Category Archives: Cable

Broadband groups want FCC to reverse deletion of TV ownership rule (including groups in MN)

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The Desk reports…

A coalition of cable television and broadband Internet companies from nearly a dozen states have filed a formal petition with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) asking the agency to reconsider its decision to eliminate a long-standing rule that limits the number of broadcast TV and radio stations one company may own outright.

The filing was made this week by a group consisting of broadband and cable TV trade associations from states like Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan and Pennsylvania. The request calls for an administrative stay and injunction pending a judicial review of the matter — a strong indication that the groups, and others, are likely preparing a legal challenge to the FCC’s earlier decision to eliminate the national TV ownership cap.

In August, the FCC voted 2-1 along party lines to remove the ownership cap, which previously limited broadcasters to owning a collection of licensed TV stations that reach less than 40 percent of the American viewing population.

The measure had broad Republican support, with backing from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who said the elimination of the ownership rule was necessary to help broadcasters compete against streaming services and support their local news initiatives.

After more than a month of delays, the FCC formalized the act by publishing it on October 1. The rule change takes effect 60 days from the date it is published in the Federal Register.

But opponents of the move, including the cable TV and broadband groups, argue that the FCC exceeded its authority because Congress set the broadcast TV limitation through legislation.

Comcast’s Xfinity deploys broadband to 13,000 new locations in Chanhassen and Nowthen (Anoka and Carver Counites)

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Comcast announces…

Comcast’s Xfinity announced today that nearly 13,000 new homes and businesses in Chanhassen and Nowthen, Minnesota now have access to high-speed Internet from America’s smartest and most reliable, converged network. Xfinity brings Internet, mobile, entertainment, and smart home services together in one simple, seamless solution. Chanhassen and Nowthen join more than 65 million homes and businesses nationwide with access to a fiber-powered network that fuels innovation, productivity, and everyday connection.

Residents can sign up for Xfinity services by visiting Xfinity.com and businesses can visit ComcastBusiness.com to see if their address is eligible for service. Nowthen residents can visit the Xfinity Store in Coon Rapids, Minnesota, located at 12940 Riverdale Dr. NW, Suite 800, Coon Rapids, MN 55448. Residents of Chanhassen can visit the Xfinity Store at 464 Lake Drive, Chanhassen, MN 55317.

Mediacom completes 12 fiber broadband projects across Minnesota

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NCTA – The Internet & Television Association reports on cable growth in the Midwest. Here’s what they report for Minnesota…

Minnesota

Mediacom completed 12 fiber broadband projects across Minnesota ahead of schedule, connecting more than 3,900 homes and businesses with over 400 miles of new fiber. The $24 million-plus public-private investment also enabled Mediacom to expand fiber to another 1,600 homes and businesses using private funding, with much of the construction reaching hard-to-connect areas such as northern Minnesota’s Iron Range.

 

Northfield considers broadband franchise fee as cable subscriptions decrease

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KYMN Radio reports…

As traditional cable television subscriptions continue to decline, Northfield officials are exploring a broadband franchise fee as a way to replace lost revenue that has historically funded the city’s communications efforts and reduced pressure on property taxes.

During a recent city council work session, City Administrator Ben Martig said cable franchise fees have long supported public communication infrastructure, including technology used to broadcast council meetings, maintain the city website, and provide information through social media and other public outreach channels. However, as residents increasingly move away from cable television services, the revenue generated by those fees has steadily declined.

Update on cable expansion in Minnesota

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NCTA – The Internet & Television Association tracks cable broadband expansion in the Midwest, including Minnesota…

Comcast has expanded its fiber network to more than 600 homes and businesses in Stillwater Township through a public-private partnership funded by the Minnesota Office of Broadband, Washington County and the local community.

Midco is expanding its fiber network across the West Metro area, bringing service to homes and businesses in Long Lake, Maple Plain, Medina, Mound, Orono, Shorewood and St. Bonifacius, following completed construction in Loretto and ongoing work in Independence and Minnetrista.

Mediacom has launched multi-gig and symmetrical speed broadband services to more than 2,400 households in the rural communities of Howard Lake and Winsted, upgrading the region using its existing fiber-rich network.

Comcast has more winning BEAD applications (so far) compared to other large wireline operators

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Fierce Network reports…

The Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program process is chugging along, as roughly half of the 56 states and territories have now released deployment plans and grant awards. While fiber remains the preferred technology, it’s a cable operator that’s amassed the most funds so far.

Comcast came out on top of the other large wireline operators, scoring $745 million to cover approximately 127,000 locations across 25 states, per New Street Research’s analysis. The company plans to use a mix of fiber and hybrid-fiber coax (HFC) for its BEAD bids.

