HomeMy WebLinkAboutConstituent Letter - Read Before Packet - 8/8/2017 - Letter From David May, Fort Collins Area Chamber Of Commerce, Re: Ordinance No. 101, 2017: Proposed Charter Amendment To Add A New Section To Charter Article Xii Pertaining To Telecommunication FaciliAugust 7, 2017
Fort Collins City Council
300 LaPorte Ave.
Fort Collins, CO 80521
Dear Mayor Troxell, Mayor-Pro Tem Horak and Council Members Cunniff, Martinez,
Overbeck, Stephens and Summers;
The Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce encourages the Council to delay action on the
First Reading of Ordinance No. 101, 2017: Proposed Charter Amendment to Add a New
Section to Charter Article XII Pertaining to Telecommunication Facilities and Services/
It is important to note that we are supportive of the goal of fast and affordable access to the
internet and we believe a connected community has an economic advantage over those with no
or limited access to high-speed internet. However, at this time we are not supportive of
municipal broadband because there are too many unanswered questions.
There are still important questions that have not been answered before you ask voters to
change the charter to allow for municipally-owned broadband:
• Are you really ready to make this decision? The basic assumptions and data keep
changing so you can’t confidently tell utility customers what the costs and risks will be.
• What problem exists that requires changing the City Charter to add a whole new utility
service and one in such a high risk competitive space? This needs to be explained.
• What’s the business case for doing this? Anecdotal evidence and statements have been
offered about the importance of this to the economy and business, but where’s the data?
• Proponents cite business competitiveness as a reason for this investment, yet the 1 Gig
service for business is priced at an uncompetitive $599.95 a month.
• What needs and opportunities in Light & Power will go unaddressed because we are
giving up all of our bonding capacity for this project?
• The City has identified the risks of this model, but has not adequately explained how it
will mitigate them in a competitive environment where is has zero experience.
This is too important to rush. The prudent thing would be to take more time.
Sincerely,
Fort Collins Area Chamber of Commerce
David May
President & CEO
cc: Darin Atteberry, Mike Becksted
Aug. 8, 2017
Council Agenda Item #2