Council moves to expand affordable high-speed internet throughout Tempe

At the June 27 Tempe City Council meeting, the city took steps to provide access to low-cost, high-speed internet to the entire community, approving a new fiber license and right-of-way use agreement to grant internet service providers access to the city right-of-way for the construction and maintenance of fiber optic networks.

Internet access is vital to the education and prosperity of residents, from helping students do their homework to helping people apply for jobs, it’s also an economic development tool, a city release explained.

“This is a giant leap for the city,” Councilmember Randy Keating, who had been part of this effort since 2016, stated in the release. “Tempe is known as an innovation center in Arizona and I couldn’t be more proud of this effort and outcome.”

“High-speed internet access everywhere in our city ensures equal access to opportunities for everyone,” Tempe Councilmember Berdetta Hodge stated in the release. “As a governing board member for Tempe Union High School District, I have seen the impact that access to high-speed internet makes for our students.”

Some sections of Tempe do not currently have high-speed internet service, the release noted.

Government and Community Affairs Manager for Google Fiber Will Novak spoke to council, saying, “While we are still working out details, we are excited that we could be the first new ISP and fiber entrant into the city of Tempe.”

Internet providers can now pay a yearly fee for each linear foot of right-of-way their facilities occupy, pay a yearly fee of 2% of their revenue for providing internet services, or negotiate an agreement to provide in-kind materials or services to the city of Tempe, the release explained.

Applicants will apply for licenses with the city’s Public Works Department, and the city engineer will issue licenses to qualified applicants.

The license will also help ensure that Tempe’s rights of way are disturbed less frequently for construction projects, according to the release. The city will offer the schedule for paving and road improvements for cost savings and less disruption to neighborhoods.

For information on this project, visit tempe.gov/TempeFiber.