The City of Sandy started its municipal internet service provider, known as SandyNet, in 2003 and is now in the middle of upgrading to a fiber optic network.

But while Sandy’s residents have enjoyed the successful venture into internet
service, some states have laws that prohibit municipalities from even offering
it.

Now Sandy has added its support alongside the Next Century Cities (an
initiative supporting communities seeking fast, affordable and reliable
internet) and 38 other cities in urging the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) to respect community choice for internet infrastructure.

Mayor Bill King and City Council President Jeremy Pietzold signed their names
to a letter which was sent prior to the FCC meeting held on Thursday, Feb. 26
when it was expected to consider a memorandum opinion and order
addressing petitions filed by two municipal broadband providers to preempt
provisions of state laws in North Carolina and Tennessee restricting
communities from providing broadband services.

“This group is all in favor of expanding broadband service,” Sandy City
Manager Seth Atkinson said. “We think that’s a worthy endeavor.”

The ruling will have no impact on SandyNet.

The letter reads, in part:
“It is increasingly clear that ultra-fast, next-generation Internet networks are
the key to building and sustaining thriving communities, as essential as good
healthcare, great schools, and reliable public safety. Indeed, in the coming
decades, the Internet will increasingly become a platform for delivering these
and other core services to our citizens, in addition to providing an onramp to
the jobs and opportunities of tomorrow. Providing high-quality Internet is
inarguably essential to safeguarding the public interest in the years and
decades to come.”

Atkinson said Sandy’s success in the field shows “how it can happen.”

The service had approximately 1,200 customers on the old wireless system
and is already up to 1,800 signups for the new network.

“Our expectations were very much met, with people demanding the service,”
Atkinson said. “It’s gone a little faster than we thought it would.”

The new service will provide internet service at approximately 20 times the
speed of a wireless service, and Atkinson sees the new capabilities as a good
marketing tool to bring new business to the city.

“We really see this hopefully as an economic development tool moving
forward,” he said.