County Administrator Outlines Plans For Broadband Expansion

County Administrator Justin Kirouac told Oconee County commissioners at their meeting last week that he expects to have a contract to bring before them next month to move forward on broadband expansion in the county.

The county will partner with Smart City Capital of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., to create a new company, Kirouac said, that will build out 540 miles of fiber throughout the county, including an 80 mile fiber ring.

The plan includes strategic tower locations throughout the county that will broadcast wireless Internet, co-locate cell service facilities, provide redundancy, and improve public safety coverage, Kirouac said.

The county will be obligated for about $4.5 million from the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax that will be on the ballot on Nov. 3, Kirouac said.

“I did want to give a general update on sort of where we are,” Kirouac told the Board. “We are in the middle of contract negotiations right now.”

For more on the story, with a video of the County Commission meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.