Aurora nonprofit aims to expand fiber optic connections
The city of Aurora may be ready to share the high-speed Internet service provided by its 47-mile fiber optic network.
If aldermen approve a lease with a new nonprofit created to promote access to the network, Aurora schools, hospitals, businesses and governmental organizations could be first in line for service.
OnLight Aurora, led by Mayor Tom Weisner, Alderman Rick Mervine, Chief Technology Officer Ted Beck and three Aurora residents with expertise in technology and communications, began asking the city council Tuesday to provide seed money, a loan and a lease of up to 36 strands of fiber optic cable.
OnLight would use the strands to sell broadband Internet service to schools, businesses or other interested entities that don’t have access to such service because of cost or other factors.
“We’re looking to open our network for the benefit of others,” Beck said about the fiber optic network, built between 2008 and 2011 for about $7 million.
The network connects to 52 city properties and saves the city an estimated $485,000 a year on communications costs, Beck said, calling the network a success. Having the fiber optic system already in place also has allowed the city to apply for and receive $16 million in grants for projects such as a traffic management system and video conferencing technology for firefighter training.
“We’re looking at going to a phase where we’re enabling our partners to be a part of that success as well,” Beck said.
The network includes 144 strands of fiber optic cable, and so far, the city is using 77 for communication. OnLight would begin by leasing 12 strands and paying the city $500 a month for each strand once it’s in service for six months. More strands could be leased later if customer interest in the service grows.
Expansion of fiber access to schools, businesses and nonprofits was part of the plan when the city council approved construction of the fiber optic network in 2006, Ergo said.
“The schools are the No. 1 partner OnLight Aurora is looking to work with,” she said.
Weisner said connecting schools would provide “a huge potential for positively impacting the community.”
“The idea is to benefit the community in as many ways as we can,” he said.
Aldermen are set to vote Tuesday, May 8, on a 20-year fiber lease with OnLight Aurora, a $25,000 grant to help the nonprofit get started and a three-year $150,000 loan.