• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Resources
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
IT Infrastructure

Net Neutrality Might be Coming Back – One Public Network at a Time

Colorado’s Fort Collins voted to move ahead with a new network after last year’s net neutrality reversal. The public network will be run by the city.

January 22, 2018 Jessica Messier Leave a Comment

According to Ars Technica, the city council in Fort Collins, Colorado, voted to move forward with a municipal fiber broadband network that will provide gigabit speeds. This vote came after the Federal Communications Commission’s decision to eliminate the nation’s net neutrality rules late last year.

“We’re extremely pleased the entire city council voted to support the network after the voters’ hard fought election victory late last year,” Glen Akins, a resident who helped lead the pro-municipal broadband campaign, told Ars Technica. “The municipal broadband network will make Fort Collins an even more incredible place to live.”

A new planning document states that this new network will “deliver a ‘net-neutral’ competitive unfettered data offering that does not impose caps or usage limits on one use of data over another (i.e., does not limit streaming or charge rates based on type of use,” and “All application providers (data, voice, video, cloud services) are equally able to provide their services, and consumers’ access to advanced data opens up the marketplace” Ars Technica reports.

Related: Net Neutrality FCC Vote December 14 Could Alter Internet As We Know It

What this means for decision makers:

Despite the barriers put up by the FCC’s vote to do away with Obama-era net neutrality rules, Ars Technica shows how small communities are taking into their own hands access to the internet. Not only is Fort Collins taking back control of its internet usage, it’s also applying current practices and safety policies to make sure this new network initiative is a success.

For example, Fort Collins will be developing policies to protect consumers’ privacy, and will provide a $1.8 million loan from its funding for the electric utility for first-year start-up costs related to building telecommunications facilities and services. The city will also charge consumers $70 per month or less, and a less expensive internet tier. While the network build will stretch on for years, its underground wiring for projected improved reliability and “universal coverage” will keep consumers happy. Decision makers who might be negatively affected by the FCC’s net neutrality vote might want to keep tabs on Fort Collins’ work, and be on the lookout for other cities doing the same thing. Maybe their business will move to community networks in the near future.

 

If you enjoyed this article and want to receive more valuable industry content like this, click here to sign up for our digital newsletters!

Tagged With: Internet, Network Design

Related Content:

  • AI Automation burnout What is It About AI That Brings Excitement,…
  • AtlasIED North Syracuse Central School Dist 2 North Syracuse Central School District Streamlines Communications with…
  • cisco webex-rooms-modern-space AVI-SPL Receives Cisco 2023 Reimagine Workspaces Partner of…
  • A young man with a tablet computer stands in the middle of a server room. Collection and storage of large amounts of data. Checks the operation of servers and automation Does Conversational AI Have A Role to Play…

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • Creating Great User Experience and Ultimate Flexibility with Clickshare

    Working and collaborating in any office environment today should be meaningful, as workers today go to office for very specific reasons. When designing the office spaces – and meeting spaces in particular – enabling that connection between co-workers is crucial. Introducing the right collaboration technology in meeting spaces is the biggest challenge for IT managers […]

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

Creating Great User Experience and Ultimate Flexibility with Clickshare

Working and collaborating in any office environment today should be meaningful, as workers today go to office for very specific reasons. When desig...

Download TechDecisions' Blueprint Series report on Security Awareness now!
Blueprint Series: Why Your Security Awareness Program is Probably Falling Short

Learn about the evolution of phishing attacks and best practices for security awareness programs to ensure your organization is properly prepared t...

Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces
Workplace Collaboration Tools for Corporate Spaces

From lobbies and shared spaces to conference rooms and multipurpose facilities, you need high-performing AV technology to effectively share informa...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

AV-iQ

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise with Us
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!
Emerald Logo
ABOUTCAREERSAUTHORIZED SERVICE PROVIDERSDO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATIONTERMS OF USEPRIVACY POLICY

© 2023 Emerald X, LLC. All rights reserved.