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APPROVED 3/17/2015 <br /> MINUTES <br /> ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br /> SPECIAL MEETING <br /> March 6, 2015 <br /> 2:00 P.M. <br /> The Orange County Board of Commissioners met with State elected officials for a <br /> discussion on Rural Internet Access on Friday, March 6, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. at the West Campus <br /> Office, in Hillsborough, N.C. <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS PRESENT: Chair Earl McKee and Commissioners Barry Jacobs, <br /> Renee Price and Penny Rich <br /> COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ABSENT: Commissioners Mia Burroughs, Mark Dorosin and <br /> Bernadette Pelissier <br /> COUNTY ATTORNEY PRESENT: John Roberts <br /> COUNTY STAFF PRESENT: County Manager Bonnie Hammersley, CIO Jim Northrup and <br /> Deputy Clerk to the Board David Hunt (All other staff inembers will be identified appropriately <br /> below) <br /> OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS PRESENT: Representative Graig Meyer, Representative Verla <br /> Insko, Senator Valerie Foushee <br /> STATE STAFF: Keith E. Conover (Technical Analyst, Office of Digital Infrastructure—OITS) <br /> (Around a dozen members of the public also attended the meeting.) <br /> Chair McKee called the meeting to order at 2:03 p.m. <br /> Chair McKee asked for short introductions of all present, including the members of the public. <br /> Introductions followed. <br /> County Manager Bonnie Hammersley gave a brief description about the history of requests for <br /> improved Internet access by rural residents. <br /> Jim Northrup provided additional technical details on actions taken to date by Orange County, <br /> including establishing pre-approved tower sites. He also referenced limitations due to State and <br /> Federal regulations. <br /> Representative Insko emphasized the correlation of the availability of network access and <br /> economic development. <br /> Senator Foushee said a huge amount of attention has recently been placed on Internet access <br /> in the rural areas. <br /> Keith Conover with the Office of Digital Infrastructure (with the State of North Carolina) said the <br /> County could help with showing a potential for return on investment for smaller <br /> telecommunications companies who may be interested in filling the gap left by major service <br /> providers such as Time Warner Cable and AT&T. Some counties have created broadband <br /> committees to help guide additional coverage options. <br /> Jim Northrup said there are already local meetings in progress to identify potential customers. <br /> Commissioner Jacobs said that there was a difference between providing service and providing <br /> adequate service. <br />