internet

Horseshoe Bay officials learned about the details needed to improve local internet coverage at their Tuesday, March 20, meeting.

The officials also received a briefing from the Cultural Enrichment Society and received good news on the city's finances.

BAC

The Broadband Advisory Committee, which consists of JJ Guy, Frank Gracely Jr., Frank Hosea, Christopher Williston, and Nick Summitt, presented their report after more than 200-man hours of meetings and engagements with all current and potential technology providers.

The committee's top goal of its long-range plan is to increase (some would say “provide”) dependable internet access to all homes with enough bandwidth to meet the needs of modern activity.

This committee looked for all options but have determined wireless providers cannot offer the kind of deep internet provision needed. Wired (direct connect through fiber, cable, or DSL) are needed for quality service.

By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula

A long-standing demand for reliable, speedy internet service in Horseshoe Bay is appearing in early results of the Long Range Planning Committee’s survey of property owners.

“We have a week left for people to respond to the survey, but we’re seeing a strong response about internet in the city: high-speed internet is the number one priority,” said Steve Jordan, Horseshoe Bay mayor, on April 7. “Because we don’t have a lot of options available to larger communities, we’re making the best of what we have.”

The lack of high-speed fiber optic internet across the entire 15 square miles of Horseshoe Bay remains a “complex and costly challenge,” said Stan Farmer, Horseshoe Bay city manager, in January.

The combination of lack of density and large area makes it an implausible proposition for either private investment or as a city project.