce Committees, the committees of initial jurisdiction over telecommunications and cable matters.

Emergency Management - Now Hear This (November 14)
Because the public has changed how it communicates and accesses information, local officials are devising a variety of ways to notify people of impending crises whether those relate to homeland security or natural disasters. More from Federal Computer Week.

Tuning in to New Media (October 25)
The use of new media, particularly by young people, challenges conventional wisdom in many fields - education, social engagement, civic participation. This recent Smart City radio show focuses on new media and how they may change our most familiar habits and institutions.

Watching, Not Waiting (October 25)
As telecommunications reform legislation moves to the Senate floor, debate is stirring over public cable channel access and control over cable television service distribution. More from American City & County.

Should Municipalities Provide Wireless Internet Service? (October 17)
A new report from the Federal Trade Commission, Municipal Provision of Wireless Internet ( 380 KB), offers guidance to local policymakers considering if, and to what extent, a municipality should involve itself in the provision of broadband Internet service.

Giant Regional Wi-Fi Network in Washington State (October 03)
Southeastern Washington state has Wi-Fi service that covers 3700 square miles, thanks to the Columbia Rural Electric Association, a non-profit electric cooperative. More from MuniWireless.

WATOA Fall Conference in Yakima (September 27)
The Washington Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (WATOA) will be holding their fall conference in Yakima on October 19th & 20th. "New Challenges to Local Authority" is the conference theme.

The Truth about Telecom Taxes and Reform (September 20)
A study released by a national coalition of local government organizations,The Local Government Perspective on Telecommunications Taxes ( 431kb), debunks claims by the telecommunications industry that it is unfairly taxed relative to other businesses.

Making Wi-Fi Fly (September 06)
For many government agencies, finding money to pay for a large technology initiative, such as a Wi-Fi network, presents a major obstacle. More from American City & County.

Municipal Wireless Snapshot (August 15)
In a series of qualitative research and analysis reports, Craig Settles provides an overview of major issues impacting municipalities' pursuit of citywide broadband wireless networks. More from Success.com.

2006 Telecom Bill Rewrite Tramples Local Governments (July 18)
The Senate Commerce Committee has approved its version of the 2006 telecommunications rewrite, which would have significant implications for counties and other local governments. More from NACo's County News.

RFI Issued for Wireless Network in Pierce County (June 20)
The Rainier Communications Consortium, representing Pierce County and 14 municipalities, has issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the best ways to deploy municipal broadband system to serve the needs of its member jurisdictions and their residents. More from MuniWireless.

Fiber Optics Available to 15,000 Chelan County Homes and Businesses (June 20)
Chelan County Public Utility District's fiber-optic network is now the largest open-access, fiber-to-the-premises network in Washington state. More from Yahoo Finance.

Things to Consider Before Deploying Free Wireless Access (June 13)
The ultimate success of wireless deployments depends not on bandwidth, coverage or content, but on the clarity and execution of the overall vision. More from Western City Magazine.

Telecommunications - Safety First (June 13)
Cities and counties are using high-speed wireless (WiFi) networks to support their mobile workers, including those in law enforcement, firefighting and emergency medical service. More from American City & County.

Locals Step up Fight for Video Franchises (June 06)
Despite their eagerness for competition in video services, local government officials are wary of bills before Congress that would create a national video franchise process managed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). More from American City & County.

Alliance for Community Media Northwest (ACM) Conference (May 31)
On June 2nd & 3rd, in Kent, there will be a conference valuable to those involved with PEG channel broadcasting, focusing on public policy, technology and fundraising. More from ACM.

Local Government Organizations Opposed to Federal Telecom Bill (May 31)
NLC, NACO, NATOA and other organizations joined in this concise statement to Congress (146kb) expressing their opposition to the Communications, Opportunity, Promotion and Enhancement Act of 2006.

Lining up Internet Service (May 31)
Last fall, Manassas, Va., deployed the first citywide commercial application of broadband over power line (BPL) technology in the United States. More from American City & County.

