Mayor Greg Fischer wants higher-speed Internet network in Louisville
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"(A) high-speed broadband network has quickly become viewed as critical urban infrastructure, similar to electricity, water and roadways," Fischer said in a news release Thursday. "Today's current network speeds do not provide an adequate foundation to propel the city forward in a technology-based economy."
Louisville residents currently get broadband Internet service through services like Time Warner Cable and AT&T U-Verse.
Ted Smith, director of the Louisville Metro Department of Economic Growth and Innovation, said he hopes many organizations will respond the Request for Information Fischer issued Thursday, including the "incumbents" like Time Warner Cable.
Other cities trying to upgrade their Internet infrastructure have found that "either the incumbents are part of the problem, or they are part of the solution," Smith said.
He said the proposal makes it clear Louisville Metro government wants a better network and is willing to pave the way for a vendor to install it by offering use of city water lines, sewer lines, alleys and other rights of way.
"Sometimes just the signaling of our interest... changes the nature of the conversation with the incumbent," he said.
In a prepared statement, Time Warner Cable spokesman Mike Hogan said: "We're interested in learning the details of Mayor Fischer's proposal. Time Warner Cable today delivers multiple gigabit speed options to Louisville businesses and offers a wide-range of speeds and choices to city residents."
Fischer's request seeks a minimum service of 100 megabits per second to low-income residential customers. That would be double the speed of the most expensive Time Warner Cable connection currently offered in Louisville.
The press release and the proposal can be found here.