"Do Not Pass Go" Documentary Screening

Join us for a screening of the documentary "Do Not Pass Go," followed by a facilitated discussion of the challenges of broadband Internet access in Athens County.The documentary “Do Not Pass Go” features the city of Wilson, North Carolinaand neighboring Pinetops. After Wilson’s repeated requests for improved
broadband were denied by the big cable company, they built their own
fiber-optic network. Time Warner Cable and other big monopoly companies
spent more than $1 million in lobbying to convince North Carolina to ban
such networks. Nonetheless, Wilson’s Greenlight municipal fiber network has
achieved all of its goals and then some, bringing jobs to the community,
lowering bills, and meeting all its debt obligations.
This film explores one avenue for communities to improve their Internet
access-- building and operating a citywide network offering Internet access
directly to all residents and businesses. It also explores the lengths that
opponents of municipal networks -- especially the largest cable and
telephone companies-- will go to.