The Monroe County commissioners met on May 8, 2006, discussing issues that included wireless broadband internet and a proposal for a higher education center. According to an article in the Monroe County Beacon by Arlean Selvy, “county officials committed … over $100,000 [for] … the successful development and expansion of wireless broadband within the county and beyond.” Currently, wireless exists only within a two-mile radius around the county seat of Woodsfield.
High-speed internet access is a vital part of helping small businesses compete and grow in an increasingly global marketplace. With this faster internet, county residents may also be able to utilize both distance learning and telemedicine technologies, which could help the county overcome the isolation that exists within the region.
Current plans will require only about 300 customers to the service for it to break even. The long-range goal is to expand coverage to surrounding counties. In a related matter, commissioners signed a letter of support for additional grant monies. The grant, if received, would build a broadband community connectivity center in Graysville.
Finally, Dr. Joseph Bukowski, president of Belmont Technical College, spoke to the commissioners about a proposal to build a higher education center in the county. While the proposal is still largely conceptual and more study is needed, a possible site has already been identified.
As regular readers of this blog will know, these are issues that I have talked about several times. It is good to see that I am not alone in my assessment of the situation, and that steps are being taken by the residents of the area to respond to the changes they see around them. These proposals, if brought to fruition, will be a huge leap forward for an area that often lags behind much of the rest of the state. While these projects (especially the education center) are still off in the future, they are important steps towards making Monroe County a strong and vital area for future generations.
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