Connecticut State Office of Consumer Counsel

Broadband News
In a party-line 3-2 vote, the FCC has changed the definition of broadband:
The minimum broadband download speeds now begin at 25Mbps, up from 4Mbps
The Verge, by Micah Singleton, January 29, 2015
  FCC Chairman Wheeler strongly supported the change, stating, "When 80 percent of Americans can access 25Mbps download speeds, that's a standard. We have a problem that 20 percent can't. We have a responsibility to that 20 percent."
  FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel wanted to increase the minimum broadband standards far past the new 25Mbps download threshold, up to 100Mbps. "We invented the internet. We can do audacious things if we set big goals, and I think our new threshold, frankly, should be 100Mbps. I think anything short of that shortchanges our children, our future, and our new digital economy," Commissioner Rosenworcel said.
DeLauro, D-3, state Comptroller Kevin Lembo and Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz spoke Friday, 1/22/15, about Connecticut’s desire to become the first “gigabit” state in the country.
http://ow.ly/HXCsN
  “We are very hopeful both at the quality of the responses that we received from various sophisticated multinational investors backed by billions of dollars, as well as folks in the industry who seem to be coming around and saying, ‘well, listen, if you guys can build this giant pipe for us’ (with a model of open access) ... that means Frontier can use it, Comcast can use it, anybody else can use it,” state Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz said.
  State Comptroller Kevin Lembo said his understanding of private business is that the successful ones adapt to change, otherwise they die.
Each address should have one electric line, one water line, one fiber line.
We choose where we eat, where we shop, where we live.
We should be able to choose #BetterBroadband! #LocalNetChoice 

GOP makes U-turn on net neutrality
“Millions of people and businesses have stood up and once again made clear that they want to keep the same rights they’ve always had,” said Matt Wood, policy director of Free Press. “Self-identified conservatives, just like everyone else, overwhelmingly support keeping the rules that have kept the Internet open.”
http://ow.ly/Hr58K
Today, 1/13/15-Responses due to the RFQ for proposals to build a statewide fiber network from ISPs, fiber investment banks, and construction firms. Consumer Counsel Katz explains how enthusiastic the towns of CT are to join the project -
With 46 of Connecticut’s Cities and Towns Planning a Gigabit Network, Deadline for Responses is January 13 - Broadband's Impact, Gigabit Networks January 12th, 2015
Drew Clark, Publisher, www.BroadbandBreakfast.com 
". . . like having the first train station in the 1800s:
from Senator Beth ByeBye, senate chair of CT's Appropriations Committee, other pet project in 2015 will be her work with the consumer counsel, comptroller, and local officials from around Connecticut to bring an ultra-high speed gigabit Internet network to the state, in order to assure Connecticut has among the fastest Internet speeds in the country."
      "It will be like having the first train station in the 1800s," Bye said. "This would be so big for business … We have a really cool opportunity." 
www.ow.ly/GTrSN
www.hartfordbusiness.com   Sen. Bye leads efforts to balance CT's $1.4B budget deficit
Any year in which the Connecticut General Assembly has to balance the budget, talks of raising taxes and making spending cuts often dominate the political discussion.
Chris Mitchell, national authority on community municipal fiber and open access networks, lays out the true story re munis and open access fiber; and no cap ex planned by incumbents in spite of their claims to be "building fiber networks in dozens of cities across the US - a must see: http://youtu.be/_x6L1LJtIhM
Woodbridge joins CT-gig Project - The Milford Orange Bulletin
Increasing chance that building fiber in CT is a win-win for telecoms and investors - 1st Selectman Ellen Scalettar.
Cable Companies Dismiss Gigabit Proposal
Theme: "Who Needs a Gig when you can pay more for less?" Greenwich News, Hugh Bailey, December 26, 2014  
ow.ly/GAyX4

Hartford Courant,  46 Connecticut Cities And Towns Join Ultra-High-Speed Internet Project www.ow.ly/GhhF5
A total of 46 Connecticut cities and towns have now signed on to a project to bring ultra-high-speed Internet service to their communities, according to state Consumer Counsel Elin Swanson Katz.
CT Get A Gig shared a link.  https://www.facebook.com/CTGetAGig
Posted by Bill Vallee •
Wash Post, Half of Connecticut says it wants fiber-optic Internet — and soon.
12/18/14, Brian Fung
www.ow.ly/GhlY1
https://twitter.com/BVJr123
46 Connecticut towns back ultra-fast Internet initiative
12/21/14, Luther Turmelle, New Haven Register,
http://www.nhregister.com/general-news/20141221/46-connecticut-towns-back-ultra-fast-internet-initiative
Connecticut takes first steps to reach super-fast Internet
12/14/2014, Stephen Singer,  Associated Press
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/business/article4478611.html
Connecticut Mayors seek Gigabit Partners
9/15/14, John Eggerton
http://www.multichannel.com/news/technology/connecticut-mayors-seek-gigabit-partners/383863