Public Utilities and Public Works Committee — Minutes, Dec 5, 2022

City of Somerville, Massachusetts City Council Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes 6:00 PM Monday, December 5, 2022 This meeting was held via GoToWebinar and was called to order by Chair Clingan at 6:02 pm and adjourned at 7:07 pm. Councilor Gomez Mouakad moved to adjourn, and the motion was passed by roll call vote. Others present: Hannah Carrillo - Mayor’s Office, David Goodridge - IT, David Slonina - IT, Richard Raiche - IAM, Jill Lathan - DPW, Carolyn Kirk, Stephanie Widzowski - Clerk of Committees. Roll Call Charlotte Kelly, Chairperson Jesse Clingan and Vice Chair Beatriz Gomez Mouakad Present: 1. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 11, 2022. Committee Minutes (ID # 22-1703) APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Kelly, Chairperson Clingan and Vice Chair Gomez Mouakad AYE: 2. Approval of the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of November 16, 2022. Committee Minutes (ID # 22-2052) APPROVED RESULT: City Councilor At Large Kelly, Chairperson Clingan and Vice Chair Gomez Mouakad AYE: 3. By Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Burnley Jr., Councilor Clingan, Councilor Davis, Councilor Gomez Mouakad, Councilor Kelly, Councilor McLaughlin, Councilor Pineda Neufeld, Councilor Scott, Councilor Strezo and Councilor Wilson That this Council discuss municipal broadband, and the implementation of the Somerville Internet Access Task Force. Order (ID # 22-1848) Taken together with item 22-1061. Chair Clingan sponsored Carolyn Kirk of Massachusetts Technology Collaborative to speak. Ms. Kirk presented on her experience implementing broadband in communities across western Massachusetts and described options for internet access expansion in Somerville. Two avenues for installing broadband are by leasing space on existing utility poles or by digging conduits underground. One highlight of the discussion was overbuild, meaning that infrastructure already exists in Page 1 of 2

Public Utilities and Public Works Committee Meeting Minutes December 5, 2022 the municipality, which would disqualify Somerville from some federal funding. Ms. Kirk also suggested using an RFP to assess feasibility. There was conversation about funding sources, including grants. Ms. Carrillo said that OSPCD recently hired an equity planner who has been looking into municipal broadband and at the overarching problem beyond it, the digital divide. Chair Clingan sponsored Greg Hill to speak. Mr. Hill cited representatives from local organizations over benefits of municipal broadband and urged for public hearings on the task force report recommendations. KEPT IN COMMITTEE RESULT: 4. By Councilor Ewen-Campen, Councilor Scott and Councilor Wilson That this City Council discuss the recommendations of the 2019 Internet Access Task Force, and invite relevant experts to share ways to provide universal internet access. Order (ID # 22-1061) Taken together with item 22-1848. RECOMMENDED TO BE MARKED WORK COMPLETED RESULT: Referenced Documents: PUPW - 2022-12-5 Additional information (with 22-1061, 22-1848) Page 2 of 2