Headed to a vote: November 3rd set as date for referendum on establishing a municipal communications utility in the City of Decorah

Decorah Fast Fiber, a ballot issue campaign committee, on Monday night presented petitions with 662 signatures calling for a November 3rd vote on whether the city should establish a communications utility.

Group spokesperson Jim Fritz called it "a progressive move for the future," saying it would help Decorah by providing Internet service that was more reliable and locally controlled and maintained.

Fritz said getting high-speed broadband into Decorah would be the equivalent of creating "a virtual industrial park."

Decorah business owner Ross Hadley agreed.  One of his businesses, Open Decorah, provides office space and high speed Internet connections to over 200 customers each month.  But he noted that he spends over $350 a month--over $4,000 a year--to provide Internet access.  Decorah needs high speed access, Haley argued.

The Decorah City Council approved setting a referendum for November 3rd by a 4-1 margin, with Randy Schissel dissenting.  City council members also argued about a resolution to spend up to $4,000 for outside legal counsel for the communications utility referendum.  Council member Tade Kerndt argued that Decorah Fast Fiber should pay for those legal costs.  Assistant City Attorney John Anderson said the field of communications law is highly specialized and most Iowa communities have hired outside counsel to handle legal questions in this field.  The city council voted 4-1 to approve the spending, with Kerndt the dissenting vote.