MuniWireless

India’s smallest state intends to become one of its most connected. Goa has announced plans to build a broadband network that enable it “to be efficient and accountable with a global thinking approach.”

The state’s prime minister, Manmohan Singh, announced the Goa Broadband Network (GBBN, also called Goa Net) last week. It is designed to provide connectivity to 280 government state and municipal offices. According to a report from the Indo-Asia News service, it will be built as a public-private partnership…

States across the U.S. are announcing new telehealth initiatives as the Federal Communications Commission provides funds for new deployments. Michigan and Maine are the most recent states to announce funding.States across the U.S. are announcing new telehealth initiatives as the Federal Communications Commission provides funds for new deployments. Michigan and Maine are the most recent states to announce funding.

Michigan will receive $20.9 million over the next three years to deploy broadband service to 390 hospitals and healthcare facilities in rural…

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is expected to announce a $400 million initiative to build a health information broadband network and promote telemedicine in eastern North Carolina. FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is expected to announce a $400 million initiative to build a health information broadband network and promote telemedicine in eastern North Carolina.

Grants for the program are being funded under the commission’s Rural Health Care Pilot Program The program will link 16 health care centers across a broadband network.

University Health Systems…

The free wireless Internet access at the public library in Fitchburg may be just a preview of things to come. That town and other Massachusetts communities, including Shrewsbury, Worcester, Princeton, Boston, Orleans and Amherst, all have municipal broadband plans in various stages of development.The free wireless Internet access at the public library in Fitchburg may be just a preview of things to come. That town and other Massachusetts communities, including Shrewsbury, Worcester, Princeton, Boston, Orleans and Amherst, all have municipal…

A bill that would reduce state prohibitions on muni broadband deployments has moved out of committee and is headed for a vote by the U.S. SenateA bill that would reduce state prohibitions on muni broadband deployments has moved out of committee and is headed for a vote by the U.S. Senate.

The Community Broadband Act of 2007, which has broad bi-partisan support, aims to promote universal and affordable broadband access in the U.S. by prohibiting state legislatures from denying local governments…

Three Vermont communities–Jericho, Underhill and Westford–are weighing the merits of partnering with a local telecom to bring broadband to residents in the rural towns.Three Vermont communities–Jericho, Underhill and Westford–are weighing the merits of partnering with a local telecom to bring broadband to residents in the rural towns.

The towns have created a Fiber Optic Working Group to investigate options. A plan to lease network capacity from Burlington Telecom stalled following the resignation of the company’s general manager.

Selectboard members now want to…