News - page 2 | Holland Board of Public Works

17 JUN

Why Fiber Impacts Economic Development

Published 2021-06-17

Holland BPW and the City of Holland view a fiber-to-the-home (FFTH) network that reaches every address as an opportunity to thrive in economic development. Economic development is the process of “improving the economic well-being of a community through efforts that entail job creation, job retention, tax base enhancements and quality of life” (Baller, Hovis, Stelfox, 2016). Through economic development initiatives, local governments work together with the business community to ensure proper infrastructure, housing, opportunities, and amenities are available to create a place where people can flourish.

4 MAY

Why Education Is Affected by Access to Broadband

Published 2021-05-04

Digital divide, term that describes the uneven distribution of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in society. The digital divide encompasses differences in both access (first-level digital divide) and usage (second-level digital divide) of computers and the internet between (1) industrialized and developing countries (global divide), (2) various socioeconomic groups within single nation-states (social divide), and (3) different kinds of users with regard to their political engagement on the internet (democratic divide). In general, those differences are believed to reinforce social inequalities and to cause a persisting information or knowledge gap amid those people with access to and using the new media (“haves”) and those people without (“have-nots”). –Schweitzer

4 MAY

Why Fiber Makes a Difference

Published 2021-05-04

Fiber-optic broadband is the highest quality infrastructure for broadband available. Constructed of tiny transparent fibers, information travels through the cable at the speed of light. The only thing that limits the speed is the technology that is connected to it, making fiber incredibly future-enabling. Fiber also immediately improves speed and reliability. Read more to learn about the benefits of community-owned fiber-to-the-home infrastructure.

3 MAY

The Value of Community-owned Infrastructure

Published 2021-05-03

Holland Board of Public Works is a community-owned utility. That means we are part of the City of Holland and owned by our rate payers. “As a community-owned, not-for-profit entity, Holland BPW turns each dollar our customers spend into the services provided for them,” (Dave Koster, General Manager). We are fully immersed in our community as public service providers and residents—family, friends, neighbors. This results in a culture of community decision-making, competitive rates, and a distinguished reputation for reliability. The value of community-owned infrastructure is clear when we consider electricity, water and wastewater. However, do the benefits translate when we talk about broadband?

1 MAY

The Open Access Model Explained

Published 2021-05-01

We’ve mentioned Open Access Model several times in our #hollandcommunitybroadband blogs. Here’s an article that provides an explanation about what that means.

5 APR

Glossary

Published 2021-04-05

Here’s a list of terms that are helpful to understanding broadband infrastructure. (Next Century Cities. Glossary, 2019)