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Wednesday, 10 March 2010 03:41

Mother Lode Internet Seeks BOS Approval for Broadband Expansion Plan

Amador County – During their meeting Tuesday, the Amador County Board of Supervisors gave partial support to Mother Lode Internet for its pursuit of federal funding for regional broadband expansion. Titled the Mother Lode Broadband Project, the plan would eventually bring high-speed internet access to most of the rural areas of our region. MLI CEO Ben Hulet said it is important to act now while American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding for the estimated $30 million, 3-year project is still available. He said “it is such a challenge to create coverage because of infrastructure costs.” He said the project could provide a “significant injection into the local economy” in the form of money and jobs. MLI has already received $2.8 million in State funding and is set to receive another $3.1 million in order to “build a regional Community Network that includes a robust Middle Mile component to bring low cost bandwidth from Stockton and Sacramento.” The project is different from a similar undertaking supported by the Central Sierra Economic Development District and spearheaded by Calaveras County Chief Information Officer Howard Stohlman. Hulet said it is vital that MLI be involved in any local Middle Mile project or grant application because “competing applications will only fragment the grant application effort and reduce funding for each project.” He urged the Supervisors to approve a letter of support he drafted that lists the county as “Anchor Tenants,” or participants in his company’s grant application. Anchor tenants can also include schools, hospitals or organizations like the Amador-Tuolumne Community Action Agency, which last month presented a $250,000 study to gather information on how rural counties can gain 100 percent coverage for high speed internet. Supervisor Richard Forster said he did not want to be an “Anchor Tenant” and “tie ourselves to just one provider.” The Supervisors expressed support for keeping the market competitive. Hulet said supporting MLI does not mean they do not support other ISPs. He stressed his belief in the importance of investing in locally-based businesses like his own rather than “out-of-town national providers.” He asked the county to pledge to purchase services from MLI instead of AT&T so the money remains local instead of “going through a call center in Texas.” Chairman Brian Oneto simply said he needs to do “more looking at it and thinking about it.” Supervisor Louis Boitano suggested they have county staff redraft the letter in order to “soften up” the statement about giving full support and then revisit the item at next week’s board meeting. Forster said there are “no guarantees that the county is only going to be working with one provider.” Story by Alex Lane This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Wednesday, 10 March 2010 03:49

Citizens' Statement Urges Support of Ione Police

Amador County – A group of Ione residents released a statement Tuesday urging the public to attend the Ione City Council’s meeting next week and urge the council to sue a resident who is petitioning for a referendum that would do away with the Ione Police Department. The statement was e-mailed to citizens by Sharon Long, who also contracts with the city and publishes its newsletter. City Manager Kim Kerr said the statement was issued without any involvement of the city, and it was not funded by the city in any way. Kerr said Long was working with a group of citizens who wanted to get information out about the issue. A majority of the city council has vowed to fight for and support the police department. Long’s e-mail, called a “Message of Support for the Ione Police Department,” was written by herself and Jack Brotherton. It was e-mailed to local citizens and a copy was forwarded to TSPN. Long urged people to attend the city council’s meeting next Tuesday, with expected speakers including Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan, Jackson Police Chief Scott Morrison, and representatives from the District Attorney’s office and the attorney general’s office. The petition is being circulated to replace the Ione Police Department with contract services from the sheriff. The letter notes that City Attorney Kristen Castanos has called the proposed ballot measure illegal and unconstitutional. Castanos also advised the city council that they could file a lawsuit at any time, and aim that suit against Ione resident Denise Robertson. Long said the “Council has the legal right to vote to legally challenge this initiative, but has not done so.” The council considered a “lawsuit to challenge the legality of this initiative” in its last meeting, and will take up the issue again 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 16th at City Hall. Long said she and Brotherton in conversations with legal officials have found support, including from Sheriff Ryan, District Attorney Todd Riebe, and Jackie Long, commander of the Amador County Combined Narcotic Enforcement Team. She said all 3, or their representatives, will attend Tuesday’s meeting and speak in support of keeping the Ione Police Department. Story by Jim Reece This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Published in News Archive

Thursday, 04 March 2010 17:00