Lake Elmo Council explores broadband franchising, delays decision
The Lake Elmo City Council heard arguments both for and against regulating broadband companies through city franchising on Wednesday, but took no formal action, instead directing staff to gather more information on the legal and financial implications.
Attorney Mike Bradley presented the case for broadband franchising, citing a 2025 court decision that allows cities to regulate broadband as a "cable communication system" under state law. Under this approach, Lake Elmo could require broadband companies to build out service to the entire city, maintain consistent quality standards, provide customer service, and pay franchise fees to the city. "Requiring buildout of your entire city, making sure that all of your residents have access to the same quality of service throughout the footprint" are key benefits, Bradley said.
However, City Attorney Sarah Sol raised significant concerns. She noted that there is no specific state law explicitly authorizing broadband franchising and warned that "the city could get sued" if it pursued this path. Despite the legal uncertainty, at least one council member expressed strong support for universal broadband access. "I find that unacceptable that we have any properties in the city that don't have access to broadband," the council member said. "It's the year 2025."
The council directed staff to continue researching the topic, focusing on legal liability, potential benefits to residents, and impacts on competition. No timeline was given for a final decision.
In a separate workshop, City Attorney Sol also trained council and planning commission members on compliance with state and local laws, including the Open Meeting Law, data privacy rules, and conflict-of-interest requirements. She emphasized that city business conducted on personal phones or computers is still subject to public records laws, and that commission members must remain neutral when evaluating applications until all information is presented. The council also reviewed 2026 work plans for the Planning and Parks Commissions, which include preparing for a 2050 Comprehensive Plan, protecting wildlife corridors, addressing short-term rental regulations, and managing park improvements like playground replacements and basketball court resurfacing. Final adoption of the work plans is scheduled for early February.
Our proprietary artificial intelligence agent analyzed publicly available documents including meeting agendas, minutes, and transcripts to write this story to help inform local residents. Feedback helps us improve, so please consider rating how we did with the thumbs up or down below.
Other Topics from This Document
Local Government Procedures and Laws Training
2026 Planning Commission Work Plan
2026 Parks Commission Work Plan
Want to know when new stories arrive?
Enter your email to receive updates.
We will not use your email for any other purpose. You can unsubscribe at any time.