FALMOUTH VOTED IN THE AFFIRMATIVE ON FASTER, MORE RELIABLE INTERNET
- An Investment in Falmouth’s Future
- A Competitive Alternative
- World-Class Performance
Article 25 - PASSED ✓
Confirms Last November 2021 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) at the November 2021 Town Meeting. Adopting an MLP required a second YES vote with a 2/3 majority at the April 2022 Town Meeting.
- 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 - PASSED ✓
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 - PASSED ✓
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.