From the unique pronunciation of Monticello (think “sello” not “chello”), the town has never been afraid to stand out. Institute for Local Self Reliance’s Chris Mitchell talks to City Planner Jeff O’Neill about FiberNet, Monticello’s municipal network. It has been … Continue reading
I suspect I’ll see a few more of the Blandin Broadband award announcements. I shared the live unveiling last week during the broadband conference but each of the winners has worked hard and I didn’t do individual posts about each … Continue reading
The Post Bulletin recently ran an editorial on community networks from Brent Christensen, executive director of the Minnesota Telecom Alliance (MTA). I’ve learned there’s a correction to that article. Here are snippets from the original… After recently reading about some … Continue reading
It’s been a while since I posted anything on Monticello’s FiberNet, the municipally owned network that was so hard fought from its inception. Recently Monticello Times posted the latest Monticello Fiber Network. It looks like they are looking for a … Continue reading
In June I reported on the latest issues with the Monticello FiberNet. The City had worked out a plan to offer the bondholders. In short they wanted to offer the bondholders something for the debt in exchange for owning the network … Continue reading
Earlier this month I reported on the community network in Monticello. They have run into some issues but the city plans to continue to operate the system. TDS is the competitor providers in Monticello. Through the history of the project, TDS … Continue reading
Late last week, I ran across an article in WatchDog that reported on issues with Monticello FiberNet. The article focused on the reaction of bondholders outside of Minnesota to their investment. This week I’ve heard from folks in Monticello. Earlier … Continue reading
Here’s the latest news on Monticello from Watchdog Minnesota Bureau… Threatened with a bond-holder lawsuit, the city of Monticello has quietly made a deal to buy time in negotiations with the trustee for owners of $26 million in revenue bonds … Continue reading
Tonight the Monticello City Council met to talk about next steps with Monticello FiberNet. The managing partners (Hiawatha Broadband aka HBC) decided to step down from the project – leaving Monticello with the opportunity to find a new managing partner. … Continue reading
Earlier this week Minnesota Public Radio reported on the latest update with FiberNet Monticello. (A quick recap, Hiawatha Broadband stepped down from managing the project last month and Monticello made planned to move forward.) Strapped by lower revenue than expected for … Continue reading
Yesterday we shared a press release from HBC on their decision to part ways with the City of Monticello. Today Monticello has a follow up… FIBERNET MONTICELLO MAINTAINING SERVICE AND SUPPORT DURING TIME OF TRANSITION TO NEW MANAGEMENT Monticello, Minnesota – With … Continue reading
Here’s the latest news in Monticello from a media advisory from Hiawatha Broadband… HBC to end management of Monticello system For Immediate Release (Wednesday, May 30, 2012) Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC) has provided the City of Monticello, Minnesota, notification of … Continue reading
Last week the Freedom Foundation of Minnesota ran an article on FiberNet in Monticello. They painted a picture of a project that wasn’t successful… The City of Monticello has put bondholders on notice that the municipal broadband network once hailed … Continue reading
The Monticello Times ran an update on the FiberNet Monticello. The paper reports… city officials met with their St. Paul-based financial adviser last week to advance the effort to restructure the 4-year-old bond agreement issued to create the city-owned telephone, … Continue reading
AllGov recently reports that municipal networks are the way to go for fast, cheap, reliable broadband. The use Minnesota’s own Monticello as an example of doing it right and urging better service from commercial providers… The move of cities into … Continue reading
