I asked the Rochester city council and mayoral candidates the following broadband question:

Affordable, world-class broadband is a critical need for our 21st century community, supporting education, the economy, and social interaction. But many students, low-income families, small businesses, and other community members are concerned about high costs, inadequate speeds, lack of competition, loss of net neutrality, and other issues. If elected, what actions do you think the city should take to ensure that all Rochester residents and businesses have access to affordable, world-class broadband?

Candidates were sent the question and given 18 days to respond. Periodic reminders were sent if a candidate did not respond within a certain time period.

Here are the candidate responses:

Mayor

Kim Norton:

I agree that just about everybody wants access to dependable, affordable high-speed broadband service. As mayor, I would look at current and future city policies with an eye toward improving access, increasing competition and making the service more affordable. This has been a difficult issue because it’s expensive to build out the new infrastructure necessary to compete with our current cable service. Additionally, policies such as requiring every resident to have equal access in a short period of time, coupled with our geography and size, make fiber/infrastructure complicated to install. I was pleased to see the city council making policy changes to address some of the barriers. That’s a good start. The city also could look carefully at contract language when renewing existing contracts and issuing new ones to assure fairness. As a legislator, I supported high speed broadband across the state and worked to pass bills that would increase access to areas most lacking because of the educational and economic disadvantage such absence can cause. Rochester is a world-class city. We should lead the effort to find innovative ways to offer competitive high-speed internet beyond the current system, which primarily limits choice to businesses or those living outside the city limits.

Charlie O’Connell:

(Candidate did not respond.)

Ward 1

Heather Holmes:

Municipal Broadband is a complicated subject. First, there are questions regarding municipal authority versus state and federal authority. Second, technology changes rapidly; just ask anyone with a smart phone and an almost mandatory upgrade every two years. A recent study of municipal fiber in the United States stated that model estimates of a hypothetical project would take 109 years to recover the median adjusted project cost. A project of this magnitude would estimate between $60-100 million (money the City does not have). Factor in the rapid rate of change in technology (smart phone reference) and the inability of city staff to outwork the private sector and I have serious concerns of the viability of municipally controlled broadband.

Patrick Keane:

Over the past two years, I have participated in many local broadband education sessions and public/private discussions that try to clearly state the main issues with internet access in our community. The main issues of high costs products and un-competitive offerings come from a lack of competition in our local marketplace. I support the recent council actions of a) setting broadband goals, b) changing cable franchising policies, and c) building fiber infrastructure into our many current public works projects. To be a community with excellent technology access for all, Rochester must invest in policies and practices that drive a competitive broadband market.

Ward 3

Nick Campion:

As an early employee of a successful technology start-up and now the director of a group of distributed employees, my experience is that a high quality and reliable internet service defines one’s ability to compete in most modern markets. Rochester must continue to make every effort to provide an ecosystem that drives a competitive broadband market. A first class city like Rochester needs world class services to lay a foundation for its economic success. I’ll continue to take the steps necessary to achieve that goal.

Arlo Kroening:

I do support a more competitive option to our city’s internet services. I know as a parent to 16 year old daughter that internet is a necessity to her education. I am not a rich man but I can afford the services out there right now but I can only hope that there is a way to get internet to all residents. I’ve said in all my debates that the kids are our future and this is a tool that all need. I do not agree on the limited amount of choices we have for the services though.thsnks so much!

Ward 5

Judy Hickey:

Broadband infrastructure and reliable access are important for internet and cable television service for the Rochester community. Many view broadband as a public utility, even though it is not regulated as a public utility by federal law. Broadband is an essential part of our daily lives, affecting work, education, and entertainment. September 2018 — MetroNet, an Indiana-based cable company, has filed an application to construct a high speed fiber optic cable system throughout the city of Rochester. The City Council has approved the company’s initial application. The application indicates MetroNet would begin to offer service within a year of initial construction and within an additional two years expand throughout the city. Rochester has around 30 Internet companies providing some degree of service and coverage, with Charter Spectrum being the largest. MetroNet is proposing service levels to compete with Charter Spectrum. In 2016, Rochester studied and estimated the cost at $67 million for the city to provide municipal broadband. Adopting municipal broadband to increase competition and service would be problematic after completing the cost-benefit analysis against two major companies competing for customers within the City of Rochester. A dollar spent on broadband is one dollar not spent on roads, schools or public safety. Action should be taken to ensure that companies are providing a base level of affordable internet access necessary to address service equity.

Shaun Palmer:

After reading your question and talking with some people, There is not a lot the City can do, I would like to see more providers in our area, I use Century Link, Because Charter does a poor Job. I do not see the City getting into the Internet Business, But, I see us helping make it a level playing field for people coming into the our area. IF your group would like to sit down and discuss this that would be great, Let me know what would work for you.

The upcoming election is an important one for the future of broadband in our community. Please engage the candidates in further discussions of this critical issue and encourage them to support actions to ensure that all residents and businesses have access to affordable, world-class broadband.