Nov.

2021 Town Meeting

Article 22
Forming an MLP
FalmouthNet, Inc
A Plan for Falmouth’s Internet Services
• Existing Internet services are unreliable and out of date.
• Current network companies have not invested sufficiently on the Cape
• They use repurposed infrastructure not designed for the Internet
• A town-wide fiber optic network will provide
• A competitive alternative with local control
• Consistent service to every home and business in Falmouth
• Fast, reliable and affordable Internet service
• Capacity for long term growth including the summer surge
• A network built for the modern Internet that will last many decades
• Over 900 U.S. municipal, community & cooperative networks exist
• Over 20 local Massachusetts networks offer Internet services
• These Massachusetts networks are organized as MLPs
What is an MLP?
• A Municipal Light Plant (MLP) is a legal construct that allows towns to
provide utility services, including Internet, to its residents
• MLPs are empowered and obligated to act on behalf of their customers
• MLPs have broad flexibility to operate a network or partner with private
service providers
• MLPs have evolved since the 1880s to provide locally controlled electric,
gas, cable and telecommunications services
• MLPs are governed by an elected MLP board or the select board
• MLP operations are led by a manager hired by the MLP board
• MLPs are defined by MGL Part I, Title XXII, Chapter 164
An MLP is NOT more town government
• MLPs are independent, non-profit entities
• The MLP manager and MLP board have full charge of operations and
management
• The manager must provide annual operational and financial reports
• The MLP may incur town debt to create, expand or make extraordinary
repairs to its infrastructure only via 2/3’s town vote. Town funds cannot
be used for routine operations or maintenance
• The MLP may form cooperative agreements with other MLPs
• The MLP may contribute to the town general revenue fund
Timeline
June 2020 Initial public meetings
Nov. 2020 Feasibility study completed – funded by EDIC
Oct. 2021 Engineering Design commences – funded by state
Nov. 2021 First town meeting vote on MLP
Jan. 2022 Engineering design final report
April 2022 Second town meeting vote MLP
April – May 2022 – Elect an MLP board and hire a manager
Summer 2022 – Finalize funding and operations model
What does today’s vote mean?
• It is the first of two town meeting votes to form an MLP.
• It supports the process of creating of the local, independent fiber
optic broadband network.
• It shows support to federal and state granting agencies as well as
private investors.
• It does not commit the town to any expenditures or specific course of
action.
• It puts Falmouth among a growing number of towns and cities
throughout MA and the country that want to provide better and
more equitable Internet services to its citizens and businesses.
FalmouthNet, Inc. Board and Advisors
FalmouthNet is a registered 501(C)(3) non-profit company solely dedicated to bringing better Internet to
Falmouth

Board Members
• Courtney Bird President and Treasurer – Retired Teacher, Builder, Cape Cod Marathon Director, and Falmouth
Conservation Commission member
• Marilois Snowman Vice President - CEO and Founder of Mediastruction
• David Isenberg Clerk – Distinguished Member of Technical Staff Bell, AT&T, Labs (retired) and former Senior
Advisor to the FCC
• Art Gaylord Co-founder and Chairman Emeritus, OpenCape, retired Information Technology Director WHOI
• Dan Gessen Falmouth High School Grad, Class of 2018. Junior at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
• Peter Zeeb President and CEO of Geosyntec Consultants
• Jason Cullinane Lt Colonel, U.S. Army (ret.), Marketing, Branding and Identity specialist
Advisory Committee
• Chris Mitchell Director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative at the Institute for Local Self Reliance.
He is a leading national expert on community broadband networks
• Brough Turner Founder of netBlazr Inc. (Boston based residential network)
• Gene Curry Attorney, Chair of the Cape Cod Blue Economy Foundation and of the Infrastructure Committee
of the Cape Cod Technology Council
• Sean Gonsalves Senior editor, Institute of Local Self Reliance Community Braodband Networks Inititiative
• Steve Crocker Part of the original team that invented the Internet. Member, Internet Hall of Fame
A new network make things better
• A new fiber optic network will be built for today’s Internet usage with
provision for decades of growth
• It will start with state of the art technology and enable generations of
affordable upgrades
• It will be available to all homes and businesses
• It will better support educational, healthcare, work at home and small
business needs
• It will be governed by policies set by our citizens and be responsible to
the community
How is the Network paid for?
There are four primary funding sources that can be used to pay
for the estimated $55m network
Source 1: Source 2: Source 3: Source 4:
Private funding State broadband Federal broadband Town funds
infrastructure grants infrastructure grants (bond, plus interest)

• The MLB will decide if a single source or a combination of funding

sources will be best for Falmouth
• The funding sources will shape the operation and management
• However, the MLP Board selects the options and will be in control
Building support within government
• Discussions with offices of Sen. Markey and Warren and Rep. Keating
• Promoting the notion of “seasonally underserved communities”
• Discussions with State Sen. Moran, Rep. Vieira and Fernandes
• All are supportive of additional state funds for municipal broadband
• Inclusion of broadband in private utility right of ways
• Discussions with Falmouth Select Board and Town meeting members
• Town working group to discuss issues relating to the construction and
operation of a new network