Success in public-owned broadband: It’s about Main St., not Wall St.

Forget the myth. Just the facts, ma’am - Craig Settles,Gigaom - The first goal of many networks is to reduce operating costs for municipalities and public utilities. - Retaining communities’ major employers and attracting new employers is the first or second goal for these networks. - Most communities report success in meeting one or both goals, thus justifying the networks’ costs. - Networks built with the initial goal of meeting municipal or utility broadband needs draw from capital funds or bond measures that minimize risk to taxpayers - Quite a few networks, such as those in Santa Monica and Burbank, California; Danville, Virginia; and Mount Vernon, Washington, make a gross profit on their networks even with just four to six new business subscribers a month. - Cities typically carry debt for infrastructure projects that impact the public good. Broadband projects carrying 20- or 25-year debt obligations that are being repaid on schedule while delivering a public good are successful projects [via/web:http://streaming-tv.us]