By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

Franklin County voters visited the polls on Tuesday to have their say in various local offices as well as state representatives and senate positions. But residents of Franklin County also passed Local Amendment Number One 3,067 votes to 2,416.

The amendment that appeared on the ballot Tuesday will “allow the Franklin County Water Coordinating and Fire Prevention Authority to provide sewer services and broadband internet services in this county,” according to the amendment.

Alabama Extension Coordinator Katernia Cole said this is “really major” for the county.

“I’m very proud of the taskforce and I’m excited for the county,” Cole said. “This is going to be really major going forward for all of us.”

By having the broadband Internet services placed under the Water Authority grants and bonds for funding will be able to immediately be sought due to the 501(c)(3) status.

“This is going to help the citizens of Franklin County who are underserved or not served as far as broadband Internet,” Cole said.

At a Broadband Internet Taskforce meeting in July, Cole said passing the bill and expanding the Water Authority services to include broadband Internet “won’t cost those who already have it and it won’t affect those who already have it.”

“It won’t hurt the service or cost anyone who has broadband now and it could perhaps increase the quality of your service or your options,” Cole said. “Passing this would really help those in the rural areas that need better access to high-speed Internet.”

Moving forward Cole said the same taskforce will get back together and start pursuing grants.

“I’d love to snap my fingers and have the services provided, but this is a process,” Cole said. “We are going to go back to work and start figuring out the do’s and the don’ts of how to do this.”

Cole said the portion of the amendment pertaining to the sewer services was a provision that could help rural towns down the road.

“I am focused on the broadband internet service for the people in the county,” Cole said. “But as I understand it, having that put in there means that if we come across a grant for the broadband service but could include a town’s sewer system in it as well then we wouldn’t overlook them. We could include them too.”

Cole said the people of Franklin County can expect the Broadband Taskforce to continue working to move the project forward.

“I really appreciate the people who went out and voted today,” Cole said. “I am excited to continue this project and move it forward.”