Hillsborough, North Carolina Contemplates A Ubiquitous, Locally-Owned And Operated ISP

Fed up with slow and spotty internet, a small Texas town built its own high-speed network

"No one wanted to run up and punch the giant," says Dwight Thomas, who runs Mont Belvieu’s municipal broadband network.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business/technology/2019/12/22/fed-up-with-slow-and-spotty-internet-a-small-texas-town-decided-to-build-its-own-high-speed-network/

EB • 1 day ago

Story (podcast) about towns providing Internet service. Given the popularity of posts on here about Internet service providers, I thought people might be interested in this Planet Money podcast about what happened when Wilson, NC decided to offer Internet service. They were worried about losing businesses because of Internet problems (like speed), and when they asked the current provider to upgrade the system, the provider was not interested, so the city decided to offer their own Internet service. https://www.npr.org/2020/05/29/865908114/small-america-vs-big-internet

Small America Vs. Big Internet : Planet Money

npr.org

Posted in General to 34 neighborhoods

3 Comments

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KF

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NorthWest Hillsborough

Wilson is why the NC General Assembly passed specific legislation prohibiting cities and towns from offering internet service. Cities and towns have been advocating for years to be able to do what Wilson did. There are bills pending now that if passed would permit cities and towns to do what Wilson did. Our delegation supports the bills but there still is opposition.

1 day ago

EM

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Riverwalk

Open Broadband is currently offered b y Orange Coun ty and Peidmont Energy( guessing at the correct name) it's a movement growing incrementally across under served areas who as we are under thrall to .mega corps that offer take or leave it terms. Open is in Efland and edging into North Hillsborough. I have no love lost for any of the big guys and am proud of the fact I took AT&T to small claims court and prevailed.

23 hr ago

Alan Archibald

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Hillsborough Historic West

I have been an advocate of town-wide internet for years. Years ago, when I spoke with then mayor Tom Stevens, he was wide open to the idea but thought -- at the time -- that it was not technically feasible. In this new and technologically-improved environment, I encourage you to communicate with current mayor Jenn Weaver. Her office number is 919-296-9414 Thanks again for publicizing this splendid idea! If town-wide internet comes to fruition, Hillsborough could become a "go-to consultant" for other towns hoping to do the same. Let's hear it for "The Common Good," "The General Welfare" and a "Social Contract" in which the "Rugged Individualism" that lies at the heart of unregulated "Cowboy Capitalism" takes a back seat to the better angels of society and social goods.

Just now

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