HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-15-2014 Dehlendorf, Fiber InitiativeDear Commissioners –
I would like to this opportunity to let you know how important the Bozeman Fiber Master Plan is to the
community at large and the ability to attract value-added businesses to Bozeman that require reliable
high speed internet access. As you know many communities in the Rocky Mountain region are vying to
attract businesses to their areas, and one component to that decision is internet access. By having high-
speed fiber optic service this allows many of these companies to have a global presence here in
Bozeman. Case in point is Sitka Gear, a division of the W.L Gore, which has offices in 30 countries and
now here in Bozeman. One criteria for them to locate in our Cannery District project at Oak & Rouse was
having fiber optic service available, which is more the standard for them. While this was not a deciding
factor for them relocating to Bozeman, it was a value added part of our pitch to them. But, the challenge
was getting it installed and the associated costs with it. They could justify it given their IT requirements
and financial strength, but many other companies could not do the same today. And now we are
embarking on an ambitious phased development plan where many of the users looking at our project
are asking the same question, is fiber available. Those alternatives are not the reliable providers that
many of these tech companies need and expect when looking at office locations in and around
Bozeman. We would like to continue to offer this option to our user base, and ideally as an affordable
option to the alternatives. We have already taken the initial steps to see if we can be one of the first
developments in town to have a fiber network incorporated in the master site plan. In this day and age
fiber is becoming more of a standard for communities like ours and we believe Bozeman is ready to
embrace it along with the Cannery District.
Thanks,
Scott
______________________________________
cannery district partners, llc
scott dehlendorf
o. 406-522-7449
m. 406-581-9877
e. scott@cannerydistrict.com www.cannerydistrict.com