PI adds support to broadband service
Mike ModrzynskiThe Presque Isle County Board of Commissioners added its support to a proposed grant effort by the Merit Corporation to obtain federal funds to expand fiber broadband Internet service to all of Presque Isle County.
The new line, if funded through a grant from the American Resource and Recovery Act, will add several hundred more miles of fiber cable run north from Alpena to connect Rogers City, Onaway, Posen and Hawks and other stops in the county, to the broadband network. The cable won't be a direct connect to the system, but will provide a trunk line to which other Internet providers can connect for their customers in Presque Isle County.
Joe Cercone, director of the county's economic development commission, said the new service will make the county that much more attractive to businesses looking to relocate.
"Every time you add something our stock goes up," he said. "Without this basic service, we look like rubes. Anything we can support that will help is a good thing."
The county not only will add its name to the growing list of Merit supporters, but will add $500 to the coffers of those looking to expand the broadband network in the region.
In other action, commissioners:
- accepted the annual report from Building and Zoning Administrator Jim Zakshesky. His report showed a slight decrease in building permits from 2008, but an increase in soil erosion permits over the same period. He said the largest decline in building permits was in Presque Isle Township, with overall permit activity down by more than 40 permits since 2007.
- approved a grant application being submitted by Michigan State University Extension's Cheryl Peters to use a donation targeting improvements at the Ocqueoc Outdoor Center to match a grant application being made to the state's DNRE Trust Fund.
- approved a grant application for the sheriff department for the purchase of new vehicles. The grant, if successful will pay for a portion of the purchase rice of new patrol cars for the department.
Mike Modrzynski can be reached via email at mikemodrzynski@yahoo.com.
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02-27-10 11:35 PM
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What's wrong with Charter that is already there? With the federal government now borrowing (or printing) 42 cents of every dollars it spends, it is safe to say that the federal government is now broke. We need to cut spending.... one dollar at a time. Inflation, stagflation or a double-dip recession will be a consequences of wild government spending which cannot be tamed. Or if ain't broke, should the government fix it so it is? It seems everything the government gets their bony fingers on goes to pot.
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