Public meeting on fiber optics Aug. 15

Persons living or working in western Montgomery County are invited to attend an informational meeting on Aug. 15, to learn more about fiber optics and the potential for better broadband in the area.

The public meeting will be at 7 p.m. on Aug. 15 at the Wilson Performing Art Center in Red Oak. It’s part of a Community Broadband Pre-Feasibility Study that the Montgomery County Development Corporation and its 623 Broadband Task Force launched earlier this summer.

The broadband study focuses on locations within the 623 telephone exchange, which includes Red Oak and rural areas of western Montgomery County. The goals of the study are:

• Educate citizens in the study area about the importance of broadband service for education, health care, quality of life, business, and the economy.

• Engage in discussions with individuals, anchor entities, and leadership groups to identify existing broadband gaps.

• Conduct a comprehensive survey to measure attitudes about existing providers and gauge interest in a new provider that can close those gaps.

• Identify the geographic location of citizens that would be interested in receiving services from a new, fiber-based provider.

• Gather speed test data from locations in the study area to measure actual delivered internet speeds, not just advertised speeds.

In addition to the public informational meeting and several stakeholder small group meetings, two online tools are being used to gather information as part of the Pre-Feasibility Study. Surveys for residents and businesses will collect data on their experiences with internet, cable TV, and telephone services. It will allow them to provide feedback on whether their needs are adequately met. There is also a broadband assessment tool designed to gather additional feedback about internet services and collect actual speed test data from Red Oak homes and businesses.

A web page has been established to serve as the information hub for the pre-feasibility study. The site, ourbroadbandfuture.com/red-oak.html, includes background on the study and the reasons it was launched and educational resources on broadband services. A Facebook page has also been created as a source of information at https://www.facebook.com/redoakareafiber/.

Questions about the study or the public meeting, or to reply with your intention to attend the public meeting, please contact Joey Norris, Committee Chair at 515-497-0207 or 712-621-5639 or Shawnna Silvius, MCDC Exec. Director at 712-370-6323 or by email, Director@mcdevcorp.org