High Speed Internet in Franklin – Morrow starts the ball rolling

by Steve Wiggins
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RUSSELLVILLE – Thursday evening, State Representative, Johnny Mack Morrow held an information sharing meeting in Russellville to start the ball rolling on the development of a broadband internet system for Franklin County. He, and a group of area public service members have been working on fact finding for a couple of years now, and this meeting was to bring all parties together to build consensus on the best way to start a plan.

Mississippi Public Service Commission Chairman Brandon Presley

Among to participants, in addition to Morrow, were Franklin County Extension Coordinator, Katernia Cole-Coffee, Darren Woodruff of Russellville Utilities, Steve Bohse of Tombigbee Electrical Coop President/CEO, and Chair of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, Brandon Presley.

Notable by his absence, was Franklin Electric Cooperative Manager A.H. Akins. Representative Morrow, indicated is great disappointment with Akins’ being a no-show. He said, “I would like to ask H. Akins right nowwhat he has done to promote high-speed internet to our citizens.” Morrow said that without the Electrical Coop’s participation, nothing would get done. But he pledged to move forward with the process. Katernia Cole-Coffee and fellow task force member, Lauranne James were asked to attend the next Coop Board meeting to find out if Chairman Akins was interested in this project or not.

Alabama Representative Johnny Mack Morrow

This system of extremely high speed internet connectivity was described as transformative to the economy of Franklin County. With a speed of 100 gigabits, it would put the county on par with systems found in much larger counties. Economies depend upon high-speed, high-tech information systems, and Representative Morrow said that Franklin County would be ranked very favorable with other Alabama counties which are also moving in this upward direction.

Steve Bohse, CEO of Tombigbee gave the attendees some nuts-and-bolts facts about how his utility company, since 2007 has been continually moving forward with their plan. Their system of now being implemented. customers are seeing much higher speed and productivity with lower overall costs.

Steve Bohse of Tombigbee Electrical Coop President/CEO

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