HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2021 - 04 Support Senate Bill No 1149 Relating to Broadband Communications in 2021 Legislature[41].docx
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RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT IDAHO SENATE BILL NO. 1149 IN 2021 LEGISLATURE RELATING TO BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS INFRASTRUCTURE AND SYSTEMS
Resolution 2021 - 04
WHEREAS, Idaho ranks 41st in terms of overall broadband access among the 50 states; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rexburg, the region of Madison County, and the state of Idaho continue to explore ways to provide solutions to address the deficiencies of broadband communications
infrastructure within the City; and
WHEREAS, The extraordinary growth of Internet use has become an economic development issue; and
WHEREAS, cities have experienced a lack of participation from public communication service providers to provide infrastructure to the community as a whole that can support higher bandwidth
speeds needed to meet the ever increasing demands expended by enterprise, education, social interactions, entertainment, and communications; and
WHEREAS, Rexburg residents have expressed their desire for higher broadband internet speeds, better consumer choice, and more competitive prices; and
WHEREAS, recent surveys of Rexburg citizens continue to show extreme dissatisfaction with current broadband services; and
WHEREAS, as Idahoans move past the COVID pandemic, Idaho can count on more remote workers, more distance learning, and more demands on broadband networks therefore more demands from
broadband; and
WHEREAS, to help maintain and improve its standing among regional and national competitors’ Rexburg’s residents, businesses, and institutions need a future proof fiber broadband infrastructure
as an ordinary and necessary utility; and
WHEREAS, by allowing cities and counties to chart their own courses to meet the diverse needs of their residents; and
WHEREAS, SB 1149 will allow Idaho cities to take charge of their broadband future and in turn meet the Governor’s Broadband Initiative; and
WHEREAS, the City of Rexburg has made every possible effort to engage with and encourage private sector broadband providers to invest in broadband infrastructure; and
WHEREAS, the proposed 2021 Legislation from Senate Bill No. 1149 shall grant Idaho municipalities the authority to establish, create, develop, acquire, finance, construct, equip, lease,
own, maintain, and operate broadband communications infrastructure and systems as well as other authorities provided by this bill for the betterment of the community and high speed
internet it will generate;
SECTION 1. That the City of Rexburg agrees and supports the 2021 Idaho Legislation Senate Bill No. 1149 relating to broadband communications infrastructure and systems.
SECTION 2. That this resolution shall be effective immediately.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Clerk shall certify to the passage and adoption of this resolution; shall cause the same to be entered among the original resolutions of the City;
and shall make a minute of the passage and adoption thereof on the
records of the proceedings of the City Council for the meeting at which the same is passed and adopted.
DATED the 3rd day of March, 2021; by the City Council, City of Rexburg, Idaho.
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SIGNED BY: Jerry Merrill, Mayor
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ATTEST: Deborah Lovejoy, City Clerk