Minutes 03-23-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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OTHER PRIORITIES • Broadband Chair McKee said he and Representative Meyer had spoken about this prior at the community broadband meeting on March 6 and that this was an issue statewide. Chair McKee said other than grants, is there anything else the state can do related to the broad band issue to help expand coverage in Orange County. Representative Meyer said in the legislative branch - he has heard little or nothing about broad band for rural areas. There seems to be a lack of willingness to give municipalities the authority to oversee broadband. He said is not sure if they will see much of a legislative solution. Representative Meyer said this is where you need the governor for his leadership since he represents everyone. Representative Insko said it should be an issue for the Department on Public Instruction since it is also about education since children cannot get a signal at their homes in order to do their homework online or access resources on line. Representative Insko said what the Commissioners hear about the broadband issue from their NCACC meetings. Commissioner Price (NCACC representative) said they hear about the broad band issue all the time and NACo is also attentive and supportive of broad band for rural areas. Representative Insko said then they as Board and NCACC as a state organization should put pressure on at the state level. Representative Meyer said he has talked with representatives from AT&T and Time Warner to join them at the table for this discussion and they said they would. He said he had heard of a wireless provider in Chatham County that is interested in providing broad band in the southern part of the county as well as Piedmont Electric who is interested in becoming a player at the table. He is coordinating this issue with Bonnie Hammersley and IT Director Jim Northup. Representative Meyer said it is important to know that if the Board wants to solve this issue for Orange County that Orange County is going to have to come up with funding solutions and manpower. E-911 Funds Land, Water and Agricultural Preservation Funding Chair McKee asked the Delegation was there support for funding for agricultural preservation activities. Representative Insko said not that she has heard but they will not know until the Governor's budget comes out. Commissioner Jacobs said he has heard that the Governor is proposing more budget cuts for parks. Commissioner Burroughs asked when the Legislature anticipates seeing the Governor's budget.