Comments on: More on Monticello http://blandinonbroadband.org/2008/06/05/more-on-monticello/ News and information on broadband use, policy, and trends Mon, 06 Feb 2012 21:18:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ By: Bill Coleman http://blandinonbroadband.org/2008/06/05/more-on-monticello/#comment-3539 Mon, 16 Jun 2008 15:05:20 +0000 http://blandinonbroadband.wordpress.com/?p=723#comment-3539 TDS’ lawsuit against the City of Monticello should not be a surprise to anyone engaged in community broadband activity. It is disappointing for a number of reasons. The City of Monticello has been pursuing its goal of world-class telecommunications infrastructure and services for several years. As with almost every community, their first call was to their incumbent providers. In Monticello, and generally elsewhere, those calls are rebuffed with typical answers of “You don’t need that, our present services meet all needs, we do not want to partner with you.” Now with the City ready to proceed with its network, TDS sues the City and pulls permits to build its own FTTP network. If TDS had been willing to work with the City two years ago, who knows what kind of productive partnership might have been formed.

As the lawsuit proceeds, other questions arise:
1) If the City wins the lawsuit and proceeds on its project, will TDS rebuild its network and compete aggressively? If so, what does that do to the financial feasibility of either network?

2) If TDS wins the lawsuit and stops the City from building its network, will TDS follow through and actually construct their network or will those plans be delayed. Will other community questions of affordability and customer service be addressed?

3) If TDS now builds a FTTP network in Monticello, what have they taught community leaders in their own and other providers’ franchise areas?

This is actually the easiest question to answer – community leaders recognize that the only way to force improvements is to threaten to build their own networks. Rather than investigate win-win solutions and act in good faith as a community partner, providers are forcing communities to invest limited community resources pursuing their own solutions.

I applaud those telecom providers who are willing to listen to community concerns and truly consider partnerships as a viable path for more FTTP investment in Minnesota.

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