07-279Council File # 07-279
Suspension — 03/21(07 Green Sheet#3037994
RESOLUTION
/ CITY OF SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA
Presented by
Resolution in Support of a High Speed Minnesota Broadband Policy
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3 WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul desires to be among the most connected city in the United
4 States; and,
WHEREAS, as the world approaches'digital convergence,' it is critical that Saint Paul homes
and businesses are as connected to markets across the globe as they are to regional and
greater Minnesota economic partners; and
10 WHEREAS, Minnesota currently lacks a comprehensive plan to develop an advanced
11 telecommunications infrastructure serving all parts of the state, and, in fact, some communities
12 have no or very limited high speed communications and lack competitive services; and,
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14 WHEREAS, available Internet speeds to most Minnesotans, both for downloading and uploading,
15 pale in comparison to those of citizens in many other industrialized nations in the world; and,
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17 WHEREAS, in the United States we pay more for less bandwidth than consumers in leading
18 broadband countries; and,
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20 WHEREAS, several other states and nations have formal broadband goals, and both California
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and Singapore are already underway on plans to reach 1 Gigabit per-second broadband access
in the next few years and engineers are already at work on 100 Gigabit standards; and
WHEREAS, gigabit broadband (1 Gig per second) access throughout Minnesota is essential to
ensure a high quality of life and a globally competitive future for our citizens, businesses, and
communities; and
WHEREAS, expanding the use of broadband technology has been shown to grow new markets
for business, enhance educational access, strengthen health care, increase the potential to
attract and retain jobs, improve quality of life and service delivery, and would provide
Minnesotans and Minnesota businesses with the capabilities necessary to compete in today's
global marketplace; and
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul's Broadband Advisory Committee supports the effort to
improve access to broadband statew+de;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Mayor and Saint Paul City Council urge the
Governor of Minnesota and the State Legislature to, without defay:
• Adopt a state law enacting a goal to ensure ubiquitous two-way gigabit broadband across
Minnesota by at least 2015,
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Create and appoint a Broadband Policy Director for the State of Minnesota who will be
responsible for coordinating the policies and activities necessary to achieving the state
goal,
Establish as part of those responsibilities, that the Director would Chair a State Broadband
Advisory Board charged with achieving statewide gigabit access by at least 2015,
Ensure that the State Broadband Advisory Board include public and private stakeholders
who will:
o create a cohesive, comprehensive state-wide plan for the deployment of broadband
services,
o make recommendations on the policies, actions and investments necessary to achieve
the state's broadband goal,
o identify how both the public and private sector can cooperate in the needed
investments to achieve the goals,
o carefufly preserve the option for the state, cities, and counties to protect public rights of
way and participate as investors in networks or as providers of telecommunications
services,
o identify and recommend ways to eliminate obstacles to making broadband internet
access ubiquitous in the state,
o identify and make recommendations to the state legislature that would support
broadband goals including offering state subsidies and tax credits, and otherwise
promoting broadband deployment,
o Determine which innovative strategies and programs other states, countries, and
communities have used to provide gigabit broadband services ubiquitously and the
impact it is having on communities, and
o recommend specific action steps that will provide redundant capability to keep critical
broadband infrastructure operational.
Benanav
Bosuom
Harris
Requested by Department of:
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Form Approved by City Attorney
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Adopted by Council: Date s/�%
Adoption Certified by Council Secretary
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Approved b ay Date ` (�']
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Form Approved by Mayor for Submission to Council
By:
07-279
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ConWCt Person & Phone:
Lee Helgen
266-8650
by
Doc.Type: RESOLUTION
E-Document Required= Y
DocumentConWCt: RacquelNaylor
2'I-MAR-07
y
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Contact Phone: 2668573 � I
ToWI # of Signature Pages _(Clip All Lowtions for Signature)
Green Sheet NO: 3037994
0 ampl
1 unN De arimeu[ D'vector
2 ' C7erk
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Urging the Govemor of Minuesota and [he State Legislature to adop[ a state law enacting a goal to ensure high speed broadband
across Minnesota by the year 2015, creating a Broadband Policy Director for the S[a[e to achieve this goal, establishing that the
Director would chair an advisory boazd, and ensuring that this advisory boazd will include public and private skateholders.
itlations: Approve (A) or F
Planning Commission
CIB Committee
Civil Service Commission
1. Has this personffirm ever worked under a coniract for this department?
Yes No
2. Has this person/firm ever been a city employee?
Yes No
3. Does this personlfirm possess a skill not normally possessed by any
current city employee?
Yes No
Explain all yes answers on separate sheet and attach to green sheet
Initiating Problem, 155ues, Opportunity (Who, What, When, Where, Why):
AdvanWges If Approved:
Disadvantages If Approved:
Disadvantages If Not Approved:
ToWI Amount of
TransaMion:
Funding Source:
Financial Information:
(Explain)
CostlRevenue Budgeted:
Activity Number:
March 21, 2007 1:22 PM Page 1