Before I begin, I need to state upfront that Burlington Telecom is an active member of the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce and that we also enjoy excellent relationships with Burlington City Hall. This post is not meant to take sides in what has become a highly political and emotional issue within the city. It is meant to take a giant step backwards and reflect on some questions that really should be at the heart of the debate.

Let’s begin with the rhetoric and theatre that has surrounded the debate. There are some legitimate questions that the city administration needs to answer concerning the transfer/loan/appropriation of cash flow dollars to cover a hole in the Burlington Telecom budget. However, until a thorough audit is conducted and until we understand the legal options and opinions that were given to the administration to consider, I’d suggest that everyone take a breath and refrain from calling for the head of Marie Antoinette. It makes for good political theatre and gets peoples' names in the paper but there is a city (with some significant challenges ahead of it) that needs to be run. Up until this point, absent particular likes or dislikes for certain personalities and normal partisan saber rattling, I have not heard many people complain about the daily operations of city hall.

To me, and to many with whom I have spoken with, there are three larger questions that should be debated before we call for draconian measures to be taken at city hall. First, is the hypothesis that created a municipality-owned and operated telecommunications utility still legitimate?; second, once there is agreement that it makes sense under some business or social construct, then is there a business plan (tax and fee model) that can ensure that the operation can remain financially viable over the long haul?; and third, does the cost of that business plan to residential and commercial tax payers justify the business or social case?

It seems to some outside observers that there is a rush to castigate those who are now in charge. Maybe we will find that here is reason to do so but until then, perhaps we should first get all the facts out on the table. In the meantime, for our financial sake, let’s review some of the basic premises that led us down this path originally.