Citizens for Heights Municipal Broadband
Community-driven ISP: Net Neutral, Revenue Neutral, Fast, Accessible, Affordable
Citizens for Heights Municipal Broadband
Community-driven ISP: Net Neutral, Revenue Neutral, Fast, Accessible, Affordable

CALL TO ACTION

10/22/2018, Cleveland Heights Safety and Municipal Services Committee: “Staff’s recommendation is to proceed with feasibility study.” – See RFP

OUR CURRENT GOAL IS TO SEEK A COUNCIL RESOLUTION TO PAY FOR A FEASIBILITY STUDY SO THAT WE HAVE THE DATA TO DETERMINE IF MUNICIPAL BROADBAND IS RIGHT FOR CLEVELAND HEIGHTS.

Call To Action

We believe that Cleveland Heights could benefit from a net neutral, revenue neutral municipal broadband utility. This call to action is a request for citizens to ask the city to fund a feasibility study, at a cost of $50,000-$85,000, to analyze the cost and methods in provisioning and maintenance of this utility.

A similar study was conducted by Shaker Heights and Hudson.

How Can I Help?

  • Consider sending a friendly email to Cleveland Heights City Council in support of this initiative: clevelandheightscouncil@clvhts.com
  • Share this website with neighbors.
  • Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

What Will Be In The Feasibility Study?

The feasibility analysis will be conducted to meet the following requirements:

  • A municipal fiber network to provide Internet access to all residential, commercial and industrial premises in Cleveland Heights at speeds capable of a least 1 Gigabit per Second (1 Gbps), with the capacity to increase in the future as the definition of high speed or broadband changes.
  • Analysis to include only one approach to financing and operating the fiber network limited to public development and ownership.

Cost Estimates must include:

  • Hard and soft costs related to construction, including permitting and environmental review.
  • The cost of operating and maintaining the network.

Potential financing sources are to be identified including but not limited to:

  • The City issuing bonds.
  • State and federal grants.
  • Philanthropic contributions.
  • Retail bonds to allow buy-in from residents.

The final report must provide an analysis of fiber network implementation in other cities and an assessment of the socioeconomic benefits of low-cost access to the Internet through fiber networks. Read the reports conducted by Shaker Heights and Hudson.

Why Revenue Neutral?

By removing the profit motive and having a public utility, a not-for-profit municipal broadband service:

  • Provides equitable internet access for everyone in our community.
    • Khan Academy and other online learning tools for children at home after school.
    • Telecommuting jobs.
  • Helps safeguard privacy and internet neutrality.

These benefits may indirectly support:

  • Attracting new businesses and strengthen existing ones.
  • Attracting and retaining residents.
  • Supporting principles of a free and democratic society.
  • Could be used by public services, such as the school system, the library system, and police and fire departments.

Who Else is Doing This?

There are many successful rollouts in other municipalities. Services were built and maintained using public funds, run as utilities, and attract large buy-in from residents and businesses. Below are just a few examples: