Muncie promotes itself as broadband-ready
MUNCIE — The city of Muncie wants to encourage broadband developers who might make it easier for residents to stream video, answer email from their boss, catch Pokémon — and conduct business.
Muncie City Council on Monday introduced an ordinance establishing the city as "a broadband-ready community."
The ordinance, which could be finalized at city council's August meeting, would speed the process for a developer intending "construction or development of wireline or wireless communications facilities to provide communications services."
Arron Kidder, a consultant for Mayor Dennis Tyler, presented the ordinance to city council. Kidder said the city had been working with local economic development officials on the proposal.
"A broadband-ready community would offer a path of least resistance to developers who might put in broadband in the community," Kidder said. "It's one more notch in our belt."
Officials hope fast internet connections throughout the city would encourage economic development as well as the quality of life and quality of place improvements that Tyler has often referred to as a way of attracting new residents, workers and creators.
Public broadband initiatives have been proposed in the past but most of the initiatives have fallen by the wayside.
Cities around the country are working to make internet access available to all. Austin, Texas, for example, created an Office of Digital Inclusion to further internet use and availability.
Muncie's plan will "appoint a single point of contact" for developers of broadband projects, establish procedures for obtaining a local broadband permit, and review or reject permit applications within 10 business days.
The city also pledges, through the ordinance, to not require an applicant to name a final contractor for the project, impose a fee to review or issue permits and "discriminate among communications service providers or utilities" including granting access to public right of way, infrastructure like poles, bridge crossings or other physical assets owned by the city.
Contact Keith Roysdon at 765-213-5828 and follow him on Facebook and Twitter.
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