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Washington City Seeks Input on Potential Muni Broadband Service

The city of Anacortes wants citizen feedback on whether or not to move forward and create a municipal fiber optic network.

(TNS) -- ANACORTES — The city of Anacortes is asking residents to weigh in on the possibility of establishing a fiber optic broadband utility within the city.

The city is installing fiber optic links to control its water and wastewater system, and the opportunity exists to utilize the excess fiber optic capacity, according to a news release.

Residents and businesses who wish to participate in a survey can do so at cityofanacortes.servicezones.net.

The survey will allow the public to express satisfaction with current broadband services offered in the area, voice their opinions on the proposed network project and request expansion of the fiber network into specific neighborhoods.

Anacortes Mayor Laurie Gere said in the news release that a municipal fiber system is, “an essential municipal service. I am proud of Anacortes for being on the forefront of exploring offering this service to our community and look forward to having data to accurately gauge community interest.”

Anacortes Administrative Services Director Emily Schuh, who is managing the city’s broadband project, said in the release the city is evaluating several business models for how to best serve the community.

The survey will help guide the city.

“We need to ensure that we are responding to a widespread demand from our residents and that it is not just 50 or 100 residents who want better internet access,” Schuh said in the release.

©2017 the Skagit Valley Herald (Mount Vernon, Wash.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.