Pandemic Flu Simulation: Implications for the Public/Private Sectors (May 24)
A report from Booz Allen Hamilton (129kb) concludes that telecommunications will likely be overwhelmed early in the pandemic; therefore, government and businesses must coordinate and plan for the use of alternative communications channels--and telecommuting will not be a viable option.

Seattle Seeks Partners for Broadband Network (May 24)
On May 22nd the City of Seattle issued a "Request for Interest" (245kb), seeking private partners for the construction of a fiber to the premises (FTTP) broadband network. The "request" provides details and solicits responses by July 7th.

WiFi Free-for-All (May 02)
Strategies for building municipal wireless networks are evolving fast. But are they prudent in the long run? More from Governing.

Raining Security (May 02)
Nine Oregon counties are using a fee-based Internet-based communication system called "Connect & Protect" that securely connects government agencies, first responders, schools and other public and private organizations with real-time public safety information.

Online Via Power Line (April 18)
Small towns and cities are finding high-speed Internet access is as close as their electric grid. More from Governing.

New FCC Report on High-Speed Internet Connections (April 18)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) recently released a report on the availability of high-speed connections to the Internet in the United States (566kb), including state-by-state data.

New Telecomm Bill a Questionable Deal for Local Communities (April 12)
Local government officials remain concerned that rhetoric has led Congress to believe that competition and innovation will flourish in the telecommunications industry only if local government is removed from the equation. More from NACo.

White Paper on Municipal Fiber Projects (April 04)
Jim Baller and Casey Lide have written a concise white paper (174kb) discussing the experiences of various municipalities across the country that have developed their own fiber projects to provide advanced telecom capabilities to their local residents and businesses.

Why Municipal Wi-Fi May Be a Bad Investment for Cities (April 04)
This is a response by Walter White, vice president state and local government, for Verizon Communications, to a March 18 article by John Eger titled: "Freeing Cities from Cable and Telco Monopolies." More from Government Technology.

Local Officials Have Concerns With Telecom Bill (April 04)
The National League of Cities has identified several provisions in proposed draft telecommunications legislation that are of serious concern. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Action Alert - Protect Local Franchising (March)
The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee will be considering legislation that would strip local governments' authority to enter into franchising agreements with new video providers and possibly terminate existing cable franchise agreements. It is very important to call members of the committee ASAP. More from NACo.

NATOA Seminars via Teleconference (March 21)
The National Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors is offering a series of seminars via teleconference. "eNATOA and eNATOA BROADBAND" are designed to offer a high-quality learning experience to NATOA members and supporters. For specialized training at low cost, it's hard to beat.

Panel Reaches Accord on Telecom Legislation (March 10)
A federal panel agreed in principle on telecommunications overhaul legislation which would allow regional Bell operating companies to offer pay video services through a nationwide franchise -- bypassing the need to obtain franchises municipality by municipality. More from The National Journal.

Key Telecom Issues for 2006 (February 14)
"Local Communities and Communications Networks: Key Issues 2006,"
(146kb) by Nicolas P. Miller and Joseph Van Eaton of the D.C. based Miller & Van Eaton law firm, offers a detailed overview of the major telecom issues currently facing local governments.

Resisting Municipal Broadband is Futile (January 31)
There are over 400 cities worldwide planning to deploy municipal broadband networks and the number will double in 2006, making community broadband initiatives a very real and significant trend. More from BusinessWire.

New Ask MRSC E-newsletter (January 18)
Ask MRSC is a free, subscription-based, monthly e-mail newsletter featuring answers to selected questions received by our consultant staff. It's one more way for you to stay informed on current issues affecting city and county government. View a sample issue or go directly to our subscription page and sign up to receive Ask MRSC today. It's free!

Operation: Operability (January 04)
Hurricane Katrina focuses attention on basic radio communications' ability to survive worst-case scenarios. More from Government Technology Magazine.

Telecommunications - The Golden Egg? (December 28)
Can municipal wireless networks solve economic development challenges for rural communities? More from Government Technology Magazine.

NTIA Telecommunications Grant Deadline (December 15)
The federal National Telecommunications and Information Administration has set February 7, 2006 as the deadline for applications for matching grants through their Public Telecommunications Facilities Program for the planning and construction of public telecommunications facilities.

