The City of Shaker Heights considers an accessible, affordable high-speed fiber network an essential component of the city of tomorrow’s infrastructure. What’s clear is that where these networks have already been established, it has sparked innovation, attracted investment and created new collaborations not previously envisioned. We are currently in the analysis stage of researching options for how best to move the city towards achieving this vision citywide, starting with two mixed use neighborhoods. Our goals are to be at the forefront of making affordable, very high-speed connectivity available to all our residents, institutions and businesses; to explore the difference very high-speed connectivity would make to strengthening a neighborhood, attracting new residents and increasing property values; and to demonstrate how technology can facilitate a partnership between businesses, public institutions and residents to spur innovation. We are working jointly with our schools and library systems, and OneCommunity – a non-profit provider of advanced broadband services and mission-based programming in health and wellness, connected education and economic development.