Over the past few years, we provided continuing coverage as Longmont, Colorado, considered, and eventually approved, a referendum (two actually) to authorize the municipality to offer broadband services to local businesses and residents. The City installed the fiber as part of its electricity utility infrastructure long ago but Qwest then pushed a law through the state legislature limiting how it could be used. After two referendums and an expensive Comcast astroturf campaign, the residents supported Ballot Measure 2A in November, 2011. The City can now use the fiber network to spur economic development.
Longmont Power and Communications (LPC) recently held two meetings to field responses from the residents and local businesses. Results of the meetings, and an online survey, keep the community informed and will help decide several key elements to the roll-out plan. Scott Rochat of the TimesCall.com, reported on the July 16th meeting, focused on resident reaction. Longmont has some distinct advantages, that Jordan shared:
“We are unique in what we already have in place and what we can do with what we have in place,” [Vince] Jordan, [LPC Telecom Manager] told a crowd of 43 at the Longmont Civic Center on Monday.
What’s in place is an 18-mile fiber-optic loop that the city can now offer services on, thanks to a 2011 ballot issue. About 1,280 businesses sit within 500 feet of the fiber network; at least 1,100 homes already have the conduit and junction box that would let them join.
The meeting and the survey indicate a strong desire have the network up and functioning ASAP. From the article:
An online survey at ci.longmont.co.us/lpc/tc/index.htm (which so far has gotten about 152 responses) found that given the choice, 63 percent wanted citywide service “immediately,” while 21 percent said they’d settle for whenever the city could get it done.
The proportions were similar at Monday’s meeting: 57 percent for immediately, 17 percent for whenever it could be done, and another 17 percent for a two-year timespan.
“My feeling is, get it done, whatever it takes,” said one man who voted for “whenever it can be done.”
We spoke with Jordan, who mentioned a similar enthusiasm from the business community. On Friday, July 20th, LPC held a meeting to hear comments from potential business customers. Jordan said talks with local business leaders continue to uncover “more need, desire, and want for higher and higher broadband in the commercial sector.” Tony Kindelspire of the TimesCall.com covered the meeting (reprinted here on TMCNet.com):
Nearly 1,300 Longmont businesses are within 500 feet of the city’s existing fiber-optic lines, and they likely would be some of the first customers to lease that fiber, once Longmont Power & Communications gets the go-ahead from the City Council to begin leasing it.
The plan, currently being developed, should be presented to the City Council in August.
Jordan let us know that residents and businesses can take the online survey until August 10th, at which time the results will be tallied and posted online. Interim results will be posted within the next day or two.
“This is an exciting time,” said Jordan, “Folks are very keen to move as quickly as the City can move.”