Given deploying HFC is cheaper than end-to-end fiber, NSR expects more cable companies to participate in the program. Charter meanwhile received just $160 million for 35,000 locations, though the operator has said it intends to spend less on BEAD than it did for Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) projects.

The Minnesota Draft BEAD Proposal include the following for Comcast…

  • Comcast Cable Communications Management, LLC
    Number of projects: 3
    BEAD support: $31,849,085.18
    Local Match: $23,892,462.90
    Locations: 2760
    Counties: Scott, Washington, Wright

Recent study on consumer takes on various broadband technologies

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Telecompetitor reports…

A study conducted on behalf of Amdocs finds that consumers value reliability, affordability, and uninterrupted access — and suggests that providers may benefit by offering all three via mixed-technology networks. …

Cable has the highest level of internet access (39%). It is followed by fiber (31%) and FWA (9%). The study found that 3% of consumers do not have a dedicated internet connection at home.

Fully 60% of respondents say their home internet is very reliable, but at the same time cite cost as the biggest issue. Commentary in the press release says that this illustrates the need to balance performance with affordability.

Overall, the priorities are closely divided. An equal percent (38%) of consumers prioritize speed and reliability when choosing a provider. The study commentary suggests that CSPs can put together offerings in their networks that eliminate trade-offs.

FWA and satellite broadband are the new kids on the block. Amdocs says that FWA is emerging as a strong competitor but that more than half of consumers — 47% — have never heard of it.

The broadband satellite sector is even newer. The survey found that 67% of consumers would consider switching if it provides a comparable experience. Concerns about cost, reliability, and speed persist. The study found that 37% of consumers are unfamiliar with satellite Internet. This, Amdocs Research says, points to an education gap about the technology.

League of MN Cities recap on SF2045: Community TV grants and HF1740 Equal access to broadband bill

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League of MN Cities posts information on two bills ( SF 2045 and HF 1740) going through the MN Legislature right now. I have also been following but nice to see what others day…

During the week of March 17, Minnesota lawmakers considered two bills related to telecommunications and broadband access. The House Legacy Finance Committee reviewed a proposal geared toward supporting local public, educational, and governmental television channels, while the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee examined legislation that would give local governments the authority to franchise internet providers. Both bills received committee support and were laid over for possible inclusion in future omnibus bills.

Check out full article for more details.

MN Senate bill SF2045: Equal Access to Broadband Act provision is held over

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The MN Seante Committee on Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband and Rural Development heard SF2045: Equal Access to Broadband Act establishment provision. It was held over.

The discussion on SF2045 begins at 2:20. Click to start

Senator Rest on Equal Access to Broadband Act

  • Trying to get sustain able funding for quality community TV
  • Looking to remove “telecommunication” and replace with broadband
  • Wanting to coordination of funds for municipalities
  • Local franchising authority could comply broadband companies to get a franchise agreement
  • Broadband provides must act within rights-of-way regulations
  • MN has been a leader in cable acts
  • We need to refresh cable franchising bill. The idea is simple but technical – testifiers can answer tech questions.

Testifiers

Michael Bradley (reps local governments)

  • Time to refresh the cable laws
  • Broadband is the future of communication
  • The public rights of way is a scare resources we must be good stewards – we need to get paid for access
  • Looking to get everyone equal access
  • The state is getting $650M, and broadband providers are asking for tax cuts – we need to balance those perks
  • We want to work to make broadband affordable to all
  • Franchising should not slow down broadband deployment

Dave Callister (city of Plymouth)

  • This bill will help prevent broadband discrimination
  • Cable franchising should bring cable to all with consumer protections
  • Fiber is underway in Plymouth – only one company provides broadband to everyone
  • Use public right or way is scarce – the value is not declining
  • Local media informs and educates – such as city council meetings and high school sports

Melissa Wolf (MN Cable)

  • This bill would stop progress of broadband
  • Means an 8 percent tax on broadband – and none of those funds would make broadband more affordable. Funding goes to the municipalities general fund and PEG.
  • ACP ceased last year.
  • Cable companies already pay cable franchising fees.
  • This bill violates federal law
  • The House removed this bill last year

Brent Christensen (MTA)

  • Opposing the bill
  • Sad to see PEG funding go – but people are cutting the cable cord, much like cutting landlines
  • This fee will help cities but hurt the state goal of ubiquitous broadband
  • Maybe PEG could work on getting ads
  • We don’t need cable franchising because we have the Office of Broadband Development

Questions

Q: Will this impact BEAD?
No

Q: Will $650M impact franchising?
No

League of MN Cities catching up on current MN bills focused on cable and broadband

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The League of MN Cities reports…

Building on last session’s momentum to update Minnesota’s cable act, lawmakers have reintroduced the Equal Access to Broadband Act in both the House and Senate.

