Gigi Sohn Discusses Defeat of Public Broadband in Longmeadow and Future Strategies
Gigi Sohn, executive director of the American Association for Public Broadband (AAPB), recently discussed the defeat of a public broadband initiative in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The town's proposal to establish a community-owned fiber network was rejected following a vote influenced by a campaign led by Mass Priorities, a group linked to the cable industry. This campaign, described as a 'dark money' effort, spread misinformation to sway public opinion against the project. Despite this setback, similar initiatives have succeeded in other towns, such as Bountiful, Utah, where grassroots support played a crucial role. Sohn emphasized the importance of early community engagement and strategic planning to counteract opposition from well-funded industry groups. 
