The Erie County Legislature’s Minority Caucus sent a letter requesting a discussion on rural broadband to be held in a Legislature Economic Development Committee meeting. This request follows the County Executive’s proposal to spend $20 million on constructingcountywide broadband infrastructure to allow access to high-speed internet for otherwise underserved county residents. According to reports, the county-owned broadband network could potentially be one of the largest municipal owned networks in the country.

If constructed, a county-owned broadband network would be a taxpayer-funded public utility, similar to the Erie County Water Authority. The Water Authority has a budget of roughly $77 million per year and they often raise rates to fund improvements.

Legislator Lorigo said, “I think the idea of countywide broadband access is great.  At this point, we have yet to see any details of the proposed plan.  Prior to moving forward on a potential $20 million investment, we need a discussion at the Legislature about the details, feasibility, return on investment, and whether there will be any private sector companies willing to partner with Erie County to achieve our goal.  I hope we can have those discussions soon.”

Legislator Rath said, “We first introduced the idea of rural broadband at the Legislature several years ago. There are still many questions that need to be answered before we approve this proposal. $20 million just for the initial investment is a high price tag when we aren’t sure how feasible a large-scale project like this is, especially when we have to adapt to technology over time and it could require costly maintenance. I am hoping we can hold a discussion on the matter as soon as possible.”

Legislator Dixon said, “We should always seek to address issues in rural Erie County, including the idea of expanded internet access. Before we forge ahead with this proposal, we need more information. I’m not sure we have the infrastructure to take on a project like this and properly maintain it as technology advances. We need to do our own research and hear from a number of different experts first, which is why we are requesting a discussion at the Legislature. I look forward to weighing our options to figure out whether or not this is a project the county can take on.”

Legislator Mills said, “My colleagues and I have concerns about this very costly proposal from the County Executive. I am not so sure having another government-run utility is something the taxpayers of Erie County could benefit from. Ensuring internet access to all county residents is something we are willing to explore, but we need to have the discussion before making any decisions.”

The letter requesting the discussion is here.