The Town of Sundre's study to determine the potential for deploying a municipally owned broadband network is going on to the next step.
However, two councillors were prepared to pull the plug during a lengthy discussion at the June 26 meeting.
"I'm not against broadband, but I am firmly against the town investing in it," said Coun. Nolan Blatchford.
"I think we have way more important infrastructure to fix than taking a risk with the public's money."
But Coun. Chris Vardas, who was acting chair in Mayor Terry Leslie's absence, disagreed.
"I'm not prepared to shut it down quite yet," he said, adding the study's next step represents no capital cost to the municipality.
"How do we shut something down without having all of the facts in front of us?"
The deputy mayor said he personally felt broadband in the community would be positive for businesses, tourism and residents.
"For me to turn it down quite yet, I'm not ready for that."
The engaged and passionate debate followed a presentation from Tracy With, Bannister Research Consulting vice-president, who outlined all of the highlights from the unbiased, non-partisan third party's recent survey.
"Really the objectives were twofold: to determine the appetite for use of public dollars on wholesale broadband network, as well as to determine the market demand for that network," she said.
In a nutshell, the consultants analyzed a total of 635 responses from a potential pool of 2,021 listed contacts provided by the municipality. Since 475 possible respondents refused to conduct the survey, that meant successful contacts were made with 55 per cent of those on the list.
"When we look at municipalities even the size of Edmonton and Calgary, we typically complete 400 surveys," she said.
"So 635 out of a total of 2,000 or so records gives you a very high level of accuracy."
The vast majority of responses ó 75 per cent ó were from residential property owners, while 14 per cent were commercial property owners, six per cent were residential renters, and five per cent were commercial tenants.
In terms of support, 75 per cent of respondents either strongly or somewhat agreed with the municipality's pursuit of fibre optic high-speed Internet infrastructure. Additionally, 64 per cent of total respondents indicated they would have a high or very high likelihood of switching to any combination of service that involved new broadband service.
There was far more support in favour of the proposed Option A, the public model, with 75 per cent of total respondents backing the Town of Sundre generating revenue by wholesaling access to Internet service providers on a network invested into and owned by the municipality. Meanwhile, Option B, the private model, had 46 per cent of total respondents supporting simply inviting a private company to install a network with zero contribution from public dollars.
Since it was possible to support both model options in theory, respondents were also pressed to select their preferred option, with 60 per cent identifying a preference for the public option while 25 per cent preferred the private alternative. Only 16 per cent chose not to reply.
Other strong indications that people largely support the endeavour included 72 per cent who agreed broadband would make Sundre more attractive; 69 per cent who agreed the municipality should be more proactive in making it happen; 68 per cent who felt a need for improved Internet service; and 65 per cent who feel the need for better competition. Only 19 per cent said they were very satisfied with their current level of service. Visit www.sundrebroadband.com for more information.
"From a consulting perspective ó and certainly from an administrative perspective ó statistically you've got a great report there," said Vic Pirie, director of finance and administration.
"Politically, that's a different story ó that's you guys. You have to determine whether that information is relevant enough to go forward," he told council, stressing the next step was not to approve either option but rather to investigate at no cost to the municipality the viability of the FortisAlberta power poles upon which the fibre optic lines would be mounted.
Before moving further, Coun. Myron Thompson wanted to accept the report as information and council carried a motion to that effect.
Coun. Cheri Funke then put a motion on the table to cease pursuing the project.
Thompson said he was not prepared to vote against or in favour of the motion because of insufficient information stemming from concerns that have been raised regarding O-NET's financial situation over rumours the company was struggling.
But administrative staff informed council the Internet service provider in Olds was merely restructuring its debt to be repaid over 25 years instead of 10 to improve cash flow in the shorter term. Attempting to develop in too short a time frame was a mistake that the Town of Olds had made, said Pirie, adding that offered a learning opportunity for Sundre to avoid repeating a similar error.
However, Funke also felt there was an insufficient response rate from the community.
But Vardas said council has in the past made decisions based on surveys that had barely received a dozen responses.
"To me, going out and getting 635 is a significant difference!"
Coun. Paul Isaac understood the perspectives presented by Funke and Blatchord, but also expressed the opinion that more information was needed before pulling the plug.
"The next step right now isn't costing the town a dollar," said Vardas, who agreed obtaining more information was important.
"I'm not ready to say no to it quite yet."
Funke's motion to not pursue the broadband study was defeated, with Blatchford voting in favour. Opposed were Vardas, Isaac, Thompson and Coun. Verna McFadden.
Council then ended up carrying a motion ó with Funke and Blatchford opposed ó to direct administrative staff to begin the process of undertaking the next steps necessary to determine the feasibility of deployment of fibre optic cabling along the municipality's FortisAlberta utility poles. A report will be presented to update council by the end September.
Future capital projects to repair or replace sidewalks and streets should include in the design plans conduits that could greatly reduce the cost of installing underground broadband and facilitating the infrastructure's eventual deployment, said Vardas.
"You got to be forward thinking."
