The Broadband Task Force and the City are on pace to address Internet options after an October meeting.

The Broadband Task Force met Oct. 23 for an update from City staff on the timeline of the Task Force’s recommendation, which they made back in February of this year. Melanie Landis, Assistant City Administrator, gave an update as to where the City is at in the timeline.

• Adoption of policies (within three months)
  • The City Council adopted a Right-of-Way Permitting policy and procedure on Aug. 23, which will become effective Jan. 1, 2019.
  • Staff continues to work on developing a DigOnce policy, which they are hopeful to have by the top of the year.
• Distribute Request for Information (within one year)
  • At the Oct. 23 meeting, Landis reported that staff had put together a “bare bones” Request for Information (RFI) and asked if members of the Task Force would be willing to help fill in several blanks. Kyle Griffin and Mark Bye offered to work together to complete the RFI with plans to have it finished by the Jan. 22 meeting.
• Conduit master plan (within one year)
  • Ms. Landis stated that staff already has identified key areas within Spring Hill that would benefit City placement of conduit to avoid additional cost and public inconvenience for future fiber buildout. However, a formal master plan is still in the works, she said.
    • A line item was placed in the 2019 budget for support of the project.

The Task Force also agreed to look for grant opportunities regarding broadband for the City and hoped to have an update at the Jan. 22 meeting. The Task Force, along with City staff, hope to have a prepared RFI by the Jan. 22 meeting at the Spring Hill Civic Center, 401 N. Madison St.

Due to the holidays, the Nov. 27 meeting was canceled for Thanksgiving and the Dec. 25 meeting will be canceled for Christmas.