Lewis Bergman wrote: > I don't remember saying anything about fiber vs wifi. The title of your post is Muni WiFi.
> As for the cheese, I would argue yes. Those bonds don't magically pay > themselves. > They are paid off of taxes, they have to show them segmented but still taxes > pay them. I don't think that's quite how it works, unless you specifically issue tax finance bonds. If the municipality issues revenue bonds, there is no gubment cheese, as only revenues from operations are used to pay the bond. The government isn't even on the hook for a default, if they are pure revenue bonds. Even if the muni issues tax guaranteed bonds, it does not necessarily mean there will be any gubment cheese. During normal operations the network users will pay for the bond, and that's that. The gubment cheese only comes into play if the operations are unprofitable and they are incapable to pay the bond payments. So the existential question is, is there any gubment cheese if the cheese is never seen nor used? Jared > Sent: Thursday, June 01, 2017 > From: "Lewis Bergman" > <lewis.berg...@gmail.com[mailto:lewis.berg...@gmail.com]> > To: "Animal Farm" <af@afmug.com[mailto:af@afmug.com]> > Subject: [AFMUG] Muni WiFi > > I guess Coloradan's just can't get enough gubment cheese > > *Colorado* > *Fort Collins Ponders Build-Out of Its Own ISP Using Public Utilities* > Oftentimes, municipalities will partner with private ISPs to provide > internet service as a public utility. But one Colorado city—Fort Collins > <http://insidetowers.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1b803ea3d99f4c1c1335a213&id=0b96ba638b&e=cc20c00449[http://insidetowers.us7.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d1b803ea3d99f4c1c1335a213&id=0b96ba638b&e=cc20c00449]>—is > considering a ballot initiative that would give it authority to develop its > own internet network through the city’s Light and Power Utility, > reports *Community > Networks.* > > The ballot initiative, which would be voted on this upcoming November, > would change the city charter to enable the Light and Power Utility to > provide internet service. It may also ask voters to consent to allowing > municipal bonds to fund the build-out of the network infrastructure, which > could cost an estimated $125 to $140 million. > > In 2015, the city’s partnership with the private, Canadian-owned company > Axia fell through, prompting the municipality to weigh other options for > providing a municipal-wide network. That same year, 83 percent of voters > chose to opt out of SB 152, which discouraged Colorado municipalities from > building out their own networks. > > Local public officials have cited this vote as a sign that residents favor > the build-out of a locally owned and operated network, provided through the > city government. City Council member Ross Cunniff told *Community > Networks* that > voters are more than ready. “When I talk to citizens, really the main > question on their minds isn’t ‘should we?’ It’s, ‘Why haven’t you gotten > around to do it yet?’” >
