Coon Rapids Endorses Broadband Equity Bill, Seeks Statewide High-Speed Internet Access

Coon Rapids is throwing its weight behind a proposed bill aimed at bringing equitable high-speed Internet to all corners of the state.

The Coon Rapids City Council, in a unanimous decision Tuesday, passed a resolution supporting the call for Equal Access to Broadband at the State Capitol, as reported on the city's official website.

Amid the push for upgrades to current technological infrastructure, Representative Mike Freiberg of Crystal (43B) underscored the merit of the bill, telling Coon Rapids' official website that "The equal access to broadband act will level the playing field with broadband ISPs while assuring build out and minimum upload and download speeds to meet the current and future needs of the business and residents statewide." Broadband providers could be required to pay franchise fees akin to those imposed on cable companies, to utilize city right-of-ways for fiber optic cables.

These fees serve a crucial role beyond revenue - they directly fund public, education, and government (PEG) access programming.

Eric Strouse, CTN Station Manager, emphasized the importance of this funding stream in a statement obtained by Coon Rapids' official website, "CTN and other cable production facilities are pretty much funded by cable franchise fees. And as people are cutting the cord, we have seen those fees decline over the last seven years."

The bill isn't without its supporters, with some lawmakers backing the legislation along with various cities and community TV stations, like CTN. Strouse underscored the bill's emphasis on local governance, stating, "This is a passive legislation. That means that cities have to decide, and so it's all local control, which is important, but each city can decide what's right for their city." What's become increasingly clear is that the concept of equal access to technological advancements isn't a new-fangled idea but a necessary evolution of civic infrastructure—a reflection on changing times and the role of technology in our lives.

SOURCE: hoodline