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14 <br /> 1 Grove, for example, but it might cost households in rural areas an extra $10 or more to <br /> 2 download a PowerPoint presentation from our website because without net neutrality the <br /> 3 provider can charge by the amount of data received on top of the monthly fee. He added that <br /> 4 the Board should be kept apprised of changes under discussion at the federal level regarding <br /> 5 broadband and net neutrality. He said federal policy will set the context for the State's policies. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Commissioner Marcoplos said the General Assembly pays lip service to helping out rural areas, <br /> 8 yet stifles progress. He asked what the status is of broadband-access policy at the State level, <br /> 9 and whether the Association of County Commissioners has any influence on this matter. Rather <br /> 10 than our going through contortions, they should try to get rid of this restrictive law. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Commissioner Rich said she meets regularly with Travis Myren and Jim Northup to talk about <br /> 13 broadband. She also is on the National Association of Counties Telecommunications and <br /> 14 Technology Committee. There are federal bills under consideration now to make it harder to <br /> 15 extend broadband to underserved communities. Maryland is the leader in resolutions on all of <br /> 16 this and she can pass along additional information. <br /> 17 <br /> 18 Commissioner Rich said TJCOG brought in some people in the McCrory Administration to a <br /> 19 conference on broadband access. She said she and Jim Northup participated. The state officials <br /> 20 pushed the conversation to the limit without supporting changes to the state law. They make it <br /> 21 sound like they are doing the best they can to help everybody, but they did not try to change any <br /> 22 of those laws. The problem is the lobbying by the telecommunications companies. <br /> 23 <br /> 24 Commissioner Rich said that the County already is providing subsidies through its hotspots <br /> 25 program. They are already partnering, and need to figure out how to expand the partnership. <br /> 26 In reply to a question from Commissioner Rich, John Roberts said it is not specifically prohibited <br /> 27 under state law for the County to distribute hotspot devices to residents. <br /> 28 <br /> 29 In reply to a question from Commissioner Burroughs, John Roberts said one or two North <br /> 30 Carolina municipalities, including Wilson, have special legislative authority to provide internet <br /> 31 service. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Commissioner Burroughs said it would be good to know how much it is costing these <br /> 34 municipalities to provide internet services. They keep thinking that it would be better if they had <br /> 35 the authority but they also need some ballpark estimates in order to understand whether they <br /> 36 could afford it. Is this really something they should be hoping for. <br /> 37 Jim Northup said each hotspot costs the County $480 per unit per year. <br /> 38 <br /> 39 In reply to a question from Chair Dorosin, John Roberts said incentives for extending broadband <br /> 40 service could indeed be provided in the context of negotiations with internet service providers <br /> 41 over their access to the County's emergency radio towers. <br /> 42 <br /> 43 In reply to a question from Commissioner Marcoplos, Jim Northup said it became legal for <br /> 44 Greenlight, the City of Wilson's fiber optic network, to expand beyond the county borders after <br /> 45 the FCC required internet service providers to be regulated as a utility. North Carolina and <br /> 46 Tennessee then won a lawsuit against the FCC on that point. But since Greenlight already had <br /> 47 extended its network into Pinetops, Wilson agreed to provide internet service for free to <br /> 48 Pinetops until special legislation is passed allowing Wilson and Pinetops to have a business <br /> 49 partnership. <br /> 50 <br /> 14 <br />