Makanda Township

Our current access puts us at a disadvantage. Normal modern activities – working, keeping in touch, finances, learning, shopping, etc. – are more difficult and take up more of our time when internet service is slow and unreliable. We also spend more money for less service. This action is an opportunity for Makanda Township to help better lives and open up new opportunities for our families and businesses.

The big question is should the fiber-optic “wires” that bring you internet service be thought of in the same way as other essential utilities like telephone, water, and electricity? If so, should the township take an active role in making sure all of our residents and businesses have access to affordable, reliable service?

Any public investment in infrastructure should not just solve a current problem, but also have our future needs in mind. Over the past 30 years, the amount of data we all use has increased significantly and data use continues to grow rapidly. The bottom line is fiber is the most “future-proof,” affordable technology available today and has the ability serve our community with state-of-the-art service for decades to come.

It is now possible to install a fiber-optic network and provide internet access to households for the same or less than cable or DSL. Fiber’s capacity, durability, lower installation costs, and lower maintenance costs make it a significantly better up-front investment with long-term payoffs.

All wireless technologies depend on fiber-optics. Wireless works best the faster it gets to fiber-optics. Major companies, like AT&T and Verizon, are now pursuing both a fiber-to-the-home strategy and a 5G strategy – stating publicly that these technologies are complementary.

The average cost of internet access in the United States today is $68 per connection. It's possible for nearly every community in the U.S. to install a municipal fiber-optic network that gives residents a monthly cost lower than $68, along with vastly increased speed, capacity, and reliability.

A big part of the work we're doing is analyzing whether it makes sense for the township itself to become a digital infrastructure provider. We're looking at the three main cost areas for a network of this type: (1) Infrastructure Installation (2) Maintenance & Operations (M&O) (3) Services Analyzing these costs areas will help determine if we should pursue this initiative further and begin looking for potential sources of funding.

The township recognizes and appreciates the historical investment already made by incumbent providers. The township does not plan to make existing operators to change their current operations.

Please fill out the contact form on this website with any questions or comments about this plan. Public input from residents and business is welcomed and encouraged! Your help is important – please also take a moment to fill out our quick 3-minute survey >>> Survey

Equity is another important consideration. The township is working to understand how digital access investments can bring equal access to all of our residents – providing greater economic and educational opportunities. Service subsidies don't effectively solve equity problems, only managing them shortterm. The township can include necessary structural reforms as part of plan execution and would be able to start by connecting those most disadvantaged first – something industry cannot do.