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Mountain View study session highlights broadband gaps, staff to pursue city fiber conceptual design
Summary
Council heard a consultant—s Broadband Needs Assessment that found concentrated internet adoption gaps, limited city conduit and fiber ownership and potential short-term wireless fixes; staff recommended an RFP for a city fiber network conceptual design and said it would pursue grant and public-private partnership opportunities.
Mountain View City Council on Feb. 25 received a study-session briefing on a Broadband Needs Assessment and Gap Analysis that found a citywide mix of high service levels and concentrated digital-deprivation pockets and recommended steps including a conceptual city fiber network design.
The study session, led by Assistant City Manager Arne Andrews and Intergovernmental Relations Manager Christina Gilmore, featured Entrust Solutions senior consultant Jim Severance presenting technical memoranda on assets, market conditions, needs and a SWOT-style gap analysis.
The consultant and staff said the city does not own a comprehensive fiber network. "The city doesn't own fiber themselves," Andrews said, noting the city—s legacy iNet contract and roughly 3.7 miles of conduit serving about a quarter of the city—s 30 traffic-controlled intersections. The team identified nearly 200 anchor institutions and almost 4,800 street lights that could be leveraged for future deployment.
The market assessment flagged limited competition in parts of Mountain View: "60% of the city has a single broadband provider," the consultant reported, and only about 42% of serviceable addresses have fiber access. A household survey (April——June 2024) of 577 respondents showed many residents pay about $75 a month and reported actual speeds lower than advertised, and staff said areas of lower adoption align with HUD-designated low-to-moderate income blocks.
Public commenters urged faster action and specific priorities. "I want fiber to the home," said resident Alex Brown, adding a municipal fiber approach would keep control local. Devin Conley, vice president of the Digital Equity Coalition, urged a quick RFP and coordination with neighboring jurisdictions, saying the Entrust report "is very well done" and stressed the urgency because state and federal funding windows are opening. Frank McConnell, a Shoreline West resident using legacy DSL, told council he believed a private provider had been deterred in the past by permitting constraints.
Staff summarized findings and next steps: pursue further research where council indicates consensus, develop and issue an RFP for a city fiber network conceptual design, coordinate with state legislative advocates on funding opportunities (including an upcoming state broadband program), and, if grants arrive, consider establishing a technology enterprise fund to manage future broadband project revenues and expenditures. "If we were to receive grant monies tomorrow... a conceptual network design makes a lot of sense," Andrews said.
Council members asked technical and process questions about coordination with existing street and utility work ("dig once" and trenching), comparisons with peer cities (San Jose, Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale), and components of a conceptual design. Public Works Director Jennifer Ng described existing practices: the city coordinates paving projects and encourages telecom applicants to coordinate joint trenching when feasible.
No formal action or vote was taken; staff said it heard "broad consensus" to proceed with a conceptual design and to pursue grants, partnerships and utility coordination where practical. Staff will return with further analysis and scope options for council direction.
Ending: Staff said it would return with a scoped RFP and options for funding and partnership, and that the next stage is analysis and outreach to identify which elements the council wants prioritized for any conceptual design and potential implementation.
