(3/10) The Thurmont commissioners continued their discussion at the board’s March 9 meeting, for over an hour, regarding the possibility of establishing a municipally owned and operated highspeed internet service for the community.
The discussions were continued from the board’s February 9 presentation by the Thurmont Internet Commission. The commission was established by resident-volunteer Elliot Jones after the idea had been spearheaded by Commissioner Martin Burns.
The internet commission had previously proposed that a pilot-program comprised of some 235 residential and business-users be established to test the system upon its launch. Jones told the commissioners that the pilot program would serve as a "proof-of-concept … showing to our residents and to our town that this is feasible … and this is effective … and is affordable to our residents."
The number of participants in the pilot program was based on the number needed in order to at least break-even on the start-up and service costs of $235,000 over a less-than-three-year period. Previously discussed preliminary user-rates would run from $50 to $80 per-month for residents, and $75 to $180 per-month for businesses, based on the number of megabits provided.
It was also previously recommended that the initial service be a wireless system, and as the customer-base grew, to gradually convert the service to a fiber-optics network, which could take several years to complete.
The town already has three tall water-towers which could double as wireless transmission-towers, although Internet Commission member Dan Kosek stated at the board’s March 9 meeting that the town may need to erect a fourth transmission-tower to reach all of the residents within the future service area. The pilot program would be launched utilizing only one of the water-towers.
Kosek suggested that, once the pilot program has been launched, the first 90 days should prove as being sufficient for providing enough user-data to serve as a basis upon which to make further decisions regarding the service, such as employing the other water-towers.
Mayor Kinnaird said, "Once you offer doing it, a lot of people will be interested. I have no doubt about that at all. I have no doubt that it will be successful."
Chief Administrative Officer James Humerick noted that, as the result of a survey already taken among the residents, "quite a few people said that if they could get better service at a cheaper price, they certainly would participate."
The board took no formal action regarding the proposal but did assured that the discussions will continue.
