Document text
--> --> Talent eyes fiber optic Internet By Maggie McGehee Ashland Daily Tidings TALENT - All residents within the city limits could have the opportunity to sign up for high-speed Internet access by 2005 if the City Council approves a franchise agreement with Hunter Communications. The council tonight is scheduled to review and discuss a 20-year, non-exclusive franchise agreement with the company so Hunter can build the infrastructure needed to reach Talent homes. "They would like to offer communications services to the residents of Talent," City Administrator Kelly Madding said in a memo to Mayor Marian Telerski and councilors. "To do this, Hunter Communications needs a franchise agreement to utilize the city's right-of-way. In return ... the city will be paid 5 percent of Hunter's gross annual receipts within the city limits of the City of Talent. Hunter Communications must, within a three-year period, build the infrastructure such that all households within Talent will have Hunter's services offered to them." Hunter Communications is a partner of the Ashland Fiber Network and if the council signs off on the agreement AFN will also benefit, according to Dick Wanderscheid, director of the City of Ashland's electric and telecommunications department. "Hunter is actually a partner of us and if they are building up in Talent, they will be working in conjunction with the Ashland Fiber Network," Wanderscheid said. "We would provide wholesale products for them to sell in Talent. It's actually a partnership that would benefit AFN." Previously, the Ashland City Council agreed to a deal with Hunter Communications in which the private company would build a line to the region's Internet point of presence in Medford. The point of presence provides access to the Internet and AFN has been paying $35,000 per year to Qwest Communications to access the point over a Qwest connection. Hunter Communications agreed to provide free labor to build a line for AFN to the point in exchange for half the bandwidth and AFN's agreement to provide the cable. That line has been completed and Hunter Communications officials are looking to Talent to provide service. High-speed Internet access is already available in Talent through Charter Communications, but the arrival of Hunter Communications may provide for some healthy competition, according to Madding. "Competition can be a good thing," Madding said. "The council will take action and do what they are going to do, but I have received no feedback whatsoever at this point." The City Council is scheduled to discuss the agreement at 6:45 p.m. tonight at the Talent Community Center, 206 E. Main St. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing