Today’s Denver Post features an editorial on FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski’s proposed Internet reclassification regulations. The paper writes:

The FCC needs to keep its hands off the Internet until there is a demonstrated problem, and then take a light-touch approach to regulation. Genachowski's brand of net neutrality ignores two stark realities: The Internet is not free, and it does not have unlimited capacity. It is the wrong approach, and it could have seriously detrimental effects.

In recent months, the FCC has been making noise about reclassifying the transmission component of the Internet, making it a basic utility. The Internet has been one of the great success stories of our lifetime. At this point, there is no need — and significant peril — in government meddling with it too much. If problems arise, that would be the time to contemplate additional controls to ensure fair access for all.

We at Broadband for America couldn’t agree more.  You can read the full Denver Post editorial here. And click here and here to read more recent news about the growing bipartisan opposition to reclassification.

Funds from the national broadband stimulus continue to reach all 50 states in public-private partnerships designed to bring high-speed Internet access to every American home and business. Here is a look at projects getting under way in five more states:

Colorado: Hundreds of local schools are set to be connected to high-speed Internet access with growing support for a $100.6 million broadband expansion project. The project is being led by Eagle-Net, whose stated goal is "to enable access for technology-rich, quality education to every student in all 178 Colorado public school districts via broadband network services." Read more about the project here.

Illinois: $16 million has been allocated for two Chicago groups seeking to expand broadband services. The SmartChicago Sustainable Broadband Adoption program will receive $7 million, while the SmartChicago Public Computer Centers will receive nearly $9 million toward upgrading computer systems at more than 150 locations, including libraries, community colleges and senior centers. Read more about the projects here.

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Today’s announced broadband investments from the White House will bring expanded high-speed access and adoption to all 50 states. Here is a look at some of the specific projects getting underway in conjunction with the new round of public-private investments:

Colorado: $5.2 million will go toward a project in the north-central region of the state, bringing broadband access to about 200 businesses and 1,000 residents through the Nunn Telephone Co. "Expanding Internet access is a 21st-century version of Roosevelt's rural electrification program or Eisenhower's interstate highway system," Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. Read more here.

Massachusetts: $45.4 million will go toward a broadband access project in rural parts of Western Massachusetts. The state will produce $26.2 million in matching funds, to help build more than 1,300 miles of fiber cable, which could reach up to 1 million residents, 44,000 businesses and 700 community centers. The project is expected to create several hundred jobs. “I cannot overstate the value of this project for the communities of Western and North-Central Massachusetts that have gone without reliable high speed broadband service for too long,” Governor Deval L. Patrick said in a statement. Read more here.

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Here is a look at some of the broadband projects across the states that have been recently announced:

Colorado: United Healthcare and Centura Health announced the creation of Connected Care, which will use Health IT  innovations to expand healthcare to four state rural communities. Connected Care will use, “advanced audio, video and medical technologies to link patients with Centura Health's network of physicians hundreds of miles away, have started providing care at Buena Vista Family Practice in Buena Vista, High Plains Community Health Center in Lamar, St. Vincent General Hospital in Leadville and Rio Grande Hospital in Del Norte.” Read more here.

Iowa: The state has released an interactive map of broadband services, which you can read here: “Iowa Gov. Chet Culver said 177 broadband providers offered data used in the mapping project. He said the vast majority of Iowans have access to broadband services, but only 66 percent of residents report using broadband services at home. Connect Iowa and broadband providers will routinely update the map so that policymakers, Internet providers and the public can make informed decisions about broadband investment and expansion, Connected Nation Chief Executive Officer Brian Mefford said.”

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Five more states announced new broadband deployment projects on Tuesday. The new projects will offer high-speed Internet access at community centers, provide job-training classes and create new jobs through the creation of new fiber cable line and other broadband facilities. Here’s a look at the new projects getting underway:

In Colorado: Telecommunications firm Level 3 has been awarded a $13.7 million dollar contract to expand high-speed Internet access to rural and underserved parts of the state. In addition, Level 3 announced they would invest $4.2 million in matching funds for similar projects in California, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Tennessee and Texas.

In Georgia: Columbia County has been awarded a $13.5 million dollar grant to expand broadband access to rural and underserved areas. The project will also build 60 free wireless hotspots in public locations across the county. The project is expected to create new jobs as well, with more than 200 miles of fiber cable and 60 towers being built.

In Nevada: The state has received a $4.7 million grant to expand several Southern Nevada community and senior centers. The project will create or upgrade 29 centers, where visitors would be able to take classes online and take part in job training programs.

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