Source: https://blandinonbroadband.org/tag/monticello/
Timestamp: 2019-03-23 12:53:50
Document Index: 449550517

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 475', '§ 237', '§ 237', '§ 471', '§ 471', '§ 471']

monticello | Blandin on Broadband
Monticello celebrates Court of Appeal decision
Posted on June 3, 2009 by Ann Treacy
A decision has been made in Monticello! The Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 in favor of Monticello and upheld the district court’s conclusion that the City had authority to issue bonds.
There were two issues at hand, as quoted below from the decision: (updated May 25, 2010: page seems to be gone here’s a new link: http://www.lawlibrary.state.mn.us/archive/ctappub/0906/opa081928-0602.pdf)
First, Bridgewater contends that Monticello did not have the statutory authority to issue the bonds because the Fiber Project is not a ―utility or other public convenience from which a revenue is or may be derived.‖ Minn. Stat. § 475.52, subd. 1. Second, Bridgewater asserts that Monticello intends to improperly apply the bond proceeds to pay current expenses, which is explicitly prohibited by the statute. Interpretation of these statutory provisions is an issue of first impression in Minnesota.
It’s the first issue that I think it most interesting. Again I’ve pulled out the portion of the decision that I think is more interesting to readers – that’s the portion where they discuss broadband as a utility. I think this decision has the potential to have an impact beyond Monticello. Broadband as a Utility is a topic that has come up several times with the Broadband Task Force and is often shelved as a contentious topic.
The legislature has granted municipalities the express authority to own and operate telephone exchanges within their borders, as well as to operate public-cable communications systems. Minn. Stat. §§ 237.19, 238.08, subd. 3 (2008). Municipalities are not granted a similar authorization with regard to Internet service; however, the legislature has stated that it is a goal to ―encourage[e] economically efficient deployment of infrastructure for higher speed telecommunication services and greater capacity for voice, video, and data transmission.‖ Minn. Stat. § 237.011 (2008). Therefore, based on a plain and obvious interpretation of the term ―public convenience‖ and the general intent of the legislature to promote telecommunications, the district court did not err in dismissing the action for failure to state a claim.
Regardless, even if this court were to accept Bridgewater‘s reading of the statute, the Fiber Project arguably qualifies as a utility or utility-like project. A Minnesota statute generally restricting the ability of Minnesota municipalities to issue bonds for projects outside of their jurisdiction provides an exception for bonds issued to finance property for ―municipal public utilities.‖ Minn. Stat. § 471.656 (2008). That same statute defines ―municipal public utilities‖ as ―the provision by a municipality of electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater removal and treatment, telecommunications, district heating, or cable television and related services.
Regardless, even if this court were to accept Bridgewater‘s reading of the statute, the Fiber Project arguably qualifies as a utility or utility-like project. A Minnesota statute generally restricting the ability of Minnesota municipalities to issue bonds for projects outside of their jurisdiction provides an exception for bonds issued to finance property for ―municipal public utilities.‖ Minn. Stat. § 471.656 (2008). That same statute defines ―municipal public utilities‖ as ―the provision by a municipality of electricity, natural gas, water, wastewater removal and treatment, telecommunications, district heating, or cable television and related services.‖ Minn. Stat. § 471.656, subd. 3(c).
The definition of municipal public utilities appears broad enough to contemplate Internet service. Internet service could arguably be considered a utility under ―telecommunications‖ or ―related services.‖ Bridgewater argues that ―related services‖ means services related to providing cable television, such as on-demand movies.
However, cable-television companies often provide Internet services. Therefore, on-demand movies, digital video recorders, and Internet service could also be considered ―related services‖ under the statute. Furthermore, Merriam Webster dictionary defines telecommunication as ―communication at a distance (as by telephone).‖ Merriam Webster Dictionary 1207 (10th ed. 2001). Internet service seems to meet this definition. E-mail, instant messaging, and talking via web-cam are all ways to communicate at a distance utilizing Internet service. Based on the foregoing definition, the Fiber Project is arguably a utility.
Bridgewater argues that Internet service cannot be considered a utility because it does not have the ―near universal usage common to a utility.‖ This argument is flawed. As noted by Monticello, ―[i]t would be absurd to conclude that the Minnesota Legislature [would allow revenue bonds] to be used only to fund the creation of systems that provide services that already are in universal or near-universal use.‖ Rather, it seems that the reasoning behind allowing municipalities to issue these bonds is to provide utility-like services to people who otherwise would not be able to enjoy the benefits of the services offered. It is illogical to conclude that something is or is not a utility based on the number of people who have access to it.
Then they go on to discuss the definition of public, which I think is less compelling than the issues above.
Posted in Community Networks, FTTH, MN, Policy	| Tagged monticello	| 7 Replies
Minnesota Broadband Task Force Special Meeting
Posted on February 7, 2009 by Ann Treacy
It was tougher to take notes at today’s meeting than it has been at previous Task Force meetings – especially when they discussed the shovel-ready projects because there was a lot of back and forth dialog and I’m a blogger not a stenographer. I’m going to include all of my notes – but I wanted to add a couple of notes.
First – I didn’t take great notes on the Broadband Mapping presentation because it was remarkably similar to the sneak preview I wrote about on Thursday. I just added notes and questions that were new.
Second – I just read an article in the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Broadband task force drops plan to get stimulus funds). I think the tone of the article is misleading. I don’t think the Task Force dropped the list of projects so much as they decided that realistically they couldn’t be the ones to decide which projects should be funded – and if they handed over a list of projects that the powers that be would assume that the Task Force had made some qualitative decisions to create the list.
They couldn’t decide which projects should be funded because (1) they don’t know the rules for funding yet because Congress is still creating rules and (2) they don’t have the time to delve into these projects and create a recommendation for the future of broadband in Minnesota, which is their primary goal. So instead of providing a list, it sounded to me at if the Task Force decided to provide benchmarks or guidelines for Legislators to decide which projects to fund after they gather their own list of potential projects.
Third, the Star Tribune article did pick up on the tension in the room between potentially opposing views on how and where to increase broadband in Minnesota. I think we saw a touch of this last month – I think we’re going to see a lot more as the group moves forward to make recommendations on how and where to increase broadband in Minnesota.
On with the meeting notes… Continue reading →
Posted in Digital Divide, FTTH, Funding, MN, Open Networks, Policy, Research, Rural, Vendors, Wireless	| Tagged Connected Minnesota, Minnesota broadband task force, monticello	| 3 Replies
Update on Monticello – kind of
Posted on January 23, 2009 by Ann Treacy
The news in Monticello is that there is no news. Earlier this month I reported that both the FTTH Council and NATOA had been granted permission to present their viewpoint by submitting Briefs (limited to 20 pages). Well this month they have both backed off that option because some members of the association have urged it not to take a position in this matter.
(Update: Thanks to a careful reader for pointing out that the TIA dropped out, not the NATOA. It looks as if they may have filed the Amicus on Jan 23, although it’s not yet available online.)
Posted in Community Networks, FTTH, MN, Policy	| Tagged monticello	| 2 Replies
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