A New Vision For “Open-Access” Networks as Operating Systems for Cities

What if a single fiber network could serve every client segment in a community, bring competition and choice for internet and services all the way to the desktop, and form the foundation for securely modernizing other critical infrastructure. Cities across the U.S. need all of the following: ultra-fast and affordable internet for residents and small businesses; modern connectivity solutions for enterprises, hospitals, and schools; “smart” transit and mobility solutions; responsible energy creation and power grid optimization; and sustainable water systems. Looking at this list, we are forced to reckon with the role of critical infrastructure in the fabric of communities, and driven to think differently about what we must build. This is about more than just internet access; we must challenge ourselves to create a new solution that serves the holistic connectivity needs of cities—now and into the future. Moving past the prevailing understanding of “open-access” with its exclusive focus on “internet”, we can deliver true competition and equal access to all kinds of services to every end connectivity “consumer”—residents to utilities—in a flourishing city.

[Bob Thompson is the Founder & CEO of Underline, a company that deploys modern fiber networks and technology to serve community goals—from equitable internet access, to secure and modernized water systems, and responsible energy creation.]