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Snowshoe broadband plan gets $713K state grant [ICT Monitor Worldwide](ICT Monitor Worldwide Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) In a split vote, the West Virginia Broadband Deployment Council awarded a $713,000 grant Wednesday for a project that expands high-speed Internet to vacation homes and condos at Snowshoe Mountain resort, even though Frontier Communications already has plans to bring broadband service to the area. An independent consultant paid by the Broadband Council recommended that the council not fund the Snowshoe project. The consultant ranked Citynet's broadband proposal for the ski area last among five "infrastructure" projects that solicited funding. Broadband Deployment Council members overrode the consultant's report by a 5-3 vote. "This is a high tourism attraction project," said Matt Ballard, who heads the Charleston Area Alliance's economic development group and represents "public citizens" on the Broadband Deployment Council. "[Snowshoe] is one of the hallmarks of our state." Council members who voted against the project said the state shouldn't be subsidizing a wealthy resort community made up of expensive houses and condominiums that people use as second homes. "Not everyone in our population can go ski and own a home at Snowshoe," said Elaine Harris, who sits on the council and lobbies for the Communications Workers of America. "I'm very concerned as a council member about the message we're sending to communities that have no [broadband] service." Frontier already provides Internet service to about 25 percent of the Snowshoe Mountain area where Citynet proposes to expand service. Frontier also plans to bring broadband to 80 percent of homes at Snowshoe by the end of the year, the company said. Frontier already has secured federal money through the Connect America Fund for Snowshoe broadband expansion. "Ultimately, it will be competing service," said Billy Jack Gregg, a Frontier representative. "What this council has done is subsidized competition for a private resort that can, in my opinion, fully afford whatever service they want." Council members who voted for Citynet's project at Snowshoe said there's no guarantee Frontier will expand high-speed Internet service at the resort. "We can't depend on 'could' or 'might,'" said Amy Shuler Goodwin, who serves on the council for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin. "We need to continue to invest in and enhance our crown jewels [in West Virginia]. I think of it as a marketing opportunity." For years, Snowshoe homeowners and resort guests have complained about poor or non-existent Internet service at the ski area. "Time and time again, the experience they share with others back home is [that] Snowshoe is where Internet and cellphones come to die," said David Fleming, president of the Pocahontas County Commission, in a letter to the broadband council. Frontier representatives said the company has heard the same complaints and plans to improve high-speed Internet service on the mountain. "We understand the frustration of customers who haven't had adequate service up until now," Gregg said, "but help was on the way." The Broadband Deployment Council had $1 million to distribute Wednesday. The remaining $287,000 in funds went to StratusWave, a company that plans to provide wireless Internet to homes in Wetzel, Doddridge and Tyler counties. Council member Jeff Wise said the group should distribute money for projects that bring Internet to people's permanent homes for the first time -- not to vacation homes. "I'd love to have high-speed Internet when I go to Snowshoe, too," he said. Late Tuesday, Citynet CEO Jim Martin, who sits on the broadband council, sent an email to fellow council members, urging them to approve the Snowshoe project. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company (c) 2014 All rights reserved. Albawaba.com |