China Broadband Committee (CBC): seven possible sources for expanded service

by Mary Grow

China Broadband Committee (CBC) members have a list of seven possible sources for expanded and improved broadband service to all town residents.

At their Jan. 6 meeting, committee members discussed what they know about the different companies; what additional information they need; what federal and state funding might be available, once distribution rules are developed; and possibilities of combining technologies from more than one company.

To help them collect and analyze the information they need, they agreed to ask again for money from China’s Tax Increment Financing (TIF) fund. The draft fund request had two pieces: $10,000 for consultant services and $30,000 to start work. If they are not ready to spend any of the $30,000 in the 2022-23 fiscal year, they expect it to carry forward for future use.

Committee Chairman Robert O’Connor and member Jamie Pitney intended to submit the request to TIF Committee members at the Jan. 10 TIF Committee meeting.

The next CBC meeting is scheduled for 4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 18 (not the usual Thursday afternoon). A discussion with representatives of Consolidated Communications, one of the seven potential providers, is tentatively on the agenda.