At its regular meeting last month, Huntsville Council agreed to provide interim relief for no more than six months to an estimated 30 to 40 Port Sydney residents who would otherwise lose internet service.
In a report to council, Huntsville I.T. manager Ian Parker indicated that Cottage Country Internet had been servicing the residents from a tower at the north end of Mary Lake in the Gryffin Lodge area. When the property sold, a request was made to remove the tower.
“They [Cottage Country Internet] had a preestablished plan with Lakeland to provide service to their new tower location, however Lakeland has since reached out and said that they would no longer be able to service that new tower location,” noted Parker.
“The new tower is in place but remains without service,” he added in his report.
Parker said Cottage Country then reached out to the municipality. “In reviewing the situation with Cottage Country Internet, it was determined that the Port Sydney Community Hall has line-of-sight access to the new tower for Cottage Country Internet and currently has Lakeland fibre infrastructure installed in the building.”
He was recommending that the municipality enter into an agreement with Cottage Country Internet to lease space at the Port Sydney hall for an antenna in order to continue providing service to their contracted customers in the area while they find an alternative solution.
“With the recognition that high-speed internet access in the Town is a challenge, maintaining services that are already available is equally important as part of the mandate,” read his report.
According to Parker, Cottage Country would pay the municipality $50/month to place the antenna on the building with the following stipulations:
- A limited time lease (six months or less) for the installation of the antenna.
- Antenna installation was to be done with either a non-penetrating roof mount (i.e. no long-term damage or marks), or a simple four-screw wall mount on the south side of the building.
- Any damage to the building was to be repaired to Town’s satisfaction at the operator’s expense.
- Cottage Country Internet is to arrange and contract for the Lakeland Networks services separate from any Town of Huntsville services at the site.
- At the end of the lease, if an extension is required Cottage Country Internet is to return to council for further approval.
Deputy Mayor Nancy Alcock declared a conflict on the issue at the beginning of the meeting, noting that a decision from council would impact her neighbours.
In the end, and without further discussion, council unanimously agreed to lease the space at the hall to Cottage Country Internet.
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