Internet infrastructure an important need in Baldwin County

By Cliff McCollum
Posted 12/2/16

Editor’s Note: This story is the first in a two-part series on internet infrastructure needs in Baldwin County and across Alabama.

With growing areas like Baldwin County, infrastructure is …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Subscribe to continue reading. Already a subscriber? Sign in

Get the gift of local news. All subscriptions 50% off for a limited time!

You can cancel anytime.
 

Please log in to continue

Log in

Internet infrastructure an important need in Baldwin County

Posted

Editor’s Note: This story is the first in a two-part series on internet infrastructure needs in Baldwin County and across Alabama.

With growing areas like Baldwin County, infrastructure is constantly an issue that requires attention.

Roads, water, sewage and electricity are commonly talked about, but county leaders and economic development officials say there’s another issue that is fast becoming another major infrastructure factor: internet access.

Baldwin County Commissioner Tucker Dorsey said people across Baldwin County have said reliable internet access has become a necessity.

“It’s certainly a complaint that elected officials and leaders across the county are hearing – people and businesses all want to make sure they have fast and dependable access,” Dorsey said. “Internet availability has become a major factor in whether or not people or businesses are going to relocate to an area, so it’s an issue we’re certainly concerned with and are looking for solutions to it.”

Lee Lawson, director of the Baldwin County Economic Development Alliance, said internet accessibility is one of the few issues that affects every part of Baldwin County.

“Internet accessibility and capability is the issue that is countywide, one of the few issues that really touches every community,” Lawson said. “Trying to figure out ways to increase citizens’ and businesses’ access to good, reliable internet service is something that every municipality is certainly looking at.”

Lawson said one of the county’s current obstacles in increasing access is the spread of the county’s population.

“The biggest obstacle is density,” Lawson said. “Geographically and land mass wise, we’re so big that it’s hard for these providers that are investing in subservice fiber in the ground to make the numbers work for new investment. That’s been our biggest hurdle.”

Lawson said a lack of competition from new service providers has also been a concern.

“That’s been tough for us – without anyone new companies coming in and spurring existing providers, those existing providers haven’t increased investment or had to expand what they offer,” Lawson said.

Lawson said he and other officials across the county have reached out to other providers to try to find a solution for the lack of new competition.

“We’re working right now with some companies to look at alternative solutions that meet our geography,” Lawson said. “We’re working on some innovative things that can provide a solution to our gap.”

Dorsey said the county’s elected officials have been working to push new technologies that might help better cover a large, rural county like Baldwin.

“We are having ongoing discussions with several providers that are already here and some that don’t currently have a presence here,” Dorsey said. “Technology is moving at a pretty good pace, so there have been more innovations that give us more options.”

Some of those options could possibly include wireless service that would likely be able to provide similar speeds to fiber-based services.

“It seems like wireless would be a more cost effective way to get coverage for a large, rural area like Baldwin County,” Dorsey said. “Right now, the county is listening and learning. Our goal is that we don’t want to be in the broadband business, but we are interested in creating an environment where private companies could come in and help us boost what we’re able to offer.”

Both Lawson and Dorsey agree internet access is a necessity for both economic development and continued growth.

“The reason for better internet really isn’t because we need better Netflix access at our houses,” Dorsey said. “To be competitive from economic development standpoint, infrastructure is important. It helps facilitate growth. We have good water and a solid aquifer. We have good wastewater facilities. We have plenty of electricity, but broadband is where we need capacity to be able to create good paying jobs and grow our industries.”

Lawson said while the BCEDA has industry partners that can help set large industrial clients up with fiber access, the small business community is affected by the internet capabilities available in the county now.

“From a small business standpoint, it’s certainly an issue,” Lawson said. “Or for an executive that works out of their home and travels regionally. That’s where it’s becoming somewhat of a hurdle – that these people be able to have the speed and reliability to do their work from their home or wherever they have their office set up.”

Lawson said several of the municipalities, including Orange Beach, Foley, Fairhope and Daphne, were all exploring options as to what they could do to help their residents get better access.

“We’re all working on better internet access across the county,” Lawson said. “It’s really a team effort to try to help everyone on this.”

Next week: a look at one Alabama city that has already invested in better internet infrastructure across its borders.