World class communications are central to Eagan's economic development and quality of life.  The Eagan City Council created the Technology Working Group in 2004 (first called the Eagan Tech Task Force) to advise ways to ensure and grow high quality, competitive, communications services throughout the city. 

The Working Group is made up of some of the top technology managers from small and large Eagan businesses, Eagan residents, representatives from other city advisory commissions, and Eagan's Community Development and Communications directors.

Eagan Moves Ahead to Reach High-Speed Internet Goals

To help achieve its stated goal of pursuing "world-class" Internet speeds, connectivity and access for all Eagan residents and businesses, the Eagan City Council has hired a technical consultant to help narrow the options developed throughout more than six months of study by the Eagan Technology Working Group.

"The City Council, the business community and the Technology Working Group recognize the importance of high-speed broadband to Eagan's economic future.  Retaining the City's own consultant is the next step in making sure we identify the most viable options for achieving world class broadband in Eagan," said Ruthe Batulis, President of the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce.

 Technology Working Group's 2008 Priorities:

• Bring back to the City Council the best option or options to achieve world class Internet speeds and connectivity for Eagan homes and businesses.  Note: this could be from the private sector alone, in partnership, or by the City, if necessary. 
• Develop a vision statement further defining Council goals
• Hold a number of stakeholder meetings
• Display wireless hot spots in Eagan on the web site, encouraging businesses to update the list
• If a state advisory panel is formed by legislation, conduct focus groups to help define Eagan’s needs

Of those responding to a 2007 survey of Eagan businesses, 88% said high speed Internet is important to their business, and previously 24% of residents, responding to a survey sent out in City water bills, said current available speeds are too slow.  Despite significant industry efforts to upgrade, it is well documented that the United States has slower broadband than global competitors in Asia and Europe, including countries like France. 

Americans also pay more per megabit of broadband service than many other industrialized countries, including Belgium, New Zealand, Canada and the Netherlands.  For instance, in Japan, consumers can pay $40 a month for 100 Megabit-per-second symmetrical Internet, video and phone service.  In Eagan, by contrast, Internet speeds range from just 1.5 to 12 Megabits-per-second for the same price the Japanese pay for multiple services. 

Also of concern, American broadband use now trails other nations.  Where once, the U.S. was a global leader, it is now 15th in broadband use behind countries like Denmark, Canada, Belgium, and even Iceland.  Increasingly, business location decisions are being made based on the availability of high-speed broadband, which is now considered essential infrastructure. 

The consultant will assist in evaluating whether private sector alone, the City, or in partnership would best meet the City Council's goal of pursuing "world class Internet speeds, connectivity and access to all Eagan residents and businesses."

In October, 2007, Eagan hosted a Minnesota House of Representatives field hearing on the need for higher broadband speeds.  Residents can watch a Web stream of the testimony by Eagan businesses and residents by viewing "Broadband Hearing."

With the combined efforts of the Eagan City Council, the Tech Working Group, the Dakota County Regional Chamber of Commerce and local business leaders, Eagan's tech efforts have been successful in improving DSL deployment throughout the city from about 45% coverage in 2003 to nearly 90% in October 2005. Since that time Eagan has invested in additional conduit capable of carrying high speed Internet lines around various portions of the City.  February 2008 Coverage Map.

Eagan's large businesses are abundantly served by high speed fiber connections, and few cities can match it in the amount of DSL and cable deployed to residents.  The Tech Working Group continues to explore how to better serve small and medium-sized business with adequate Internet access. 

An earlier study done in 2004 showed that Eagan's DSL and cable modem speeds did not provide equal upload and download speeds, which could effect home-based businesses.  Typical Internet speeds available to American residential customers are generally regarded as slower than standards in some European and Asian countries and the bandwidth which may be required for emerging applications including technology driven "smart homes."  

For more information about the progress of the Eagan Technology Working Group, contact Tom Garrison, City of Eagan Communications Director, at (651) 675-5000.

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