A city-owned broadband service through the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities is still a long way off.

Mayor Eddie Sundquist recently trumpeted the city’s inclusion in the state’s action plan for $664 million in federal broadband money as a sign of progress for a city-based broadband service.

“I am excited that the Empire State Development and Governor Hochul both recognize the unique opportunity that the City of Jamestown presents in establishing access to affordable internet for all,” Sundquist said in the news release. “Our inclusion in their action plan further proves that Jamestown is not only one step closer towards making affordable, high-speed internet for our residents a reality – but is seen throughout the state as the model for closing the digital divide.”

How much closer is debatable.

A closer reading of the 210-page plan released by Empire State Development shows the city’s inclusion in the document doesn’t move the city toward network but shows the city has completed a municipal broadband study and has received a federal grant to increase participation among city residents in the Federal Communications Commission’s Affordable Connectivity Program. City officials were also interviewed by state officials about broadband efforts in the city. The plan doesn’t promise any funding for a municipal broadband initiative.

Additionally, several council members have pointed to a more pressing and systemic issue revolving around, of all things, communication.

“This is the first I’m hearing about this,” said Andrew G. Faulkner, R-Ward 5. “I thought the broadband discussion was over. But this is how things go at City Hall- we must hear from the media what is going on, and we’ve asked time-and-time again (City Council) for the mayor to keep us in the loop.”

Faulkner wasn’t alone in his assessment of this troublesome pattern of miscommunication.

“Same thing I said in the debate with the mayor, he transcribes to a ‘openness and transparent platform.’ However, we keep having the same conversations about communication with him and here we are yet again, finding information out from the news when it should be coming from the mayor, prior to any press release, said Kim Ecklund, R-At Large, and mayoral candidate.

The mayor’s plan calls for a municipally owned broadband network that would cost around $25 million to build. However, the monthly cost for users would remain at a fixed rate while providing a faster service for community members.

“The average cost of internet in the city is about $75 a month. And for the average family that has kids in the school district, they can’t afford it,” Sundquist wrote. “Our city has the unique advantage of already owning the infrastructure required for hanging fiber-optics lines once funded, we will be able to immediately share savings with our residents resulting in a ten times stronger service at a fraction of the cost-potentially even free.”

Sundquist told The Post-Journal earlier this year that the city’s Broadband Commission is still investigating the creation of a municipal broadband system and, as of February, was trying to speak with other communities that have pursued municipal broadband efforts. Tony Dolce, R-Ward 2 and council president, said there have been questions raised about the city competing with private companies in the region that provide broadband internet and said the commission should investigate whether a municipal broadband system is viable and verify the costs that have been discussed. Council members haven’t had those questions answered yet.

Despite this week’s announcement, Councilwomen Marie Carrubba, D-Ward 4, wrote, “Unfortunately I don’t have enough information yet to know how this will work in our area.”