Internet Freedom of McHenry County is happy to share a bunch of Fact-Sheets and Infographics from our various Partners and Supporters that make digesting the various topics easier.
Fact Sheets
Community-Owned Fiber-Optics For McHenry County’s Future
This is a handy resource is for anyone wanting to start someplace. We are wasting our tax dollars and something needs to be done. Fiber is the solution. There are numerous benefits. Most networks have not been paid with taxpayer money, there is creative financing available.
Community Owned Fiber for McHenry County [pdf]
Why Local Solutions?
The next time you’re attending a city council meeting, a local broadband initiative, or just chatting with neighbors about better local connectivity, take a few copies of our fact sheet.
In addition to providing some basic talking points to get the conversation moving. The fact sheet offers reasons why we have to go with a local solution. You’ve already started to get people interested in all the advantages of high-quality connectivity, now show them how local self-reliance it the most direct route to better access.
Based on a Fact-Sheet from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Broadband 101
This is a handy resource for elected officials and activists that are confused by some of the jargon or just want to make sure they understand some key ideas around broadband and telecommunications.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Wireless 101
Wireless networks may appear to be magical, but are actually driving investment in fiber-optic. This resource defines many terms, key points, common speeds, and offers insight into wireless technology and policy.
Wireless Internet 101 Fact Sheet [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Satellite Is Not Broadband
As a nation our goal is ubiquitous broadband coverage so every person, regardless of where they live, can obtain the fast, affordable, reliable Internet access necessary for modern times. For people in rural areas, where large national wire-line providers don’t typically invest in the infrastructure for high-quality connectivity, satellite Internet access is often their only choice. In this fact sheet we address some of the reasons why depending on satellite Internet access to serve rural America is a mistake.
Satellite Is Not Broadband fact sheet [pdf].
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Municipal Networks: Speed Increases & Affordable Prices
The large corporate national Internet Service Providers seem to raise their monthly rates every year but don’t give subscribers anything more for their money. On the flip side, we noticed that municipal networks tend to increase speeds for subscribers with very modest or no price increases over long periods of time. In order to illustrate this phenomenon, we looked back in time at rates and speeds in eight Tennessee communities that have invested in publicly owned Internet network infrastructure. You will see how speeds have increased significantly, but rates have only inched up.
Municipal Networks: Speed Increases & Affordable Prices [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Local Incumbents Compared to Community-Owned Fiber-Optic Networks
Wonder how our local incumbent providers stack up to the various community-owned fiber-optic networks from around the country? Now you can see the savings for yourself.
Community Broadband and Economic Development
Community Broadband Networks have a very good track record in creating jobs. This fact sheet details where publicly owned network attracted new businesses or helped existing businesses to thrive.
Economic Development Fact Sheet [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Community Broadband and Public Savings
Though schools, libraries, and other community anchors need access to faster, more reliable networks, the big cable and telephone companies have priced those services so high that they are breaking the budget. But when communities create their own connections, affordable high capacity connections aren’t the only benefits.
Public Savings Fact Sheet [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
The Internet is more than just Facebook
This fact sheet provides an overview on how Internet access and fast, affordable, reliable connectivity reaches most aspects of our lives. It provides statistics on economic development, education, and methods of delivering Internet access and is a good introductory tool that points out how Internet access is much more than just social media.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Typical Financing Methods for Community Broadband Networks
When a community decides it needs to establish its own publicly owned network infrastructure, one of the biggest challenges is financing the investment. Each community is unique but three main methods of financing are most popular. This fact sheet offers a quick look at these common approaches and provides real-world examples.
Financing Municipal Networks Fact Sheet [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Creative Financing Methods for Community Broadband Networks
As interest in publicly owned broadband network infrastructure increases, local communities seek new ways to fund municipal networks. Revenue bonds, interdepartmental loans, and avoided costs have been the three most common methods for funding Internet network infrastructure, but local leaders are finding creative approaches to get the job done. In this fact sheet we analyze some new approaches to funding fiber optic infrastructure, pros and cons, and offer some examples.
Creative Funding Sources For Fiber Infrastructure [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Different Community Fiber Network Models
When you think “municipal fiber network,” you may think Chattanooga or Wilson, North Carolina – places where the city utility offers retail services directly to subscribers. That’s only one of several possible models that are emerging as an increasing number of communities use publicly owned assets to improve local connectivity. This fact sheet offers five of the most well known models that local governments are investigating and implementing as they become more self-reliant. Examples and characteristics of each model help illustrate.
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance
Infographics
Market Is Broken
Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) created this infographic to present the evidence showing that the market is broken. This resource also discusses why creating more competition in the current market is such a challenge. An effective way to overcome this broken market, however, is to consider what hundreds of local communities are already doing – investing in publicly owned Internet infrastructure. This infographic offers a few examples of different models, each chosen to suit the communities they serve.
Market Is Broken Infographic [pdf]
Source: Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR)
