Petition for Syracuse Municipal Broadband Network

Our local communications infrastructure is crucial to the social, economic, and democratic health of our community. It is equal in importance to our public roads, schools, and utility services. As technology has progressed, the capacity and diversity of services our cable system provides has increased dramatically, and will continue to increase rapidly. Over time we will become evermore connected, reliant, and dependent on our communications network. We are foolish if we, as a community, do not take the lead in securing public control of, and access to, our communications network.

I support establishing a municipal telecommunications utility in Syracuse to provide: cable TV, internet, telephone, and other network services at the lowest possible cost. 

We should building a state-of-the-art network for Syracuse, and extend the service with city-wide wireless access for everyone.

What we have to gain:

Savings: cheaper broadband, cable, telephone; smart meter energy savings; savings through consolidation of the city phone, data, meter, bus and traffic, ect into one system.

Options: job options, telemedicine, e-government services, net neutrality, distance education.

General: all residents and business will feel the economic benefit of city wide wireless making the whole city a “hot spot.”  The internet has brought alternative news streams to millions, but the “digital divide” prevents much of the public from seeing outside of the corporate controlled mainstream media.  Bridging this divide will restore democracy, integrity, and transparency to media and government.  The wireless network will attract artists, entrepreneurs, and people looking to live affordably.

Now is the time. 

The current cable franchise agreement is up for renewal.  The agreement gives the City the rare opportunity to purchase Time Warner Cable (TWC) cable system.  Federal law dictates a number of constraints on selling price, so the city may be able to purchase it well below market value.

7.2 billion dollars of stimulus money have been allocated to “close the digital divide,” with public/private partnership networks targeted to receive the funds. 

The telecom and cable companies are working at the state level to further deprive municipalities of their right to bargain with incoming networks. We must act before we are forced into a statewide franchise.

Cable service is a very profitable enterprise financing could easily be obtained by issuing municipal bonds.  Government grants could lower the build-out cost facilitating: universal access, lower subscription prices, and increase the revenue for PEG channels, public access studio(s), and local programming.

We could save millions of dollars every year.