Update on Monticello: Appellate presentations on March 4

The folks in Monticello are so good about keeping me up on what’s going in their neck of the woods. I wanted to share the latest from their newsletter:

FiberNet Project Update: February 19, 2009

Lawsuit – Appeal Update
As you may be aware, full construction of our community-owned, locally-operated ultra fast broadband system, “Fibernet Monticello,” has been delayed due to a legal challenge by TDS Telecom. This legal challenge has delayed the project because revenue bond funds ($26 M) obtained from private investors cannot be tapped to fund our project until the case clears. At the District Court level, as expected, a ruling favorable to Monticello has been obtained. However, TDS elected to appeal this decision resulting in further delay of our project. Oral presentations at the appellate level will occur on March 4. The City remains confident that we will prevail later this year.

Project Update February
At the direction of the Mayor and Council, Monticello is pressing forward with construction of some important elements of our system, including construction of the building housing electronics (head-end building) and a fiber “backbone” which was constructed in late fall 2008. This subset of the main system will provide ultra-high speed internet service to a number of our businesses and industries along with a small number of residential homes. In addition to providing immediate service for some, completion of the head-end building will serve to shorten the construction timeline for the full project offering Internet, telephone and digital TV at very competitive prices.

The Monticello City Council has authorized final planning for system start-up, including direction to proceed with sales and operations. This important activity is now in full swing with Don Patten from Hiawatha Broadband Communications (HBC) as General Manager to guide the start-up process. We are excited about our Private/Public partnership with HBC and glad to have Don providing FiberNet Monticello with the expertise needed to assure success. Don has a long record of achievements on similar projects that instill confidence that he will successfully guide Monticello toward a system that will achieve BETTER VALUE, GREATER SPEED, OPTIONS YOU DESIGN, SUPERIOR LOCAL SUPPORT, CUSTOMER SERVICE and LOCAL ACCOUNTABILITY.

FiberNet Monticello
High Speed Internet, Telephone & Digital TV
Community Owned & Locally Operated
Visit our website: http://www.MonticelloFiber.com