Aurora approves agreement with Online Aurora to provide Internet service to 17 Habitat homes

The Aurora City Council voted to adopt a resolution authorizing a services agreement with Online Aurora to provide Internet service to a 17-home Habitat for Humanity subdivision (referred to in the meeting record as the Habitat Green Freedom community).

Austin Fitzcorbin, introduced himself as "the volunteer director at Online Aurora," and Jeff Anderson identified himself as deputy CIO. Anderson told the council the city had previously run fiber to the intersection near the subdivision and the contract completes the commitment to bring connectivity to the 17 homes so a partner — variously referred to in the record as Nycor/Nitecore/NYCOR — can study smart-home technology in a real-world installation. "This now is completing the agreement we made ... to provide Internet service to those 17 homes," Anderson said.

Anderson and Fitzcorbin described the homes as a first-of-its-kind, smart-home Habitat community that combines solar, gas and electric systems with in-home networking to help residents manage energy use. Staff said the city’s role is limited to providing fiber to the public right-of-way at no additional cost; outside-to-home laterals and powered outside equipment are being installed by private subcontractors (recorded in the meeting as NTI and Sciantel). Fitzcorbin said in-home networking equipment and certain deployments would be handled by Online Aurora’s subcontractors.

Alderman Mesiakos (Mayor Pro Tem during part of the discussion) asked about data collection; staff said the partner that is conducting the smart-home study will hold most data initially and that the city could request some data in the future but that details had not yet been negotiated. "So that'll be Nitecore's data," Anderson said, adding the city can seek what it needs from the partner as the program develops. Council members also asked why the project was led by the partner rather than by a larger incumbent provider; staff said multiple providers have conduit in the neighborhood and that the project was a community-based fiber solution built with Habitat as a partner.

Alderman Smith moved approval of the resolution and Alderman Franco seconded. The clerk called the roll and the resolution was adopted by a recorded vote of 11–0. Staff noted the contract term is tied to the last home’s completion and that the city retains options if Online Aurora’s structure changes.