At the Board of Supervisors meeting held on July 1, Goochland County’s broadband consultants, CBG Communications, Inc., presented the results of a wide-area broadband network deployment study.

According to Thomas Robinson, executive vice president of CBG, 900 out of 3000 residential surveys were returned over the course of the survey, meaning that 1 of every 7 households responded to questions regarding current Internet usage.

What the study definitively showed was that most people here feel that the county should do something to improve broadband services. What exactly that something should be, however, is up for debate.

Robinson said that the majority of respondents, 36 percent, are currently using dial-up connections. Thirty percent, primarily those in more developed areas of the county, are using a cable modem connection, while only 9 percent are using DSL.

Those using dial-up connections tend to be dissatisfied with their current method of accessing the Internet, although they are satisfied with the cost of service.

Robinson pointed out that the reverse is the case with those residents using broadband, who are satisfied with their speed of Internet access but are concerned with its cost.

There is also a disparity in availability of services. Although there are areas where broadband is readily accessible, such as the courthouse area, other parts of the county are practically cut off.  For telecommuters, said Robinson, or for students trying to access the Internet for educational reasons, this lack of service is especially troublesome.

The bottom line, said Robinson, is that residents want more and better broadband service. If the county pursues methods of improving access, about 60 percent of respondents would sign up.

However, individual costs remains a strong concern. While monthly fees for Internet access can range from $10 to $99, Robinson said that the acceptable cost seems to be about $40.

Another financial concern is the overall cost to the county, in terms of taxes and fees.

Expanding cable and DSL services in the county would entail significant costs for improvements to infrastructure as well as provisions for daily operations and customer service.

According to Robinson, three proposed strategies to increase broadband coverage throughout the county would provide the following advantages and disadvantages:

• Encouraging the private sector to build
The benefit of this strategy is that the county avoids being directly involved with broadband expansion; the drawbacks could include less influence over the timeframe and nature of services.

• Creating a broadband authority
This strategy would enable an efficient, coordinated pursuit of a broadband network deploy, but would involve greater costs on behalf of the county.

• A public/private partnership
By partnering with a commercial entity, the county can implement plans more quickly and share financial risks. When using this strategy however, the county would need to be vigilant regarding the financial capabilities of its chosen partner and the effectiveness of its business plan.