Municipal Broadband

How can Seattle be one of the tech capitals of the world, from housing major STEM programs all the way to local startups, but be a City where low income residents are more likely to be without internet? The answer lies with the powerful internet service providers and the .

The COVID-19 pandemic further exposed a clear lack of digital equity across our neighborhoods, with the areas of Central and South Seattle having the largest gaps. And the past year-and-a-half has required many of us to move our social networks online, perform our jobs virtually, and have our kids learn through a computer. I saw this through my two kids trying to learn from home and through the lack of options available to the homeless residents I served through the Chief Seattle Club. Carl Hiltbrunner wrote an for The Stranger earlier this year that perfectly encapsulates why we need to stop talking about this issue and instead take immediate action.

The City of Seattle has conducted the Technology Access and Adoption Study 5 times. This is not to mention that the Mayor recently produced the Internet for All Seattle Report and the City Council passed the Internet for All Resolution. However, what these measures fail to address is a long-term solution, as they are more about streamlining our pre-existing internet networks that make due with inefficient providers like Comcast. This will just exacerbate the inequities that have been present for far too long. The real solution here is municipal broadband and I have both the political will and plan to make it happen.

Public Utility

I will work with the City Council to create a new utility on municipal broadband. An estimated 250 public employees will be needed to run and manage this utility, creating positive jobs for the City. Much like how the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 demonstrated why a public water supply should not be left up to private industries who exist to make a profit, internet access and online connectivity should be no different. Just like how electric power, water, drainage & wastewater, and garbage utilities are created, run, and used by the residents of Seattle, broadband can and should be a basic public utility. More than 750 cities across the country have already invested in municipal broadband services. It is time Seattle does too.

Saves the Public Money

In 2018, households spent an average of for internet service. This is unacceptable. We should not be asking our most vulnerable neighbors to choose between putting food on the table or having access to the internet - both essential needs. Initial feasibility reports indicate that building a city-wide network would cost $440 million. The City can easily bond this against future service fees and revenue streams while simultaneously issuing a fee for service, meaning that residents will not pay any out-of-pocket taxes for this network. There are hundreds of miles of City-owned fiber maintenance networks across Seattle. This infrastructure that has already been produced by these gigabit connections can be readily streamlined into the municipal broadband utility. The City of Ellensburg, Washington has been implementing a similar model since 2017. A comprehensive municipal broadband network will cut user fees by more than half, while providing a more reliable and efficient service.

However, with this being said, Seattle’s municipal broadband utility will provide access to all residents despite what their incomes are. In the event of an emergency or unforeseen disaster, user fees will be waived to ensure that all remain covered. Additionally, I will create a long-term payment assistance program similar to Seattle City Light’s Utility-Discount Program. Where my plan differs though is that rather than a discount, all income eligible residents will receive 100% coverage. We will also have a no questions asked policy so that residents concerned about their immigration status can comfortably receive access.

Equitable Distribution

We need municipal broadband for our students. Period. Many students have not received a high quality education during the pandemic simply because they either did not have internet or had poor connection - at no fault of their own. Cellular hotspots and public WiFi locations do not make up for outages, limited usage times, and slow service. During the pandemic, were without reliable internet for virtual instruction. This further increases learning gaps and the digital divide, forcing students to fall behind.

Small and local businesses, which are at the core of Seattle’s character, have to balance rising rent costs with exorbitant internet rates. Municipal broadband is a step toward opening the door for more BIPOC and women-owned businesses. 

I will also prioritize device loaner programs that can be run out of Seattle Public Libraries at no charge to residents. 24/7 City-operated labs will be stationed in areas across the City without nearby libraries, so that computers, printers, and WiFi can always be available to those without access.