After months of studies and community surveys exploring both residential and business concerns, the town of Erie, CO is gradually moving toward a decision about the expansion of broadband or cellular service in the area. The town recently commissioned a $65,000 study from consulting firm Vantage Point Solutions to determine how residents would prefer to grow the town’s broadband system. While broadband service has been the primary focus of initial discussions, many residents support commissioning a feasibility study into investing in towers or other wireless infrastructure to improve cell service, according to the Daily Camera.
Any expansions or improvements are contingent on the residents of Erie to join neighboring cities Lafayette and Superior in voting to opt out of SB-152, a 2005 law which prevents local governments from building their own broadband networks.
Should Erie vote to opt-out of SB-152, the city will consider options for broadband enhancements modeled in nearby Longmont, where city-operated “fiber-to-the-home” service NextLight has enjoyed success. According to the Daily Camera, Vantage Point Solutions, a similar network, which would cover all homes and businesses at speeds of up to 1 gbps, is not recommended for Erie, where residential areas already report above-average satisfaction with broadband service.
The report suggests that a broadband system that serves schools, libraries, and government buildings, or “middle-mile network” would be most effective, but Erie’s business community has the highest demand for increased bandwidth, according to the Daily Camera. For this reason, a partial FTTP network, which would pinpoint broadband deficiencies and improve access in specific neighborhoods, is also an option for the city to consider. In the next several weeks, officials will determine whether to include a ballot initiative opting out of SB-152 in the spring election.
Published January 17, 2018
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