State-Journal.com - 1,700 homes unreached by cable, Internet

Those living where Frankfort Plant Board cable and Internet services aren’t available could receive a survey to gauge interest in subscribing – but only after it’s revised.

At a special board meeting Wednesday the plant board directors discussed a plan to introduce cable and broadband Internet to some areas not served during the next three years.

That’s about 1,700 homes in Franklin County and cable superintendent John Higginbotham says a survey could provide feedback. Most of the areas without service are located in Franklin County north of Bridgeport Road and north of Georgetown Road.

There are also small pockets without service in southern Franklin County near Avenstoke Road, Hickory Ridge and Green Wilson Road.

The plan is still developing, and Higginbotham says he needs to gauge interest to determine if the project is financially feasible. Higginbotham said the project would not require a rate increase, because revenue from new customers would pay for the cost of expanding services.

He presented a letter to the directors that would include questions about the residents’ use of the Internet and their phone use.

However, board Vice-Chairwoman Sheila Mason expressed concern that the letter might create expectations that can’t be fulfilled. The letter said showing an interest in plant board services doesn’t require a respondent to subscribe.

However, Mason said that’s not good enough.

“Asking does not obligate us to provide services,” she said. “We might be setting up expectations we don’t want to set up.”

Higginbotham agreed to provide a revised questionnaire at the next board meeting in October. He said he predicts a response rate of 10 or 12 percent.

“It’s hard to say, we have no relationship with these customers,” Higginbotham said.

The board also met with officials and engineers Wednesday to discuss plans to install a 500,000-gallon water tank at the Farmdale Water District.

Bob Blankenship, an engineer for HMB, presented a memo to the plant board and discussed a number of concessions on behalf of the Farmdale Water District.

Blankenship said the water district would pay the construction, operation and maintenance costs using a $990,000 grant from the Kentucky Infrastructure Authority.

“The plant board is not being asked to put up any funds,” Blankenship said.

The tank is required by the Public Service Commission and would be built at the Stewart Home School.

However, there’re still some issues to resolve, Blankenship said.

Plant board chairman Joe Smith said he hopes to have a response to the Farmdale memo within a week.

“We are doing our dangdest to find a way to serve Farmdale,” Smith said.