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Bristol, Va., Only American City on Top Seven List of Intelligent Communities

Municipal-broadband network in Bristol, Va., makes it the only U.S. city named in Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2009 list.

Bristol, Va., recently became the only U.S. city named in the New York-based Intelligent Community Forum's Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2009, due to the city's municipal-broadband network. Bristol Virginia Utilities (BVU), the area's public utility, runs the fiber-based network, providing telephone, cable television and broadband services to 65 percent of the city. The fiber powers free Wi-Fi at the local mall and government buildings. Many citizens also use the network for Wi-Fi in their homes, said Wes Rosenbalm, president and CEO of the BVU.

"For various reasons, 35 percent of the population does not have our services. In some cases that's because it's an apartment building that we're not allowed into -- things of that nature. A [fiber-optic] overbuild of 65 percent penetration is very impressive. They usually run in the 30 to 35 percent range," Rosenbalm said, adding that 100 percent of commercial buildings have access to the network.

The utility funded the network with local bond and federal grant money. The project cost $21 million. Rosenbalm expects the network to pay for itself in 12 to 15 years. One could argue that the investment has already paid off because the network enticed technology companies Northrop Grumman and CGI to establish locations in the area.

"They brought with them 700 jobs that paid an average salary of $50,000," Rosenbalm said. "Our average salary is somewhere in the neighborhood of $20,000."

He explained that Bristol's network succeeded where many municipal-broadband projects failed because the city was responding to a genuine need rather than desire for a novelty. As a rural community, Bristol couldn't get a major vendor to build a similar fiber-optic infrastructure in the city. The project wouldn't have been profitable enough for a telecommunications company's stockholders, explained Rosenbalm. The fact that a city-affiliated public utility doesn't face the same profit target pressure as a private business made municipal Wi-Fi a good fit for the BVU, Rosenbalm added. The network began full services in 2003. Also, unlike several of the municipal-broadband networks attempted elsewhere, Bristol's project wasn't centered on free services. Citizens pay for access to the fiber.

"Our basic cable package is $36.75 and that includes 80 channels. Our basic phone line is $14. With broadband, it depends on what speed you get," Rosenbalm explained, adding that the BVU's prices were less than or comparable to rates offered by other providers in Virginia.

Planning for the network began in 1999 when the BVU only planned to connect its own substations. Once that happened, the city requested the infrastructure connect government buildings as well. Private businesses began asking for the ability to connect to the fiber. Realizing it had a project that potentially could serve the entire city, the BVU conducted two surveys.

"One survey was internal. Another was done through RT Nielson to make sure citizens wanted this kind of infrastructure and service," Rosenbalm said. "Both were very positive. We ran two business process plans by two different sources to make sure it made sense financially. Then we took the step of moving forward into doing it for every citizen that wanted it in Bristol."

 

Andy Opsahl is a former staff writer and features editor for Government Technology magazine.