Start by reading this: http://www.dslreports.com/show... 1. I can. Read the difference between the first and second referenda. See link above. 2. I can and have several times. Two of the three cities were not home rule, thus the State of Illinois require referenda. 3 & 4. It was 10 years ago, and your questions seem to infer that somehow the local gov would use its muni-broadband to spy on its customers? The plant was never built, so discussing specific security configs is complete speculation.

Exclusive franchises are illegal. There is no "allowing only two competitors." See http://www.law.cornell.edu/usc... Those two are probably the ones that have been there forever - the first cable company/plant and the local phone company. You can invite players in to overbuild all you want but it's not going to happen in most towns. We've tried. We've applied to be a Google city as well. No joy.

1. We cared about universal service for our citizens and our profit model was never the same as a private sector company. We realized that some citizens would cost more to reach than others and factored that into our equations. At the time, the decision to pursue a broadband plant was based largely on the substandard service provided by the incumbents. We've operated our own electric utility, own the poles, and currently provide 10 gig managed fiber service to all city and school sites. We do this because it saves us money. The logic for the large scale plant was exactly the same - we don't need to make money; we need to break even and provide a service wanted by our citizenry. 2.Customer data: How does the private sector secure such things? Why would it be different for us? Do you have reason to believe that a sheriff would somehow be involved in an ISP?

Much of the data is over 10 years old, but here's how we answered the bulk of questions in 2004: http://www.geneva.il.us/index.... 1. No local ISP was created as the referenda did not pass at the polls. 2. See this write up: http://www.dslreports.com/show... 3. Yes. See here for current info - http://www.muninetworks.org/ 4. The first time around in 2003, the build was to be backed using General Obligation bonds (tax-payer backed) and was put on the ballot by the elected officials. When the issue went to the polls the second time in 2004, it was put on the ballot by CITIZENS COLLECTING SIGNATURES and the referenda question specifically blocked any taxpayer exposure (fund it any way you like but there can be no taxpayer risk). It was still spun by the incumbents as being a tax risk.

All: Feel free to hit me up with any questions. Either here, via email, or phone. Pete Collins I.T. Manager City of Geneva, Illinois pcollins@geneva.il.us 630.232.1743