Q: What choices would be available for so-called "Local network channels"? Two Cedar Rapids stations are hardly local. Could we get Mason City, Rochester, and Austin?
A: Local TV stations are always of high interest to cable customers. With larger companies, you are often restricted on choices because the company has to make channel lineup decisions that affect dozens of towns. With a community-controlled service, those decisions are made locally. With most community broadband systems, a channel survey is conducted to find out what channels are important to residents.
Also, there are some legal and financial restrictions on carrying off-air TV stations that will need to be considered. For example, TV stations charge cable operators to carry their stations, sometimes $2.00 per customer per month or more. Those costs need to be accounted for in pricing the service.
Q: What would NH taxpayers have to pay to get this new city utility up and running? (Infrastructure, new employees, etc.)
A: First of all, it is likely that financing used to build a community fiber broadband network in New Hampton will not be backed by taxpayers. It is most likely to be backed by revenue bonds, which are guaranteed by the income created by the new utility, not taxpayers. Secondly, the actual costs for infrastructure and operational expenses (including employees) will be addressed by the full feasibility study and business case, which is the next step in the evaluation process.
Q: If a community fiber broadband network were built in New Hampton, who would operate it?
A: Like in most communities, a fiber broadband network would become a new city utility that would be operated by the New Hampton Municipal Light Plant. Although likely governed by the same board as the electric utility, the broadband utility would be a stand-alone operation.
Q: What would prices be for cable, internet, and telephone with a community fiber network?
A: We can't pin down exact prices at this point in the process. However, if New Hampton moves forward with a full business case and cost estimate, it will include details on pricing. In general, community-owned broadband networks charge the same or less for services as private, for-profit providers. Any money that residents save with the local network is money that stays in their pocket.
A: Local TV stations are always of high interest to cable customers. With larger companies, you are often restricted on choices because the company has to make channel lineup decisions that affect dozens of towns. With a community-controlled service, those decisions are made locally. With most community broadband systems, a channel survey is conducted to find out what channels are important to residents.
Also, there are some legal and financial restrictions on carrying off-air TV stations that will need to be considered. For example, TV stations charge cable operators to carry their stations, sometimes $2.00 per customer per month or more. Those costs need to be accounted for in pricing the service.
Q: What would NH taxpayers have to pay to get this new city utility up and running? (Infrastructure, new employees, etc.)
A: First of all, it is likely that financing used to build a community fiber broadband network in New Hampton will not be backed by taxpayers. It is most likely to be backed by revenue bonds, which are guaranteed by the income created by the new utility, not taxpayers. Secondly, the actual costs for infrastructure and operational expenses (including employees) will be addressed by the full feasibility study and business case, which is the next step in the evaluation process.
Q: If a community fiber broadband network were built in New Hampton, who would operate it?
A: Like in most communities, a fiber broadband network would become a new city utility that would be operated by the New Hampton Municipal Light Plant. Although likely governed by the same board as the electric utility, the broadband utility would be a stand-alone operation.
Q: What would prices be for cable, internet, and telephone with a community fiber network?
A: We can't pin down exact prices at this point in the process. However, if New Hampton moves forward with a full business case and cost estimate, it will include details on pricing. In general, community-owned broadband networks charge the same or less for services as private, for-profit providers. Any money that residents save with the local network is money that stays in their pocket.