Archive: Around Town

Pat PryorThe Legislature expressed official appreciation to the volunteer members of its Special Committee on Broadband, as the committee begins to wind down three years of work.  The resolution, approved without dissent (Legislator Will Burbank was excused), expresses the Legislature’s deepest gratitude to members of the committee “for their commitment, dedication, and innovative thinking that will help many Tompkins County residents and businesses to soon realize the benefits of high-speed connectivity.  The committee is made up of 16 volunteer members with varied professional experience and technical expertise, who used their best thinking to identify, evaluate, and propose solutions to address gaps in Broadband accessibility in the county.

Legislator Pat Pryor, who has chaired the Broadband Committee since its inception, recognized and thanked the members, whom she described as “the most incredible group of community volunteers without who the Broadband project would never have happened.”

Pryor and Legislator Dave McKenna, vice-chair presented letters of appreciation to committee members appearing before the Legislature.  Pryor also thanked the Legislature which, through Chair Martha Robertson, recognized the need for all county residents for high-speed Internet access and took the necessary steps to initiate the project, with the full Legislature remaining supportive throughout.  She also thanked the many county staff who assisted—especially Deputy County Administrator Paula Younger for her expertise, hard work, and guidance. 

“Without Paula’s experience and expertise, I’m not sure this project would have gotten off the ground,” Pryor said.  “The broadband expansion project is only happening because of substantial and continuing commitment of resources from Tompkins County."

Pryor reported that installation is beginning, with customers being added to the service now.  She said that Chuck Bartosch, CEO of primary corporate partner Clarity Connect, lead applicant for the state grant received, currently estimates that installation of project infrastructure could be completed by July of next year, and it is projected that currently unserved and underserved areas will be activated by the end of 2014.

Chair Martha Robertson, and many others, thanked Legislators Pryor and McKenna for their leadership of this important effort on behalf of the residents of Tompkins County.

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