Earlier this month, Eagan City Council voted to hire an Internet consultant to help them make broadband a priority in their city.

Wow! What a smart idea. It seems so simple and obvious – but lots of communities don’t go this route. In fairness, you have to have the money to hire someone but I have to think that it’s an investment that pays for itself quickly and in the long term.

In an article in the local Eagan paper, the city council pointed out that they need someone with more experience and/or expertise with broadband than they the city council or broadband task force currently have and they cannot rely on volunteer support.

Eagan’ broadband task force has been meeting for at least a year. They have talked with the incumbent providers with differing levels of success – but they recognize that they are impasse and the wisest way to move forward is to get help to make decisions that will create solutions that last. I’m sure that hiring a consultant will be another step in the right direction.