I would like to help see this come true.  I've helped other cities create and a co-op and when it comes to experience in Broadband, I have 23 years in building and managing a broadband operation.
 
Let me know what I can do.

When do you know when infrastructure are needed or a story comes in and damages your system.  Where do we get the money to fix it?  Raise taxes or raise the broadband rates?
The excess money is used like with any other business, except it doesn't go into some ones pocket.
Programming is not free.  The local ABC station charges a commercial a fee, that's how they make money to pay their cost since you get it free.  Some cable programming has less commercials, but the provider pays a fee for that channel and each channel.  Nothing is free.  Since we are on programming, this is so high now a days and doesn't even get regulated like cable TV pricing is today.  Programming raise their rates quit often and then the cable company raises theirs prices.
VOD is a service that would be offered, you can save and watch a channel at any time, not just PPV which you can order, but only at certain times of the day and when that program is available.
It is not inevitible because it depend on what the franchise says and even if it talks about it.  A lot of people will still be waiting because it just costs to much up front with little to no return on the investment.
No it doesn't need to be a non-profit venture, non-profit ventures are subsidized and you will never find a non-profit broadband provider in this country or any other.  Governments operate like a business, investigate the state finances and you will find investments and other things that bring in money to fund services to the state supplies us.
If you want a 500 Gbit connection, then would you pay that price after you see it.  Reserving this much bandwidth 24/7 would cost you.  Now if you were guaranteed X with the provision of high bandwidths, then you would pay less.  Something that's directly relate to QOS.
 
[quote author=ron_kollman link=board=money;num=1043387173;start=0#5 date=01/30/03 at 20:28:32]Hi Jenmor,
 
Again,  what happens after the bonds are paid off.  The only expense then will be operating and infrastructure improvements.  So what happens to the excess?  I think our rates should be reduced or receive a rebate.
 
I agree.  But, if they make over and above these costs, what heppens to the excess money.  If it goes to the city, that is the same as a tax!
 
Commercials used to pay for programming.  Now we pay for the medium and commercials... you should feel quite cheated.  Some say that you have more choices... but I can only watch and tape a couple of shows at a time!!
 
You will get broadband someday.  It is inevitible.  There are other altenatives even to fiber.  I worked on a 26GHz link module for the LMDS system which may take hold.  It can bring 20 T1s in to an area over the air.  This is not the only alternative!  And, having worked for the aforementioned company before the name change, I can tell you that they will probably not last long in the broadband market anyway.    
 
>The referendum needs to be approved, or people like >me, businesses, etc. will never be able to enjoy the >same technology that perhaps you are currently >enjoying.  
 
I am still trying to find what the referendum will actually say.  From what I am hearing, there need to be two changes:  
1)  It needs to be a non-profit venture
2)  I think the city should only bring fiber to our homes and the other services should be offered in other ways.  A technical expert in the latest version of IEEE Spectrum said the best success will come by decoupling the services from the medium of transport.  In essence, I just want a 500Gbps pipe into my home and what I do with it is my business.

Annie wrote:  "Check out our new financing model that will not be tax-backed.  No G.O. Bonds will be allowed to be used when the cities go to finance the broadband utility according to our question that will appear on the Nov. 2004 ballots if enough signatures are garnered."
 
how can i get a copy of this model or some abstract that provides some of the details?
 
thanks