April Town Meeting Articles

FALMOUTH IS ABOUT TO

VOTE THIS APRIL

ON FASTER, MORE RELIABLE INTERNET

Article 25

Confirms Last November’s TM Vote to Establish the Legal Structure for Falmouth’s Network

  • A Municipal Light Plant (MLP) is the legal structure in Massachusetts law that allows towns like
    Falmouth to build and operate a fiber optic network.
  • Town Meeting overwhelmingly voted in favor of establishing an MLP (175 – 13) last November.
    Adopting an MLP requires a second YES vote with a 2/3 majority
  •  Establishing an MLP does not cost the town of Falmouth ANYTHING. Town Meeting maintains
    approval authority over any future network construction or major expenditure

Article 26

Creates the Municipal Light Board

  • Article 26 allows for the election of a Municipal Light Board (MLB) made up of 5 Falmouth citizens.
  • This board develops operating models, financial plans, and applications for federal/state grants.
  •  The board is also responsible for negotiating with potential contractors to build and operate Falmouth’s network, and is tasked with finding and hiring a manager to oversee day-to-day
    operations of the network.

Article 27

Calls for November Election of the Municipal Light Board

  • Town elections are usually scheduled annually in May, meaning we would have to wait roughly an additional 13 months before a board could begin work.
  • Town Meeting may use a routine procedure to petition the Commonwealth for a special election
    in November.
  •  There are significant costs associated with delay:-
    – Missing out of Federal infrastructure funds worth million
    – Falmouth would experience increased construction costs due to inflation and would wait behind other communities for fiber and communities capable of building the network.
    – Falmouth residents continue to pay the high cost of unreliable internet.

Questions or Comments? Email us at info@falmouthnet.org