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Some time ago, City Councilor Ian Cain proposed that the City study the possibility of creating its own broadband fiber optic network as a way to provide a new competitive option for our residents and in the process dramatically improve access to the Internet. Working together, my office and Councilor Cain have spent the last several months performing a preliminary review of what would be required, and today we’re ready to take the concept to the next step. That means engaging you, our community, to measure interest in a City-operated fiber optic network.

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It’s one of the questions I hear most often: why don’t we have more options for Internet access in Quincy? This is our potential answer. But we can only move forward if there is a critical mass of residents willing to participate. You will be receiving a hard copy of a survey gauging your interest in the annual City Census in early in 2020 or you can answer the questions online here - https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QuincyFiber.

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Reliable Internet is critical infrastructure – no different than electricity or water. Creating a City owned and operated fiber optic network would treat it as such. We are in the beginning stages of this process, but the potential benefits driving the concept and our work include:

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Substantially lowering the cost of Internet access for residents and businesses. Significantly increasing the speed and reliability of Internet access. Providing competition and giving residents multiple options for Internet Service Providers on demand in real time. The creation of a state-of-the-art network that will improve economic development and foster innovation.

In the coming months, the City will develop a full feasibility study and business plan for the creation of the fiber optic network. We’ll be sharing more information and answering your questions via this website, community meetings, and a series of other outreach efforts.

I wish to thank Councilor Cain for his leadership on this incredibly innovative concept, and very much look forward to seeing where this process leads us together as a community.