This is the complete talk I gave to the Spokane City Council on February 26th 2018 regarding the benefits of Municipal Broadband. I ran out of time, so they didn’t hear it entirely, but I think at around 50% in, you get the gist.
First off, as a member of the local technology community, business community, and head of the Inland Northwest Technologists, I want to praise the council for taking the time to consider the possibilities that Municipal Broadband will bring to our city. Spending the energy to research community growth opportunities is the basis of a well-run system and proves our government is responsible and open to new ideas.
Building a workgroup of passionate minds from around our community, it shows the intent to actively seek out information that will determine whether the costs of Municipal Broadband outweigh the benefits, or if the endeavor is even feasible. The best part is that this brain trust costs the taxpayers absolutely nothing.
The Council is researching the opportunity to take control of the fiber network that the taxpayers have already invested in. To enhance, improve, and offer a service that benefits the community financially. We rarely find ourselves in a position to garner a reasonable return on the infrastructure that has been in the ground and above our streets for decades.
Moreover, much like the water department is accountable to the public and does not raise water rates unreasonably, those running our community network would be accountable to the public. If the community offered subsidized connections to those living below the poverty line, they could do that. We could do that more than a few community channels or increase the broadband speed. If it wanted to provide free service to all of the schools, libraries, and government institutions, it could do that, and save assumingly tens of thousands of dollars if not more.
In communities similar to ours, and there are many, the local government or public power utility has a department that provides these services. In others, the network is only open to private service providers who compete for customers on equal terms. Some cities have even used a hybrid approach where the city offers services and non-discriminatory wholesale access to other providers and competes against them.
That’s the point of doing research and creating a working group. To find opportunities that benefit everyone in our community, not just a few massive telecommunications companies, not one side of the political playing field or the other, but the community.
The private sector aims to maximize profit and shareholder value, primarily in the short term. At the same time, the public sector maximizes social benefit and focuses on the long term. They don’t have to advertise or answer to Wall Street.
Understanding these differences in important to understanding why infrastructure has historically been owned or closely regulated by the public sector. Frankly if GM owning the roads; they would find it quite profitable to ban competing car companies or force them to pay more to access the same roads.
But there’s an argument that we often hear; statements like “the government should not compete with the private sector” this thinking ignores the many ways in which we already accept important government services that “compete” with the private sector. Libraries might take customers from bookstores. The Police forces compete with private sector security guards. Or even the Postal Service competes with Fedex and UPS.
This is a discussion we need to have about our infrastructure and our community. Should the private sector control our infrastructure and destiny? Shouldn’t small businesses have the opportunity to try and utilize the lines that we as citizens paid for? Our broadband network is a 21st century infrastructure that will allow this city to move into the economic future with minimal effort.
When Eisenhower decided to push the Interstate system, it was not with the idea that everyone would have to use it. However, business and government functions were greatly improved by this massive infrastructure project. Over time, more and more people recognized its value and shared the understanding that their tax dollars go to improving that system at every level.
Even further, in our underserved communities, those who can’t afford even the most basic service can experience a reasonable service even if they don’t have a physical location or the means to pay the current setup rates and costly prices they have now.
The fact of the matter is that we need more choices and more control. Two service providers in this city monopolize the market. As a community, we own this infrastructure and require a certain level of service. We demand fast, affordable, internet that’s available to everyone at every place in their lives.
And to the naysayers, this isn’t experimental. [Data exits]. Many cities that have successfully implemented their internet service, either publicly or through public-private partnerships, have seen 10x times the speed we get in Spokane now. Because of this, the growth of industries excluded in our region will boom. Data Centers, call centers, manufacturing, startups, and every other level of business that utilizes technology will grow. We will receive offerings from businesses that want to move into places like ours that offer an incredible lifestyle and tech infrastructure unlike anything else in our state.
It’s about as aggressive an economic motivator as you can get when you count the tax revenue, entry-level jobs, construction, and reduced unemployment that comes with it.
This is an opportunity to shape our future through the democratic process. To form a team to discuss and think about the ramifications and impact of taking over our infrastructure. To grow and express our independence and power over our destiny.
Without question, it’s a win-win for everyone.
Thank you
