Atteberry: City to take broadband question to voters

City Council and I regularly hear from residents and businesses about the critical importance of reliable, high-speed Internet service. During the last budget cycle, council funded a project to explore broadband services and community desire for broadband options in Fort Collins.

Broadband fiber-optic cable typically runs as a dedicated, underground connection. It is reliable, fast and can carry large amounts of data over long distances. The city currently owns or has rights to many miles of underground conduit and unused fiber that could be made available for the benefit of the community.

Fort Collins has a tech-savvy culture and a strong economic, education and research base that could benefit from increased broadband speed and affordable rates. Investing in community broadband could contribute to greater innovation by local businesses and entrepreneurs, and increase our ability to retain companies that require this level of service.

It could lead to new opportunities for public engagement and creative networking. And a more connected community would allow for partnerships with other organizations to ensure that everyone in Fort Collins has access and is empowered to participate and innovate.

The first step in instituting any sort of community broadband initiative is to allow Fort Collins voters to weigh in on Colorado Senate Bill 05-152 (SB-152). This measure was passed by the Colorado Legislature in 2005 and removed local rights for government involvement in telecommunication services, including prohibiting providing free Wi-Fi hot spots, directly providing broadband as a utility, or entering into public-private partnerships to provide service.

However, voters may choose to exempt themselves from SB-152, and have done so in many Colorado communities, including Centennial, Boulder, Longmont, Cherry Hills Village and Estes Park. Many other U.S. states and countries also allow local governments to be actively involved in providing broadband services.

Later this month, City Council will consider placing a measure on the November ballot to ask Fort Collins voters if they would like to exempt themselves from the restrictions of SB-152.

It’s important to note that voting yes on this issue would not commit the city to providing broadband service in Fort Collins, nor does it mean that we would have such service available immediately. It does mean that we have potential for innovative solutions. Most importantly, the ballot measure means that you would have a choice in what services your municipal government explores.

The city is hosting a broadband open house from 6 to 7 p.m. July 16 in the Community Room at 215 N. Mason St. If you are interested in learning more about SB-152 and broadband options in Fort Collins, I hope you’ll attend.

Darin Atteberry is the Fort Collins city manager. He can be reached at 970-221-6505 or datteberry@fcgov.com.