Fiber Committee to Host Informational Meeting

BY DAVID FISHER

david@dresdenenterprise.com

DRESDEN (November 4) — The Weakley County Fiber Research Committee will meet in the gymnasium at Dresden Middle School at 6 p.m., Monday, November 9. The public is invited to attend. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, masks will be required to attend the event as a matter of public safety. Social distancing is also recommended.

According to District 1 Commissioner Dennis Doster, “It’s going to be an informational meeting.” He said there were some misstatements on Facebook and other websites, following the last meeting on the subject of installing high-speed internet fiber to all of the citizens of Weakley County.

“There were some commissioners who said they didn’t understand and others stated they thought they’d been ambushed by it,” Doster said.

“We’re inviting all commissioners and the public to the Fiber Committee meeting this coming Monday night,” Doster said. “We’ll go through it step-by-step, explaining the fiber – what it’s going to cost, how we’re going to pay for it, and who’s going to get it – so everyone will understand it.

Doster stated Weakley County Economic Development Board Director Shelby Spurgeon will give an economic impact statement.

Doster said plans call for having representatives from the farming industry and real estate businesses to address their concerns regarding the importance of having fiber. Additionally, Director of Weakley County Schools Randy Frazier will be asked to explain the need for fiber cable countywide as it relates to educating students when schools are closed to in-person learning. The Fiber Committee will also take comments and questions from the citizens attending the meeting.