Municipal Communications Utility Governance Referendum
Shall the management and control of the Municipal Communications Utility of the City of Maquoketa, Iowa, be placed in a Board of Trustees consisting of five trustees who serve as the Board of Trustees for the Maquoketa Municipal Electric Utility?
The referendum question was approved by Maquoketa voters on November 7, 2017.
Yes - 71.9%
No - 28.1%
No - 28.1%
Background
In 2005, citizens of Maquoketa approved a referendum to establish a municipal telecommunications utility. The referendum did not specify how the telecommunications utility should be governed. As a result, under Iowa law, governance defaults to the City Council.
In 2016, Maquoketa Municipal Electric Utility (MMEU), interested in the potential applications of a city-wide telecommunications infrastructure, conducted a Community Engagement and Education Project to identify community interest in building and implementing a fiber-to-the-home (FTTP) network operated as a city utility. That study showed a strong level of interest among citizens in exploring the concept further.
The next logical step in that exploration would be to perform a feasibility study and business case to identify costs for a community-wide fiber network and the operation of the telecommunications utility with video, broadband internet, and/or voice services, and how it would perform financially.
It was decided by the City Council and the MMEU Board of Trustees that before proceeding with a full feasibility study, it would be in the best interests of the community to determine whether a Board of Trustees should manage and control the telecommunications utility, including leading future efforts to explore a FTTP network and an operating telecommunications utility. As a result, the issue was placed on the November ballot to allow voters to decide before additional steps are taken.
If the November 2017 referendum is approved by a majority of voters (50% plus 1 vote), the telecommunications utility will be placed under the supervision of a Board of Trustees (consisting of the same trustees as the members of the MMEU Board of Trustees). If the referendum is not approved, the telecommunications utility will remain under the supervision of the Maquoketa City Council. It would then be up to the authorized governing body to move the project forward or not.
In 2016, Maquoketa Municipal Electric Utility (MMEU), interested in the potential applications of a city-wide telecommunications infrastructure, conducted a Community Engagement and Education Project to identify community interest in building and implementing a fiber-to-the-home (FTTP) network operated as a city utility. That study showed a strong level of interest among citizens in exploring the concept further.
The next logical step in that exploration would be to perform a feasibility study and business case to identify costs for a community-wide fiber network and the operation of the telecommunications utility with video, broadband internet, and/or voice services, and how it would perform financially.
It was decided by the City Council and the MMEU Board of Trustees that before proceeding with a full feasibility study, it would be in the best interests of the community to determine whether a Board of Trustees should manage and control the telecommunications utility, including leading future efforts to explore a FTTP network and an operating telecommunications utility. As a result, the issue was placed on the November ballot to allow voters to decide before additional steps are taken.
If the November 2017 referendum is approved by a majority of voters (50% plus 1 vote), the telecommunications utility will be placed under the supervision of a Board of Trustees (consisting of the same trustees as the members of the MMEU Board of Trustees). If the referendum is not approved, the telecommunications utility will remain under the supervision of the Maquoketa City Council. It would then be up to the authorized governing body to move the project forward or not.
Community Broadband Engagement and Education Project
New Hampton Light Plant has initiated a project designed to explore whether or not their is sufficient interest in a community-owned fiber optic broadband network to conduct a full-scale feasibility study.
There are four key elements of the Community Broadband Engagement and Education Project.
- Engagement: Though meetings, social media, and other methods, we will open a dialogue with the community about the possibility of a community-owned network.
- Education: Provide community members with information about the importance of fast, affordable, reliable, and ubiquitous broadband services.
- Measurement: Though surveys and forums, measure whether citizens want New Hampton Municipal Light Plant to take the next steps in the evaluation process, which would include a preliminary network design, cost estimate, and business case.
- Evaluation and Discussion: A final report will be prepared based on the findings of the Community Broadband Engagement and Education Project, providing New Hampton Light Plant with the information they need.
Resources for Maquoketa Residents
Click the Facebook icon above to visit the Maquoketa Community Broadband Facebook page (@maquoketabroadband). LIKE the page and follow the discussion with fellow citizens!
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FAQ'sYou may have a lot of questions about the what a community-owned fiber network would mean. On this page we'll keep an updated list of questions we receive and answers to those questions.
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Schedule
Several meetings will be held to give citizens an opportunity to learn more and share their input. Check this page for the latest schedule.
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