BY BRADEN CARTWRIGHT
Daily Post Staff Writer
Palo Alto City Council voted tonight to build a fiber internet network that would compete with Comcast and AT&T.
The city will do the project in phases, starting with neighborhoods where residents have shown an interest and construction is relatively cheap.
Money will come from $34 million that the city has saved in a fund for fiber. As revenue comes in, the city can expand the network into more neighborhoods.
“I feel like this is a prudent yet forward approach,” Mayor Pat Burt said before the 6-1 vote, with Councilman Greg Tanaka voting “no.”
Council’s other options were to get a $98 million bond and build a citywide network or to skip the project altogether.
Council members said they didn’t like the risk of a loan, which would backfire if not enough people signed up.
“I feel uncomfortable betting $100 million on that one, but I might bet a few million from the fiber fund on it,” Councilman Eric Filseth said.
The city will start recruiting in February for employees to work on the new venture, which is called “Palo Alto Fiber.”
Construction, along with a sales and marketing campaign, are scheduled to begin in June, Strategic Business Manager Dave Yuan said.
What’s the point of this?