Sandy Martin spoke to Holiday Island City Council at its June 20 meeting about a broadband survey that residents may fill out. The survey asks what kind of broadband service, and its cost, residents have now. The study is part of an initiative for the region to gain fiber optic access at an affordable price, being funded by the federal government.
During discussion it was noted that in options of how access to broadband is given, fiber optic cable is listed but not traditional cable lines. While Cox Communications (the ISP used as an example) calls their service “fiber” it is not fiber optic as it continues to use metallic wires to transfer data rather than light signals.
Martin said that they could change the survey online to show just a traditional cable option, but people would need to write in “cable.” Council members also discussed that ISPs are not incentivized to assist in tapping into fiber optic lines for residents and businesses as they charge more than $10,000 for someone to tap into those lines.
Mayor Dan Kees took time to lament that past state initiatives to provide internet to underserved areas did not consider the price of service, meaning that in many locations higher speeds were available but at such a cost it would not be possible for residents and businesses to afford. Council members also mentioned that current FCC maps show cities and streets being served with Fiber Optic speed, but that in truth ISPs only put down fiber optic lines but not tapped into them for the area.
Other Items
- Council passed Ord. 2023-014 that repealed and replaced the Planning and Zoning Regulations to add additional definitions to the document for clarity.
- Resolution 2023-005 that authorizes the city to enter into a lease agreement for 5 Forest Park Ave. Units F and G and budgets $25,000 for leasehold improvements, and moving expenses passed unanimously.