Update for Jurisdictions with Adelphia Cable Franchises (December 01)
Adelphia has been in bankruptcy for quite some time, and there are some events coming up that you should be aware of. For more information, see the November 2005 Adelphia Bankruptcy Update from the Baller Herbst Law Group.

Telecommunications - Boiling Point (November 17)
Cities and towns build wireless broadband networks for residential use, but Congress is part of the fight now. More from Government Technology.

Municipal Broadband Address (November 08)
Jim Baller discusses the barriers that private telecom companies are attempting to erect to keep municipalities from providing broadband services to their communities in his recent keynote address (93kb) to the annual "Fiber to the Home" conference.

Regulation of Obscenity, Indecency and Profanity (October 19)
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a new website explaining its broadcast obscenity, indecency and profanity rules, complaint procedures and enforcement acttions. More from the FCC.

Tracking the Telecommunications Reform Debate (October 19)
The Benton Foundation has an excellent website providing basic information about the issues and proposed bills in this significant federal rewrite of the Telecommunications act. The issues are big, and will impact local government finances and consumer rights.

Fiber-To-The-Premises (FTTP) Conference in Portland (October 11)
On October 28th There will be an all day workshop on Fiber-To-The-Premises Networks at Portland State University. Representatives of various cities and technology companies will be speaking.

Two Municipal WiFi Projects go Forward (October 11)
The cities of Philadelphia and San Francisco reached new milestones on their respective paths toward providing citywide wireless Internet access. More from Government Computer News.

Emergency Communications - Building Safety Nets (September 21)
To collaborate across organizational boundaries in emergencies, first responders need technologies that meet five requirements. More from American City & County.

Rural Telecommunications Conference (August 30)
The 2005 Rural Telecommunications Conference will have representatives from states across the country to present their success stories in helping rural areas access advanced telecommunication services.

City-Sponsored ‘Wi-Fi’ — Saved From the Telecoms? (August 24)
One of the greediest moves ever by big telephone companies appears — for the moment — to have run amok, if not backfired. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

Block that Broadband (August 10)
Any city that tries to build its own high-speed Internet connections can expect a whole lot of pushback. More from Governing.

AWC Action Alert - Telecommunications Local Authority at Risk (August 10)
Congressional Members Need to Hear from Your City During the August Recess. More from the Association of Washington Cities (19kb).

Court Decision Tosses San Diego County's Wireless Telecom Ordinance (July 19)
The California District Court's decision in Sprint v. San Diego County (1143kb) should serve as a heads up to local governments. Telecom ordinances that impose unduly restrictive conditions on wireless facilities can be challenged. This is deja-vu for those that remember the City of Auburn v. Qwest (2001) (165kb) 9th Circuit decision.

Cable Franchise with Adelphia? (May 24)
If your city has a CATV franchise with Adelphia, there is an FCC form related to the bankruptcy proceedings that you will need to send to the FCC regarding whether your jurisdiction approves the sale or "transfer." Contact Jim Doherty at MRSC to obtain further information.

The Road Map to a Broadband Nation (May 24)
Communities across the United States are rolling out sophisticated broadband technologies to take the future for a test-drive. Here's where you'll find them. More from Business 2.0.

Municipal Broadband (May 18)
The May issue of Broadband Properties magazine is devoted to the pros and cons of municipal broadband. With eleven separate articles, this is a great resource for understanding this complex subject.

Municipal Telecommunications Workshop (May 05)
The Washington Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (WATOA) is sponsoring a two day workshop, June 16th & 17th, in Bellevue, exploring issues surrounding local government deployment of fiber, broadband and Wi-Fi initiatives. Find out which jurisdictions have systems operating and why they are offering the services.

WATOA's Free Satellite Content Workshop (May 05)
The Washington Association of Telecommunication Officers and Advisers (WATOA) is putting on a workshop (1kb) for those interested in saving on informative content and training costs available from Satellites.

Telecom Companies Oppose Local Franchising for Video Over Internet (April 25)
The two largest telephone companies in the United States told Congress that their plans to begin offering video services in competition with the cable industry cannot succeed if they must comply with existing local franchising rules. More from Nation's Cities Weekly.

