In an editorial today the Times-Call, Longmont's local newspaper, came out in favor of allowing Longmont to re-establish its right to use its pre-built fiber-optic ring.
Their leader - tempered with thoughtful conditions (We expect a solid plan, due diligence, excellent communication with residents and public comment on any telecom proposal the city comes up with...) makes it clear that the time for the City to use its resource is now.
"Opponents of 2A, two years ago and today, point to municipal broadband and telecom efforts in other cities that have failed or not lived up to promises. However, we're no longer convinced that any of those examples are relevant to Longmont."
The T-C has clearly seen that across the country, fiber-optic rings are being deployed - at huge cost to some communities - because the benefits can be enormous. In OUR community, there is no cost - the ring already exists - and so there is less risk, less delay, and more opportunity.
"Another major argument of the opposition is that the city doesn't have a plan for how it will use its fiber-optic network if it regains the ability to provide services... that worried us two years ago, too. But the city has done a good job of enumerating the ways it could use its fiber-optic network, and its assurances are, well, reassuring. And we would be less inclined to endorse 2A if the city didn't have a solid track record of providing other utilities -- notably water and electricity -- and being fiscally responsible over many decades."
This vote of confidence in our local utilities is shared by the members of our community. Almost everybody I have talked to has the utmost respect and admiration for the work that Longmont Power & Communications performs. So - messages pouring in from candidates supporting 2A... the local newspaper... the local people...
Seems like Comcast is on its own, this time.
