Happy with your Internet service?

[Nathan Borson]

Fellow Gustavians,

If you are dissatisfied with your current communication options, please talk to your state Senator and Representative tomorrow night at the library.

How do you feel about your Internet service? If you feel that it needs improvement, you may recall that the City of Gustavus has a plan to deliver broadband Internet access throughout the City of Gustavus. Unfortunately, it will cost $2.4 million to build the proposed last-mile network. That sounds like a lot until you compare it with the $5 million hydroelectric project, $15 million in recent airport improvements, and $20+ million dock, but as with those other public works projects it's more than the city can afford on its own. The city requested state capital improvement project funds just under a year ago and that request was not funded, so it has become apparent that an all-out effort -- similar to the one that led to construction of the new dock -- will be required if we are to see good Internet service throughout Gustavus in the foreseeable future.

The Gustavus Community Network Board intends to apply for a federal public works grant in the near future, but to get the grant, and to get the required matching funds, will require broad, deep, and vocal public support.

• The city has contracted with ICF International, the authors of the broadband plan, to draft the federal grant application. Because this particular grant is for projects that stimulate economic development, ICF will be contacting selected businesses to discuss whether and how reliable, fast, affordable broadband would contribute to new jobs, higher profits, and new business opportunities. If you are contacted by ICF, please give them your full cooperation.
• Tuesday night, October 29 - 7 pm at the library, our state Senator Dennis Egan and Representative Beth Kerttula will be there to meet their constituents and listen to their concerns. If you are concerned about our inferior communications, please let them know. The city will likely submit a capital project request to their office later this winter requesting matching funds, without which we will be unable to secure the federal grant. To get the necessary funds, Gustavus residents and businesses must do a better job of expressing our needs than they did last year.

Please feel free to forward this message to friends and colleagues, post on social media, and otherwise encourage those who regularly complain to me about their Internet options to speak out to the elected officials who can actually do something about this issue. If you wish to learn more about this issue, a good start is the Gustavus Broadband project web site, If you wish to discuss this issue, a good place is the Gustavus Broadband work group.

Sincerely,

Nate