The Westminster Common Council voted unanimously to hire a contractor who will conduct a broadband study for the city of Westminster.

Councilman Robert Wack said the study will assess the city's need for a fiberoptic network.

Joann Hovis, president of CTC Technology & Energy, was hired to conduct the study. She told the Council that she will evaluate how a fiberoptic network infrastructure would affect economic development and job creation in the area.

Do you want to see Westminster invest in a broadband network? Tell us in comments.

Hovis said she would talk to potential private partners who might get involved in bringing such a project to fruition.

Council President Damian Halstad asked fellow council members if they think there is a need that is not being met.

Councilman Dr. Robert Wack responded, "Talk to a local business owner who is frustrated by not being able to get service."

"This is a relatively cutting edge project, we're talking about technology that has only been deployed widely in the past few years," Hovis said. "Rather interestingly there are a couple hundred communities that have done exacty this, mostly in small towns, in some of the most conservative towns in America. Big cities have studied doing this but haven’t moved ahead."

Councilman Tony Chiavacci, also a small business owner in the downtown area, said he was thrilled with the idea of making this technology available to local businesses.

"This is a wonderful opportunity to get out ahead of most of the nation and potentially put us ahead," Chiavacci said. "I see where this could be enormous for us in the future." 

The feasibility study will cost $38,000 and Hovis told Patch that she expects the study will take approximately six months. Hovis said if Westminster creates its own network, it would likely include an interconnection to the One Maryland network.

Make the news come to you, subscribe to the free Westminster Patch newsletter to get daily headlines in your inbox.