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South Bend Redevelopment Commission <br />Regular Meeting —June 14, 2011 <br />we're asking the Commission to pay for the <br />study to see what it would take. Downtown <br />would then have this new service that will be <br />an advantage over the others areas that have <br />Metronet access. <br />Mr. Varner wanted to note for the record that <br />the Metronet operates as a non - profit agency. <br />They are heavily subsidized by the city. At <br />the same time they are in competition with <br />companies that are paying taxes and <br />supporting the city. <br />Mr. Littrell responded that the Metronet is a <br />dark fiber provider. It is a local company. <br />The users of the Metronet select whatever <br />internet service provider would be able to <br />give them the best service cross - country. <br />Mr. Varner said he objects that the city is cut <br />out of the deal completely. He feels the <br />Metronet needs to start paying something in <br />the way of a fee to the city, as does AT &T, <br />as do other vendors. Instead, we continue to <br />subsidize it. If they are going to be a viable <br />operation and compete with the other <br />companies that are paying taxes, they need to <br />start paying the city instead of constantly <br />requesting more money. He thinks this radio <br />access is a nice idea, but some of those <br />revenues that flow to the Metronet need to <br />come to the city. He doesn't want the next <br />request to be that the Commission buy <br />$200,000 4300,000 worth of radios. If the <br />Metronet is going to compete with the <br />regular vendors, they need to pay like the <br />regular vendors do. <br />Mr. Littrell responded that the Metronet is <br />not competing with the regular vendors. <br />Users of the Metronet still need those other <br />providers for cross - country access. Metronet <br />34 <br />