County government might be prepared to jump on board with the city’s broadband Internet plans. 

During a presentation by Blaine Finch, interim director of the Franklin County Development Council, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners indicated it would be in favor of serving as one of the partners for the city’s plans to offer broadband Internet to businesses in the county. 

County government might be prepared to jump on board with the city’s broadband Internet plans. 

During a presentation by Blaine Finch, interim director of the Franklin County Development Council, the Franklin County Board of Commissioners indicated it would be in favor of serving as one of the partners for the city’s plans to offer broadband Internet to businesses in the county. 

“Looks to me like it will be a good situation,” Ed Taylor, commissioner, said, with the majority of the board members echoing his sentiment. “It will be an extra tool for economic development.”

Broadband Internet access allows large files of data to be transmitted at high rates of speed over the Internet. The broadband utility, Finch said previously, will offer current and potential businesses a fast and reliable form of Internet access. Also, it is hoped the service will be an economic development tool, drawing businesses into the community. The broadband utility is not expected to be marketed to individual residents.

“The nice thing for the county is there is no up-front cost,” Finch said. “There’s no infrastructure costs here. The city is shouldering all of that. This is just one more example of how we can actually save some money and work together, and I think it’s going to be a real community asset.”

The city commission has committed principle to the development of a broadband utility, Finch said, and the next step will be to secure anchor institutions to invest in the project. In addition to the county, Finch said the City of Ottawa has discussed approaching the Ottawa school district, as well as Neosho County Community College, as anchor institutions. Ottawa University and Ransom Memorial Hospital also have been approached about using the service in the future. 

Finch said he collaborated with Lisa Johnson, county administrator and counselor, and Dustin Coureton, of the county’s information technology department, to determine the county’s broadband needs. 

“We think we can save you a couple hundred dollars a month, and give you the same or better service than what you were going to get at that price point,” Finch said. 

Johnson expressed her positive viewpoint on the service after having multiple meetings with Finch and Coureton. 

“I think we felt it was a win-win situation for everyone involved, and a good opportunity for everyone involved to try to do something to better the community as a whole,” she said. 

Johnson said an additional advantage is that if there are any technical issues, the county would deal directly with the city to rectify them. 

The city would request at least a three-year commitment to the broadband service, Finch said. A contract, however, has not been agreed upon by the two entities, but is expected to be given to the county by the end of this week. 

The contract would then come to the board for a vote. If the county commits to the broadband utility, Finch said, the city estimates it can begin delivering service within 90 days.