HF 974, sponsored by Rep. Mike Freiberg (DFL-Golden Valley), and SF 2045, sponsored by Sen. Ann Rest (DFL-New Hope), aim to modernize local franchising laws. The bills would allow local franchising authorities to franchise broadband, helping to ensure more equitable broadband deployment across the state.

By granting cities broadband franchising authority, the legislation would:

  • Require broadband providers to meet buildout requirements in underserved areas.
  • Ensure cities receive reasonable compensation for the use of public rights-of-way.
  • Support community media efforts, similar to the authority cities already have under the Minnesota Cable Act.
  • Improve city control over public rights-of-way and help fund access television.

HF 974 is awaiting action in the House Agriculture Finance and Policy Committee and SF 2045 is awaiting action in the Senate Agriculture, Veterans, Broadband, and Rural Development Committee.

Funding bill for PEG stations introduced

In addition to the Equal Access to Broadband Act, HF 1740, authored by Rep. Danny Nadeau (R-Rogers), has been introduced in the House. The bill would provide funding from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to support public, educational, and governmental programming (PEG) in cities.

Under HF 1740, funding would be allocated to a key League partner, the Minnesota Association of Community Telecommunications Administrators to support PEG programming, and community and civic engagement efforts.

HF 1740 awaits action in the House Legacy Finance Committee.

Willmar City Council votes no to Charter Communication’s deal and sticks with Connect Willmar Initiative

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The West Central Tribune reports…

 The Willmar City Council on Monday in a split 4-3 vote approved a motion declining to accept the offer by Charter Communications to end the Connect Willmar Initiative.

Councilor Carl Shuldes made the motion, which was seconded by Councilor Vicki Davis. Both voted in favor of the motion, along with councilors Tom Gilbertson and Justin Ask.

They include a little background (of a story I have also been following)…

This decision comes after Charter, which does business in the city under the name Spectrum and is the city’s largest provider of internet and cable television services, on Feb. 7 sent a city to the Willmar mayor and council stating that Charter would build out a fiber-optic network in the Willmar Industrial Park at no cost to the city, but only if the city stopped its plan to construct a city-owned, open-access fiber-optic network throughout the whole city.

Charter also promised to upgrade its existing network to provide better, faster and more reliable service to Willmar businesses and residents.

After sending out a request for proposals to build out fiber-optic services in the industrial park, the city accepted Hometown Fiber’s proposal to build the citywide network; Charter did not submit a proposal. The city of Willmar, with the assistance of the Willmar Broadband Committee and Hometown Fiber, has been researching and planning the Connect Willmar Initiative for two years and has invested approximately $650,000 and countless human resource and volunteer hours on the initiative.

MN House introduces HF1740 a bill appropriating money for community cable television programming

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This bill is tangential to broadband but could relate directly to cable franchising, which does connect it to broadband.

Minnesota House reports…

Nadeau, Norris and Carroll introduced:

HF. 1740,A bill for an act relating to arts and cultural heritage; appropriating money for community cable television programming.

The bill was read for the first time and referred to the Committee on Legacy Finance

Bill as introduced…

A bill for an act
relating to arts and cultural heritage; appropriating money for community cable
television programming.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1. APPROPRIATION; COMMUNITY CABLE TELEVISION.

$…… in fiscal year 2026 is appropriated from the arts and cultural heritage fund to the
commissioner of administration for a grant to the Minnesota Association of Community
Telecommunications Administrators for distribution to Minnesota public, educational, or
governmental cable television channels to provide programming that supports community
and civic engagement.

Willmar City Council asks staff to work with Charter Communication on plan for fiber to the Industrial Park and some service to residents

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The West Central Tribune reports …

The Willmar City Council on Tuesday unanimously directed city staff to work with Charter Communications on a commitment — by March 3 — to offer fiber-optic services in the Willmar Industrial Park and establish a timeline for increased residential services in the rest of the city.

A nearly hour-long discussion took place during the meeting regarding what Charter is offering versus the Connect Willmar Initiative, an open-access, fiber-optic network the city has been researching and planning for two years.

“One of the underlying goals of the Connect Willmar Initiative was to bring a desired level of internet service to all the residents and businesses,” said City Operations Director Kyle Box.

