<div dir="ltr"><div style>Sorta... fun story.</div><div style><br></div><div style><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-owned-network-new-mexico-helps-save-lost-pets">http://muninetworks.org/content/community-owned-network-new-mexico-helps-save-lost-pets</a><br>

</div><div style><br></div><div style><p style="margin:1em 0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px">We recently learned about <a href="http://www.aztecnm.gov/index.html" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Aztec, New Mexico</a>'s, free downtown <a class="" href="http://muninetworks.org/glossary/1#term29" style="text-decoration:none;border-bottom-width:1px;border-bottom-style:dotted;border-bottom-color:rgb(0,136,0);color:rgb(121,80,37)"><cite title="This is a suite of protocols that allow wireless devices to exchange information using unlicensed frequencies.  Equipment carrying the Wi-Fi brand is interoperable.  Recently, a number of cities and some private companies attempted to blanket their cities with Wi-Fi but the technology is not well suited to such large scale efforts.  Wi-Fi has proved tremendously successful in homes and businesses on small cities.">Wi-Fi</cite></a>  so we decided to contact Wallace Begay, the IT Director, to find out more. This desert community of about 6,600 people not only offers the free service, but uses its fiber to serve government, schools, and even four-legged residents.</p>

<p style="margin:1em 0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px">Begay tells us that in 1998 the city and school system coordinated to install the original fiber and the entities share ownership. The school wanted better, affordable connectivity for students while the city wanted economic development opportunities. Community leaders used E-rate funding and a Gates Foundation grant to construct the original fiber aerial route.</p>

<p style="margin:1em 0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px">The town provides water, wastewater, and electric services through municipal utilities with its SCADA system. The public library and all ten <a href="http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aztecschools.com%2F&ei=3fqDUbiWAovyyAHTjoGQCw&usg=AFQjCNHWsFHV6A1Sbw_8J9Zo77xYUpIJPQ&bvm=bv.45960087,d.aWc" style="color:rgb(121,80,37);text-decoration:none">Aztec Municipal School</a> facilities connect to the fiber network. Municipal government facilities also use the network.</p>

<p style="margin:1em 0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px">....</p><p style="margin:1em 0px;color:rgb(0,0,0);font-family:Verdana,Tahoma,'DejaVu Sans',sans-serif;font-size:14px;line-height:18px">

</p><div style="color:rgb(34,34,34);font-family:arial;font-size:small;line-height:normal"><a href="http://muninetworks.org/content/community-owned-network-new-mexico-helps-save-lost-pets">http://muninetworks.org/content/community-owned-network-new-mexico-helps-save-lost-pets</a><br>

</div><div><br></div><p></p></div><br clear="all"><div>Christopher Mitchell<br>Director, Telecommunications as Commons Initiative<br>Institute for Local Self-Reliance<div><br><a href="http://www.muninetworks.org" target="_blank">http://www.muninetworks.org</a><br>

<div>@communitynets</div><div>612-276-3456 x209</div></div></div>
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