Regardless of whether Sundre's council chooses to pursue the provision of broadband through a municipally- or privately-owned network, one thing remains undeniably crystal clear.
Either way, the municipality has to help roll out the high-speed Internet infrastructure if Sundre wants to remain competitive in a knowledge-based economy.
Local officials recently heard a detailed presentation outlining all the pros and cons of owning such a system as compared with allowing a private interest to assume the risk.
"Communities that do not invest in information communications technology will be left behind," said Jon Allan, the town's economic development officer, during council's Feb. 21 workshop.
"Broadband is essential. We will be able to be kept on the same economic playing field as other communities (and) other jurisdictions as the knowledge economy continues to take hold."
With as little buy-in as 30 per cent residential and 50 per cent commercial after four years, a municipally-owned system could potentially be generating significant kickback to the tune of about $130,000 every year ó a figure that will only grow as more people and business owners sign up for the service. Generating additional revenue that supplements local coffers benefits the community whereas revenue in the pockets of a billion-dollar company like Telus or Shaw only benefits executives and shareholders that have little to no interest in Sundre, except perhaps to profit from us.
This community has the potential to really stand out and set an example as a forward-thinking municipality with its sights set on establishing a sustainable foundation for the future by diversifying local revenue streams and reducing dependency on taxation alone. Sundre's municipally-owned gas system is a prime example of taking such progressive measures.
Anyone who thinks government should be run like business would understand that this occasionally involves taking carefully considered short-term risks for the long-term payback.
As the saying goes, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
There's really no question about it ó Sundre must introduce broadband Internet if the municipality has any hope of remaining remotely relevant in a 21st century knowledge-based economy.
The discussion that must now take place is to determine whether the community is willing to risk taking ownership to eventually reap the reward, or if residents would instead rather pass the risk ó and the revenue ó onto a private interest.
ó Simon Ducatel, editor