I have mentioned the situation in Willmar before. Connect Willmar, as mentioned above, has been working with Hometown Fiber on a community broadband plan. Charter Communications recently sent a letter to the City Council countering…

The meeting came in response to a letter the city received from Charter on Feb. 7, promising that if the city discontinues the Connect Willmar Initiative, Charter would install fiber-optic lines in the Willmar Industrial Park at no cost to the city.

Kyle Box from the City of Willmar spoke…

Box explained that a high-split network, which is what Charter is proposing for residential neighborhoods, utilizes the same coaxial infrastructure that Charter currently has in place in Willmar, but engineering would take place and electronic amplifiers would be installed in order to put data out at a higher frequency range to expand the bandwidth available for faster download and upload speeds.

He added that there are limitations on the distance at which that high-split models can increase speeds and bandwidth, especially with multiple users.

He noted that for long-term performance and future scalability, fiber networks have a 30- to 40-year lifespan and are the preferred option, with limited interference or degradation to the amount of bandwidth or data being transferred over the line.

Spectrum to launch Gigabit service in Dakota County

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From Charter Communications…

Spectrum, the #1 rural internet provider in the nation*, today announced the launch of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to just under 100  homes and businesses in portions of Dakota County, Minnesota.

Spectrum’s multi-year Rural Construction Initiative is an investment of approximately $9 billion – a portion of which we will offset with over $2 billion in government support funding – that will ultimately connect approximately 1.75 million new homes and small businesses across the country.

“Spectrum is bringing gigabit broadband to unserved communities in Minnesota and across America,” said Terry Manselle, Director of Field Engineering, Field Operations, Spectrum. “Our investment is making it possible to deliver the high-value broadband, mobile, TV and voice services now available in  Dakota County. We are providing residents and small businesses superior connectivity at highly competitive prices, backed by a team of skilled local technicians and 100% U.S.-based customer service.”

Spectrum Internet delivers speeds up to 1 Gbps and Advanced WiFi for residential and small business customers, featuring starting speeds of 500 Mbps, with no modem fees, data caps or contracts. Spectrum Business Internet offers customers 1 Gbps download speeds, with 400 Mbps and 600 Mbps options. The company has also begun a network evolution that will provide gigabit upstream speeds and multiple gigabit download speeds across its entire 41-state service area.

FTTH is more sustainable than cable broadband

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The Fiber Broadband Association looks at the sustainability of fiber versus cable broadband and finds that “Fiber Broadband Deployment is Paramount To Achieving Zero Carbon Footprint”…

Fiber networks offer significant carbon footprint advantages over HFC [Hybrid Fiber Coaxial] networks, from manufacturing of the components, through installation and operation of the network. In the manufacturing of its components, an FTTH PON network reduces carbon footprint by 60% compared to an HFC network, due to lighter cables and fewer active network components. The carbon footprint associated with installation of a fiber network is 7% less than in an HFC network. \Operationally, an FTTH XGS PON network reduces carbon footprint by 93% to 96% versus a comparable DOCSIS 4.0 HFC network, through the elimination or reduction of field powered devices. At the customer premises, an FTTH ONT cable modem reduces carbon footprint by 18% versus a DOCSIS 4.0 cable modem. Overall, this analysis demonstrates that a fiber network is the more sustainable choice for broadband infrastructure deployment than a DOCSIS network.

To evaluate the Carbon Footprint, Return On Investment (ROI) of an HFC to FTTH conversion, consider an FTTH overbuild and 4-year conversion of 500 homes passed (300 homes connected, assuming 60% take rates) HFC network vs. a “Do Nothing” scenario where we continue to operate the HFC network for another 10 years.

The one-time investment to overlay fiber results in an incremental carbon footprint for Year 1.

  • This incremental carbon footprint comes from the manufacturing and installation of new components necessary to pass 500 homes.

  • It is projected to take a span of three years to transition all 300 HFC subscribers over to the fiber network.

  • In order to factor in subscriber turnover, the embodied carbon involved with installing new drops and ONTs accounts for the remaining 40% of addressable customers at a conservative estimate churn rate of 10% annually.

  • By the end of the third year, the conversion of all 500 customers is anticipated to be completed, and within the subsequent four years all 500 homes have drops and ONTs placed because of churn.

  • At the conclusion of the third year, the assumption is to shut down the HFC network, whereby only the operational carbon footprint persists. This simple analysis excludes any carbon footprint associated with maintenance truck rolls for either network types.

  • In year 6, total carbon footprint of the “Do Nothing” scenario is expected to surpass those from the FTTH overbuild, positioning fiber as the definitive choice for long-term sustainability