One hot topic of discussion in Washington County, Florida, as in all rural counties in Northwest Florida, is the availability, or lack, of dependable internet connectivity, and the opportunities available to citizens to secure a reasonably-priced, dependable source of online connectivity.
The Washington County Board of County Commissioners has made this a topic of prime concern on their agenda by sending emissaries to Washington, DC to meet with officials who might help with this issue.
Recently, Washington County Commission Chair Tray Hawkins traveled to our Nation’s capitol along with County Manager Jeff Massey to meet with elected officials and others ‘behind the scenes’ to explore getting assistance for Washington County in multiple matters, including the possibilities and options open to our area for increased bandwidth availability.
Cautiously optimistic, Commissioners are heartened by some of the news they have received and look forward to sharing that information with the Commission and the public in upcoming sessions.
It is pointed out that it is prudent to remain leery of underfunded operations offering service, such as experienced not long ago by consumers of Main Street Broadband, initially offered by a local internet service and satellite TV provider, and which went out of business with no notice, leaving customers stranded and without recourse for regaining their service fees.
‘Our business, in downtown Chipley, enjoyed the low-cost and dependable internet service’, says Debbie Goulding, President of The Goulding Agency.
‘However, one day the service simply stopped working, and our local satellite service provider could give us no answers or satisfaction except to say that he was glad that he had not sold more of the service and would not discuss giving us a refund on the recently paid bill’.
‘Not only was this less-than-stellar customer service, but it makes us skeptical of any other service offered by this or other providers unless there is some assurance that the system will be in place tomorrow and the next day. Cost, although important, is not the most important factor, especially for a business which depends on fast, safe and secure internet connectivity’.
