HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution No 2021 - 04 Support of SB1149 Broadband CommunicationsInstrument # 438492
REXBURG, MADISON, IDAHO
34-2021 03:01:28 PM No. of Pages: 2
Recorded for: CITY OF REXBURG
KIM H. MUIR Fee: 0.00
Ex -Officio Recorder Deputy
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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 41" 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.
AIED4�:, rry Merrill, Mayor
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ATTEST: Deborah Lovejoy, City Clerk