The Cook County Board of Commissioners voted Tuesday, May 19, 2009 to draft a letter of support for a grant application that would bring broadband internet capabilities to the entire county.
County Information Technology Director Danna MacKenzie reported to the board that federal stimulus dollars are available for bringing broadband infrastructure to communities that don’t have it.
The Cook County Broadband Initiative committee has been working with a consultant on market analysis, budget projection, design options, and potential revenue sources.
The consultant has tentatively suggested that the grant application name Arrowhead Electric Cooperative as the owner/operator, although Arrowhead Electric would need to determine if it could come up with required 20% matching funds and if it could support operational costs. MacKenzie said the cooperative would know in about a week and a half if it could come up with matching funds, but if it could not, the committee would “have to go back to the drawing board.”
The committee is trying to avoid making Internet infrastructure a public utility, she said. If the grant were awarded, the infrastructure would have to be in place within two years.
Ninety-one percent of respondents in a recent community survey stated they would favor a local provider for phone, Internet, and TV services, MacKenzie reported.
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