Ask Mr. Answer Person: "Why can't Decorah create their own high-speed fiber optic network broadband telecommunications system?"

(James e-mails "Dear Mr. Answer Person: A convergence of a number of recent events prompts me to raise the question:  Why can't Decorah create their own high-speed fiber optic network broadband telecommunications system for residential and commercial customers?
 
Just today the FCC ruling allows the establishment of these assets in communities.   President Obama's appearance at the Cedar Falls Utilities featured him speaking about job creation in locations with high bandwidth speeds.  Private individuals enjoy faster downloads at home.  Major cities like Cupertino (Apple), Nashville, Seattle, Tokyo, Seoul all have incredible fiber optic community networks.  The city of Cedar Falls is a poster child for this effort.  Their residents enjoy phenomenal internet speeds.  They have a complete fiber optic network.  Just in recent weeks, the city of Waverly approved the establishment of a community-owned, high-speed fiber-optic network broadband telecommunications system.  But, they're starting from scratch.
 
Decorah already has Metronet, a complete loop of fiber optics that circles the city with 144 fiber optic strands in the loop.  This is a huge system.  The backbone is there already and fully functional.  The current internet options for Decorah are frustrating.
 
What would stand in the way of the city of Decorah creating its own high-speed fiber optic network broadband telecommunications system for residential and commercial customers?"

Mr. Answer Person says: "Actually, it's not quite true that Waverly is "starting from scratch."  They are starting from scratch in terms of installing fiber-optic cable, but they have a city utility that is legally set up to do such a system--and they have public support behind their campaign to set up such a system.

Decorah, on the other hand, has the fiber-optic system already in the ground, as you correctly state, but it has done little on the two other issues.

First of all, if Decorah wanted to to establish a community-owned, high-speed fiber-optic network broadband telecommunications system, they would have to create a legal entity to handle such a project--either a municipal utility, a co-op or a non-profit organization.  That takes time and effort.  The current Metronet system is run by a board made up of representatives from six organizations--it's not set up legally to handle developing such a system.

But the second issue is even more important.  If Decorah establishes a community-owned, high-speed fiber-optic network broadband telecommunications system, it will be because the public demands such a system.  Decorah residents have seen what such a system can do for other communities--how it works to foster economic development and is a good quality-of-life addition.

But Decorah residents have NOT lobbied for high speed fiber optic network for residential and commercial customers.  SOMEONE--or, more correctly, SEVERAL SOMEONES--need to step up to begin such a campaign to convince local governmental leaders that this is something that would greatly benefit Decorah."