Waterloo, Iowa Continues Broadband Exploration

City leaders in Waterloo, Iowa continue to take a close look at the possibility of a community fiber network. And they've now decided to gather additional community input through the appointment of a citizen committee.

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Last year, the Waterloo Telecommunications Utility Board - established in 2005 with city voters approved a municipal telecommunication referendum - hired Magellan Advisors to conduct a feasibility study. Waterloo sits right next door to Cedar Falls, Iowa which has operated a successful municipal network since the mid-1990's. The feasibility study is currently in draft form and not yet available for public review.

At a meeting this week, the utility board voted to establish a citizen committee to help the Board with the evaluation process. Members of the advisory committee will be appointed by utility board Chair Andy Van Fleet and confirmed by the Board.

“This is such a monumental project that we could as a group benefit from having additional minds thinking through some of the best ways to proceed with this." -- Waterloo Telecommunications Utility Board Chair Andy Fleet

As reported by the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier, Magellan Advisors has been updating the feasibility study to incorporated smart city elements being promoted by Waterloo Mayor Quentin Hart.