Title
RESOLUTION SUPPORTING THE EXPANSION OF BROADBAND ACCESS IN DULUTH.
Body
BY COUNCILORS FILIPOVICH, FORSMAN, RANDORF AND SIPRESS:
WHEREAS, “broadband” means any service providing advanced telecommunications capability and Internet access with transmission speeds that, at a minimum, meet the Federal Communications Commission definition for broadband;
WHEREAS, reliable broadband internet access is essential infrastructure needed by cities to compete in the global digital economy. The city’s comprehensive plan, Imagine Duluth 2035, includes a policy recommendation to “ensure high-speed broadband availability citywide to foster growth of existing and new employers, with initial priority in Core Investment Areas;
WHEREAS, disparities in access to high speed internet and the gap between those who have ready access to computers and the internet and those who do not, referred to as the digital divide, severely impacts economic and educational opportunities for citizens;
WHEREAS, as opportunities created by the internet increase, so do inequities for those who do not have access to participate in the global digital world; and
WHEREAS, the city envisions broadband internet for all residents that is founded upon four ideals: equity, performance, affordability, and privacy. These ideals can be used as a measure for success and as design parameters for the city’s approach to broadband infrastructure and services.
RESOLVED, that the Duluth city council requests that staff study and evaluate the current state of broadband service and provide recommendations for significantly improving broadband access in Duluth, including serving underserved communities, consistent with the goals of the Imagine Duluth 2035 comprehensive plan and report back to the council on ways that the City of Duluth can impact disparities.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to support expansion of broadband opportunities in Duluth.
The City of Duluth envisions an internet for all residents that is founded upon the following four ideals:
1. Equity: No one will face a barrier based on who they are or where they live;
2. Performance: the internet should be fast and reliable, and the quality should improve over time as uses of the internet continue to evolve;
3. Affordability: Cost should not be a barrier for any Duluthian who wants to connect to the internet and there should be competition among providers; and
4. Privacy: Duluthians must be able to determine how their data is or is not used.