County moves to assist Kentucky Wired fiber-optic network initiative
John E. Selent, an attorney representing Bluegrass Networks, answers questions about the company’s plans to install fiber optic cables through Nelson County as part of Kentucky Wired initiative.
By JIM BROOKS
Nelson County Gazette / WBRT Radio
Tuesday, Sept. 5, 2017 — Nelson Fiscal Court gave the go-ahead Tuesday morning to a process that will allow Bluegrass Networks to seek a franchise agreement with the county so the company can build a fiber optic network that will pass through Nelson County.
Bluegrass Networks is serving as a contractor for the Kentucky Wired project, a statewide initiative that aims to create a high-speed fiber-optic network in all of the state’s 120 counties.
Bluegrass Networks is the infrastructure arm of Bluegrass Cellular, and is owned by the same four telephone co-ops that own Bluegrass Cellular.
Magistrate Keith Metcalfe questioned how the Kentucky Wired project will operate. The project is a public-private partnership, and Metcalfe wanted to know if the company planned to expand the sales of its own services within the Kentucky Wired network.
Bryan Bell, a Bluegrass Cellular senior manager, told Metcalfe that the company’s role in Kentucky Wired is simply as a contractor to install the fiber; the state will install its own equipment on the network at a later time.
Bluegrass was chosen by the state simply because the company has existing fiber cable serving its cell towers in the county. Bluegrass Networks will build the fiber optic lines in a 21 county region, Bell said.
The network is being designed to offer services to state and local government offices and schools, he explained. Bluegrass has no intent to become a provider and compete with local providers in regard to internet access, he said. The goal for Kentucky Wired is to link government facilities and schools across the state.
In response to Metcalfe’s questions about its use of the fiber network it plans to install, Bell explained that the company plans to install additional network capacity than the project requires. The extra capacity will serve future growth, and Bluegrass will have the option to use of the surplus fiber capacity to serve its cell towers, he said.
“The growth in the use of fiber is exponential,” John E. Selent, an attorney with Dinsmore & Shoh, told the court.
Magistrates Sam Hutchins, left and Keith Metcalfe, right, listen to answers to their questions regarding Bluegrass Networks’ plan to install fiber optic cables on behalf of the Kentucky Wired initiative in Nelson County.
Before a franchise can be granted for the fiber network, fiscal court must first create a franchise, and then advertise the franchise is available. The Bluegrass representatives said they can provide language for the necessary ordinance to create the franchise.
Magistrate Jeff Lear, owner of Bardstown Internet Service, recused himself from the discussion about the Bluegrass Network project.
UPS GOLF CARTS ON COUNTY ROADS. Judge Executive Dean Watts and the magistrates briefly discussed a letter from United Parcel Service advising county government of its intent to use golf carts for package delivery in some county neighborhood in the next 60 days.
“During peak delivery season, there is an ever-growing need for UPS to be more flexible so we can better serve our customers who live in your community, the letter stated.
The use of the carts will allow package delivers with fewer large UPS trucks entering a busy neighborhood during peak delivery times.
The golf carts will be operated by UPS employees, and they will be licensed, insured and marked per state regulations which took effect June 29, 2017. The regulations allowing golf carts on roadways only applies to commercial delivery companies like UPS.
In other business, the court:
— gave final approval of the 2017 tax rate. Judge Executive Watts and the court left the tax rate the same as last year’s rate.
— approved the purchase of a 2018 Freightliner garbage truck from Kentucky Truck Sales for $162,976.
— approved a bid of $180,300 by Cook Construction for interior and exterior renovations to the Samuels Hall building at the Nelson County Fairgrounds.
— appointed Teresa Johnson to the Nelson County Board of Adjustments to fill the unexpired term of Allen Parker.
— re-appointed Paula Pace to the Bardstown-Nelson County Commission on Human Rights.
— appointed Pat Swartz to the Nelson County Planning Commission to fill the unexpired term of Dennis Caldwell.
— discussed a request to close a portion of Love Ridge Road at KY 555. Magistrate Jerry Hahn agreed to submit names for two viewers who will review the property and report back to the court.
NEXT UP. Nelson Fiscal Court meets next at 9 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2017.
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