Fiberoptic future

It's time to get connected.

Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners agreed Monday to commit $3.9 million toward a project from Mainstream Fiber Networks to install 395 miles of fiberoptic or fixed wireless internet across the county. The project is designed to set up internet connections in all homes and businesses categorized as unserved or underserved in Jay County.

“I think this is something that’s going to get Jay County into the 21st, 22nd century, I mean, this is something we’re going to need,” said commissioners president Chad Aker. “Everyone’s going to need this at some point if they don’t already.”

County officials heard a proposal Jan. 25 from Mark Gabriel of Mainstream Fiber Networks to outfit the county with fiberoptic internet. The $19.4 million plan calls for a 20% match — $3.9 million — from the county, with $6 million covered by a partnership between MainStream Fiber Networks and Searchlight Capital, a New York private equity company, with the other $9.5 million to be targeted via grants.

Mainstream Fiber Networks will be applying for two grants through the Next Level Connections Broadband Grant Program, which allows up to $5 million per application. If denied, the business will apply for funding through the federal Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment program, which has allocated $868 million for Indiana to promote reliable internet connectivity.

According to information provided by Mainstream Fiber Networks and data from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), about 36% of homes and businesses in Jay County — approximately 3,900 locations — are unserved or underserved in broadband access. (“Unserved” individuals are categorized as residents with less than 25 megabytes per second downloads and 3 megabytes per second uploads, and “underserved” individuals are categorized as those with less than 100 megabytes per second downloads and 20 megabytes per second uploads.)

Council vice president Cindy Bracy, a rural Portland resident who lives east of Salamonia, referenced the preliminary design map and asked about some gaps in the coverage, specifically on the eastern side of the county.

Gabriel explained that those areas are designated by the FCC as served parts of the county.

“I would beg to differ because it looks like that (gap) would be in Salamonia, and they are not served,” she responded.

Gabriel pointed out the FCC’s data may not be 100% accurate. He noted there is a process for proving addresses that are incorrectly marked as served, and he pointed out residents in those areas may contact the state to register their address and provide data to show they are not served. (To learn more about an area’s coverage per the FCC’s data, visit broadbandmap.fcc.gov/home, or for a map showing where providers report available service and specific speeds, go to indianabroadbandmap.com.)

Bracy asked where residents need to go in order to correct coverage data. Gabriel suggested contacting the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs or Indiana Broadband Office, noting both groups have links available from their websites to test broadband connectivity.

Council member Harold Towell questioned if the county should invest in the project. Council member Jeanne Houchins referenced offers from various companies in the past regarding high-speed internet.

“Yes, Jay County does have some high-speed internet, I know there’s fiber in places, but the progress made has not kept up with the promises made,” she said. “How is this any different?”

Gabriel noted the grant process has a 24-month contractual period starting from the time the project is awarded. Likewise, Mainstream Fiber Networks will have to report monthly to the state, with Indiana Broadband Office also inspecting their work.

Commissioners vice president Brian McGalliard noted the county will be able to pay for the work over the next few years instead of contributing a lump sum. Gabriel confirmed this, suggesting the county could stretch payments over 36 months.

County officials have multiple revenue sources they can pull from for their contribution to the project. County auditor Emily Franks compiled a list of potential funds, which include $2.37 million in American Rescue Plan Act dollars, $1.94 million in the rainy day fund, $1.83 million in economic development income tax dollars, $965,000 in economic development wind farm dollars and $850,000 from Jay County Redevelopment Commission. (The redevelopment commission’s board would need to approve use of its funding from the tax increment financing (TIF) district that is currently generating roughly $550,000 annually.) She also included potential usage of other funds in the budget, such as the infrastructure, cumulative capital development and general funds.

Council and commissioners reviewed their funding options for a few minutes during the meeting, with Houchins pointing out likely upwards of $1 million will be needed for upgrades to county emergency responders’ radios in the near future. Council member Faron Parr also noted potential plans for housing development, but he pointed to the fact that outside entities would be contributing $16 million to the fiberoptic project as a reason to move forward.

The grant application to Next Level Connections is due Friday. With that in mind, council and commissioners, absent council member Randy May and commissioner Rex Journay and with Towell dissenting, agreed to commit to the project.

They’ll decide which funds to use to pay for the project at a later date.