The City Council heard from members of the Technology Task Force, a group that since the summer has been assessing the city’s telecommunication needs and priorities. The group was made up of a number of members from the business community including large companies such as GE Fleet Services and Digital River as well as smaller home-based organizations. Among the group’s key findings was that among the business community there’s a “good sense of satisfaction” about the telecommunications environment, according to Kiran Mysore, of GE Fleet Services. At the same time, those home users have fewer choices (basically either cable or DSL). The group did not find that Eden Prairie would make a good candidate for wireless because of the city’s low density in population and tree interference. 

The task force also made the following recommendations:

"Increase collaboration between the city, library, school district, and the private sector on this issue.

-          Identify areas with concentrations of people without affordable broadband access and promote low-cost solutions.

-          Provide computers and Internet access at community meeting places

-          Increase the number of low-cost or free computers available through the school district

Leverage all government regulatory authority to ensure the highest levels of telecommunications

-          encourage Comcast to rapidly deploy their next generation broadband

-          Negotiate a franchise agreement with Qwest

Promote a regional and/or state approach on telecommunications.

Measure progress towards the vision,

-          conduct a regular review of the community’s telecommunication infrastructure and services

-          gather valid info from residents and business on telecom services, digital inclusion, community satisfaction, city role

Develop a municipal system for inventorying, monitoring and mapping telecommunications infrastructure investments

ID opportunities for public and private sector entities to leverage joint telecom investment

Explore existing and emerging municipal wired and wireless applications to determine their potential. "

Learn more about the Community Technology Task Force by clicking here.