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3 <br /> 1 Chair McKee asked the Legislative Delegation on behalf of the Board to talk to other legislators about <br /> 2 this going forward but as mentioned before, he thinks there will be push back. <br /> 3 <br /> 4 Representative Meyer asked Chair McKee to get them information on context and statutory <br /> 5 information for them to circulate to their peers. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 John Roberts said he would do this. <br /> 8 <br /> 9 <br /> 10 Broadband - Item #22 <br /> 11 • Support legislation, funding, and other efforts to expand broadband capability to the un-served <br /> 12 and under-served areas of the State to enhance quality of life as well as expand opportunities <br /> 13 for jobs creation, small business development, and growth in farm enterprises. Orange County <br /> 14 opposes legislation limiting local governments' efforts to provide broadband and supports <br /> 15 legislation and regulations that would preserve local option and authority where needed to <br /> 16 deploy community broadband systems and ensure community access to critical broadband <br /> 17 services and to establish a minimum level of service. <br /> 18 <br /> 19 Chair McKee asked Representative Meyer to speak to this item since he had been involved in <br /> 20 meetings with County staff and residents. <br /> 21 <br /> 22 Representative Meyer said the credit belongs to Jim Northup and County staff because of the efforts <br /> 23 they had brought forth and he said the providers in the area say no one in the state is trying to learn <br /> 24 how to expand the use of Broadband except here in Orange County. He said the most hope is in the <br /> 25 Century link areas of service, where it would be to enhance the quality of service where there is already <br /> 26 existing Centurylink lines and service. <br /> 27 <br /> 28 Representative Meyer said it would be more cost effective to do broadband through wireless instead of <br /> 29 hard wires. He said the County has also talked with Piedmont Electric about collaborating with them. <br /> 30 <br /> 31 Commissioner Rich said she is on the NACo technology committee and there is a nationwide push to <br /> 32 make broadband a utility. <br /> 33 <br /> 34 Representative Insko said this is so unconstitutional as related to education and students and this <br /> 35 does come up in education discussion in the General Assembly. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Representative Insko said is there any collaboration with the schools. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 Commissioner Price said this is one of the top goals of the NCACC. <br /> 40 <br /> 41 Representative Insko said what about the local and State Boards of Education (BOE). <br /> 42 <br /> 43 Commissioner Price said they are trying to push this through as a basic utility. <br /> 44 <br /> 45 Senator Foushee said it would be helpful if the State BOE and NCACC would collaborate on this <br /> 46 issue. <br /> 47 <br /> 48 Representative Meyer said a nice budget appropriation from the state would put in a lot of rural <br /> 49 broadband. <br /> 50 <br /> 51 Commissioner Jacobs said the Board of Commissioners will be meeting with both school boards next <br /> 52 week and they can bring this issue up then. <br /> 53 <br />