The Union County Council of Governments (COG) is nearing the ability to monetize its investment in fiber broadband.
Aaron Story, information technology director for the City of Marysville, said he expects that within the next 30 days, the COG will have the framework of a contract to provide access to fiber so internet service providers can offer fiber-based internet access to small and midrange businesses in the community.
Officials hope that within 60 days, they will have an addendum to the contract that will allow companies to install antennas on Marysville’s north and south water towers to provide wireless internet to homes in the area.
The contract, which has been written and is currently under review by legal representatives for the city, schools and county, will closely resemble xas well.
COG officials are hoping to eventually have several internet service providers using the fiber and towers to offer service. For now, however, the COG is working with Bresco Solutions, which will serve as “kind of the pilot for this,” Story said.
City Manager Terry Emery explained that COG officials want to partner with one company initially to make certain the process would be smooth.
He said Bresco has experience in this environment and can help the COG through the process.
Bresco, and eventually other internet service providers, will offer fiber-based internet access to small and midrange businesses in the community and wireless internet service to homes. In exchange for access to the fiber, the internet service provider will pay the COG 30% of revenue.
The provider will would be responsible for billing, support, installation, equipment and all other customer related services.
Story said that shortly after the contracts are approved, Bresco will “start beating the pavement” to get customers.
He acknowledged that sales may not be quick because many businesses are already in a contract and the city does not have a fund to buy them out.
“It is going to be a waiting game,” Story said.
Even so, he said he believes the first customers will be online by this autumn.
“As soon as we sell that first one, we will have to live up to our expectations,” Story said.
He said that as customers come onboard, the service provided will help sell it.
“We think we can win people over with what we have to offer,” Story said. “We think we can do it better. We think we can do it more reliably. We want to be straightforward with our customers.”
While Bresco is working to sell the service, COG officials will be working to expand it.
“Our plans are to branch out into the county,” Story said. “It is going to take us a while longer to get there, but we are going to get there.”
Emery said the project is “still too new” to know what type of revenue the COG could see from the arrangement when all the pieces are in place. He reiterated that like a utility, revenue from the program will be used to reinvest in the program.
He said revenue will be used, “to help pay us back for our original investment and for work that we are going to do in the future.”
Officials acknowledge that the service will help underserved businesses and homes in the area and can also be used as “a huge economic development tool.”
Officials said access to the fiber will be a plus for potential businesses but the COG could also offer businesses an internet discount as an economic development incentive.
Story said the ability to provide internet access for residents and businesses is, “a huge opportunity.”
“Right now, we are dealing with a ton of details to make sure it is done right,” Story said. “We want to be the best. We don’t want to ruin our effort by offering something that isn’t up to our standard.”
