Pro-fiber group submits petitions to PUD

PUD votes to surplus fiber video equipment

EPHRATA — The Grant County Public Utility District voted Monday to sell the equipment that had been used to transmit video over the county's fiber optic network, an action that was first brought up when the commission voted to halt fiber build out on the system for 2005 earlier this year.

A vote on the resolution passed without discussion, but not before a fiber build out supporter dropped off more than 500 petition comments from people pushing for an aggressive build out of the system.

The PUD first talked about selling its video head end equipment earlier this year, when the commission voted 3-2 in March to "stand pat" on build out of the fiber system in 2005. That decision meant no new construction on the fiber optic network in 2005, but allowed for a continuation of service in areas where fiber was already available.

The sale of the video equipment was one of seven measures the PUD approved when adopting the stand pat model in March. Monday's vote was also 3-2, with commissioners Bill Bjork, Randy Allred and Greg Hansen voting in favor of the sale, and commissioners Tom Flint and Vera Claussen opposed to it.

Supporters of the stand pat model have said the PUD doesn't have the money to build out the fiber system and that the decision was the only way to keep the fiber system above water.

Critics have said however that it will kill the system, and some have pushed for an aggressive fiber build out.

Members of the group FiberActive have been pushing for aggressive fiber build out. Carl Highland spoke to the commission during the public comment portion of Monday's meeting, and brought with him many of the petition comments the FiberActive group collected during the Grant County Fair. Highland said in a prepared statement that the county must have fiber broadband service to grow economically.

"No private enterprise will be able to extend fiber optic service to every business, home or farm in this county. This ratepayer public utility can do the task much in the same way it extended electrical service to every user in the county."

Highland read aloud from some of the 500 comments before handing them to commission members, and also advocating his own opinion for an aggressive build out.

"If you do not build out this Zipp network," Highland said when concluding his comments, "your legacy will go down as a failure."

The commission accepted the comments from Highland, which Commission President Bjork said would later be compiled and distributed to commission members.

Also at Monday's PUD meeting:

? The commission approved the filing of the proposed 2006 budget. PUD commissioners will begin public hearings on the proposed budget Oct. 3.

? Commissioners approved endorsing the Transmission Improvements Group alternative as a preferred solution to Northwest regional power transmission issues.

? The commission approved a plan to execute an interlocal agreement with Chelan PUD to use excess rearing capacity at Chelan PUD's Eastbank Hatchery facility to rear 1,680 White River spring-run Chinook salmon. Chelan and Grant PUD will each provide for different aspects of the plan. The agreement was approved not to exceed $25,000.