VoIP - The Implications for Public Safety (April 25)
Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) is a developing technology that has several ramifications for the law enforcement and public safety community. More from The Police Chief.

Brave New Telecom World (April 06)
Even with fewer than 1 percent of all Americans using the technology, Internet calling — technically known as "voice over Internet protocol" or VoIP, is starting to turn state and local telecom regulation on its head. More from Governing.

Wi-Fi Networks Signal New Opportunities for Cities (April 06)
If Philadelphia leaders get their way, by late 2006 most of the city's residents will be able to surf the Internet from almost anywhere in the city. More from American City & County.

States Considering Anti-Municipal Broadband Bills (April 06)
Here is a listing and brief description of legislative efforts in several states to block municipalities from providing telecommunications services. Government Technology.

Municipal Broadband - MuniWireless.com (April 06)
Looking for more information concerning municipal broadband deployment, both urban and rural? Try MuniWireless.com. The site is devoted to municipal wireless broadband projects worldwide that are funded or supported by cities and towns.

Court Cases Victories for Municipalities (March 29)
Municipalities scored victories in two recent Supreme Court decisions focusing on search and seizure rules and whether individuals and companies can receive monetary damages when local governments deny wireless towers. More from Nation’s Cities Weekly.

City Prevails On U.S. Supreme Court Cell Tower Case (March 23)
On March 22nd the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that Section 1983 damages (which include attorney fees) are not available to those who challenge a local government's decision to deny a permit for installation or operation of a cell tower. The case is City of Rancho Palos Verdes, CA v. Abrams. For further information, contact Jim Doherty at MRSC.

Community Cable Cookbook (March 15)
The Center for Digital Democracy's "Community Cable Cookbook - A Citizen's Guide to Cable Franchise Negotiations," lists the key components of a successful cable franchise, with excerpts from various franchise agreements around the country.

Telecom Companies Fighting Competition from Municipalities (March 09)
Telephone and cable TV companies have been flexing their political and financial muscle at the state level, arguing that government has no business getting into their business. More from Forbes.

Broadband Project Examples Sought (February 15)
Jim Baller, a very well respected D.C. telecom attorney who represents local governments, is seeking information concerning public broadband projects around the country that have assisted economic development. If your community has information that is relevant to his research, please respond. Here are the details.

Report Warns Against Muni Broadband (February 09)
Cities who want to run their own WiFi wireless broadband networks are basing their plans on claims of benefits that have dubious merit and few facts to back them up. More from Federal Computer Week.

Grant Program for Telecommunications Facilities (February 09)
The National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) recently announced a $20M grant program for planning or construction of public telecommunications facilities. Applications are due March 1. More from NTIA

Broadband Network Technology - High Speed Ahead (February 01)
To determine which broadband network technology would best meet each community's needs, project leaders should answer five questions. More from American City & County.

Top 10 Issues to Consider when Building a City-Wide Wi-Fi Network (January 12)
Technology today is as vital to economic growth as transportation and utility systems were in the past. With every passing day, it seems, another local government announces, with much fanfare, plans to deploy a wireless network. More from Strategic Technology Collaborative.

The Big Band Era (January 12)
The quest for rapid and robust Internet access has cities grappling with how to bring the best of broadband to their businesses and residents. More from Governing.

Is Government Your Next Broadband Provider? (January 04)
Last-minute negotiations between Philadelphia and Verizon rescued a proposal to build the largest metropolitan Wi-Fi network. But many still are asking: Should government get into the broadband business and compete with the private sector? More from Mobile Pipeline.

Phone Firms' Cable TV Plans Hit Local Obstacle (January 04)
The phone companies, forging ahead with bold plans to jump into the cable TV business, are hitting a speed bump: local governments. More from USA Today.

Free Streaming Media Workshop (January 04)
The Washington Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisors (WATOA) is sponsoring a free workshop, "Streaming Media: A New Tool for Local Government," Tuesday, January 11th , 1:30 – 3:30pm, at the City of Bellevue, City Hall.