HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 5031 Declaring Broadband as Essential Infrastructure G
RESOLUTION NO. 5031
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF BOZEMAN,
MONTANA, DECLARING BROADBAND ESSENTIAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN THE
CITY OF BOZEMAN, MONTANA.
WHEREAS, the term "broadband" commonly refers to high-speed Internet access that is
always on and significantly faster than traditional dial-up accessl.
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission defines "broadband" as having a
minimum of 25 Mbps download, and 3 Mbps upload speeds2.
WHEREAS, "essential infrastructure" is a term used by federal, state and local
governments and includes assets, systems, and networks, whether physical or virtual, so vital that
their incapacitation or destruction would have a debilitating effect on security, national economic
security, public health or safety, or any combination thereof. Key Resources are publicly or
privately controlled resources essential to the minimal operations of the economy and government;
also referred to as "critical infrastructure"3.
r "Types of Broadband Connections."Federal Communications Commission, Updated: Monday,June 23,
2014. https://www.fcc.gov/general/types-broadband-connections.
2"FCC Broadband Definition Has Changed Before and Will Change Again."Broadband Now, Updated:
February 10, 2018. https:/ibroadbandnow.com/report/fcc-broadband-definition/.
3 "Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources."Federal Emergency Management Administration,
Accessed: April 3,2019. https:Hemilms.fema.gov/IS520/PAN0101400text.htm.
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Resolution 5031,Declaring Broadband as Essential City Infrastructure
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission has identified universal
availability of affordable broadband access for all citizens as a national priority4; and
WHEREAS, community broadband networks are essential for education, healthcare,
market competition, consumer choice, economic development, and universal, affordable Internet
access nationwide; and
WHEREAS, the economic health of municipalities depends on public and private
investment to connect their communities; and
WHEREAS, many municipal governments consider broadband to be a critical form of
infrastructure, and more than 750 communities have therefore made significant investments in
publicly-owned broadband infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, in the vast majority of community broadband networks built to date, the
private sector has been involved in helping design, build, and operate the network—creating new
business opportunities and jobs in the process; and
WHEREAS,to compete successfully in an increasingly global environment,the Bozeman
community should take advantage of all of the technological solutions that high-speed broadband
access and community fiber optic networks offer; and
WHEREAS, sufficient broadband infrastructure has become increasingly necessary to
support many forms of federal, state and local governmental infrastructure around the world,from
smart-meter electrical grids, to connected traffic management networks, to sensor-enabled water
and sewer systems and Bozeman is part of this global trend; and
WHEREAS, robust broadband is needed to support the deployment of advances in smart
city technologies, as well as autonomous and unmanned vehicles and systems; and
4"National Broadband Plan". Federal Communication Commission,Accessed: April 3, 2019.
https://www.fcc.gov/general/national-broadband-plan.
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Resolution 5031,Declaring Broadband as Essential City Infrastructure
WHEREAS, in-home broadband access has been shown to increase home values by 3%,
and up to 7.1% at higher speedss, and to boost economic and entrepreneurial activity within
communities who gain access to widely available broadband; and
WHEREAS, the Internet is changing how humans interact with each other and with the
world at large, as well as providing innovation for the current and future economy; and
WHEREAS, the Internet creates opportunity for increased innovation for consumers,
businesses, and government; and
WHEREAS, countries, states, and cities that prioritize and provide access to advanced
Internet infrastructure such as broadband are surpassing those that do not in terms of social,
economic, and knowledge development; and
WHEREAS, broadband infrastructure has become an economic necessity for Bozeman,
driving education, healthcare, public safety, economic growth, and governmental operating
efficiency in a 21 st century economy; and
WHEREAS, in 2013 pursuant to Commission Resolution 4434, the City of Bozeman
supported the Broadband Steering Committee in their efforts to bring fast, reliable and affordable
broadband Internet services to the region in furtherance of the City's economic development goals;
and
WHEREAS, in 2015 pursuant to Commission Resolution 4576, the City of Bozeman
adopted the Bozeman Fiber Master Plan and Feasibility Study and provided policy direction to
staff to incorporate elements of the Bozeman Fiber Master Plan and Feasibility Study into the
Downtown and Midtown Urban Renewal District plans; and
5 Knutson,Ryan. "How Fast Internet Affects Home Prices." Wall Street Journal, June 30, 2015.
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Resolution 5031,Declaring Broadband as Essential City Infrastructure
WHEREAS, in 2015, the Bozeman City Commission adopted priorities which included
implementation of the Bozeman Fiber Master Plan and Feasibility Study; and
WHEREAS, in 2015 pursuant to Commission Resolution 4596 the City Manager filed
articles of incorporation with the Montana Secretary of State creating the entity, Bozeman Fiber
as a 501(c)4 community benefit non-profit corporation.
WHEREAS, in 2016 Bozeman Fiber constructed a twenty-three (23) mile high-speed,
high-capacity, redundant, middle-mile fiber optic network in Bozeman; and
WHEREAS, to date, the City of Bozeman and its urban renewal districts have invested
$1.08 million dollars in public conduit; and
WHEREAS, reliable, high-speed, redundant, affordable access to the Internet is
imperative for Bozeman residents,businesses,non-profit organizations, and visitors; and
WHEREAS,broadband is considered essential infrastructure that contributes to the social
and economic health of Bozeman and as essential, as water, sewer, stormwater, streets and
electricity infrastructure.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Commission of the City of
Bozeman, Montana, that broadband is designated as essential infrastructure in the City of
Bozeman; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Bozeman
encourages both the public and private sector to consider the installation of fiber optic conduit
where appropriate, including public facilities and private residential and commercial construction,
to facilitate fiber optic deployment, network expansion and increased community connectivity;
and
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Resolution 5031,Declaring Broadband as Essential City Infrastruchu•e
NOW, THEREFORE,BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City of Bozeman will;
1) create and implement a conduit utility master plan and begin the transition for operating the
conduit system as its own enterprise fund; 2) include a conduit design and construction standard
as part of the City's approved engineering standards; 3) maintain updated record drawings and
GIS mapping of the City-owned conduit network; 4) consider the expansion of the existing City-
owned fiber optic conduit network infrastructure when appropriate and when funding is available;
5)utilize conduit lease revenue for the purchase of additional public conduit; and 6) align conduit
network expansion decisions with the City Budget and Capital Improvement Plans and planning
processes.
PASSED, ADOPTED, AND APPROVED by the City Commission of the City of
Bozeman,Montana, at a regular session thereof held on the 15th day of April, 2019.
ICYN
HIA . ANDR S
or
ATTEST:
�. •� '<
ROBIN CROUGH4d •
City Clerk ,U �,�,�, ` ;Q
..APPR VED AS TO ORM:
GRE LIVAN
City Attorney
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