In April 2021, the City Board of Directors established a Broadband Advisory Committee to research various options as it relates to a possible city-sponsored, city-wide, fiber optic internet service.  The Committee’s role was to review various business models that other cities have used to provide such service; review service offering options; and ultimately make a recommendation to the City Board regarding the Committee’s findings.

The Committee interviewed the executive director from Clarksville Connected Utilities regarding their broadband utility; representatives from Hope, AR regarding their broadband initiative; and Mark Latham, previous city manager for Highland, Illinois, regarding his experience establishing a fiber-to-the-home service. The Committee also reviewed various business models for municipal operated internet services and a variety of service offerings.  The Committee decided that a feasibility study needed to be conducted by an outside third party.  In early August 2021, the Board approved the Committee’s request to publish a Request for Proposals for the purposes of hiring a consultant to conduct a municipal broadband feasibility study.  After reviewing all 10 responses to the RFP, and interviewing the top 5 entities, the Committee recommended the City hire CCG Consulting to complete the feasibility study.  The contract with CCG Consulting was approved by the City Board in January 2022.  The feasibility study was completed in June and was presented to the City Board on August 2, 2022.   

Broadband Study Report