County Moves Forward With Plans To Build Broadband Network

Oconee County took first steps Tuesday night toward building broadband infrastructure to provide high-speed Internet both in the northern developed and southern undeveloped parts of the county.

The Board of Commissioners told County Administrator Justin Kirouac to go forward with seeking qualified partners to build off a proposed fiber network to provide Internet services to homes and businesses.

Estimated cost of the fiber network is $4.6 million, and consultant Teton Telecom, based in Watkinsville, said the county would spend about that amount over the next 20 years for network services it currently is using.

Construction of the network could be completed by the end of 2020, Tetom Telecom projects.

In other action on Tuesday night, the Board of Commissioners approved a $2.4 million contract for an addition to the Courthouse in Watkinsville and authorized Board Chairman John Daniell to sign documents for a grant application for expansion of the Senior Center in Oconee Veterans Park.

The Board also gave tentative approval for an architectural contract for $48,700 for an addition to the county’s Animal Shelter, for initiation of the filing process for creation of a county Visitor’s Bureau, and for an intergovernmental agreement for an extension of Bishop Farms Parkway.

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