DANVILLE — A CATV Services Inc. official is concerned about a company proposing to use federal economic stimulus funds for services he said are being provided in the area.
Jeff Kozero, president and owner of Lyric Communications, told the Borough Council recently about his plans to apply for up to $15 million in stimulus funds to create a company in one to three years that would provide 100 full-time jobs to install infrastructure and 20 to 50 jobs depending on the number of customers.
“We aren’t trying to put the carrier here out of business,” he said.
But Sam Haulman, general manager of CATV Services in Danville, said his company already provides fiber connections, high-speed Internet and broadband cable and is meeting the needs of residents and businesses of all sizes in the area.
CATV has fiber connections used by a number of larger businesses and organizations in the area, Haulman said.
“We do not understand why or how this area can be determined as being underserved or unserved when we have made a significant investment in our systems to make available advanced technology in the area,” Haulman said.
Kozero is seeking support from the Borough Council for the grant application. The initial letter came from state Rep. Robert Belfanti Jr., D-107 of Mount Carmel, requesting support for the proposal for high-speed Internet and broadband cable.
Council members expect to discuss the matter when they meet Tuesday.
Haulman said the jobs Kozero talked about already exist here and are filled by local people. He had concerns about how many people in the area Lyric would employ, adding that maybe some local service people would be hired.
“We don’t know a lot about this company and its ability to build and manage such a network,” he said.
Kozero said he has spoken in 13 or 14 jurisdictions in the coal region about his plans.
“If the stimulus money isn’t spent in this jurisdiction, it will be spent somewhere else,” he said.
He said CATV’s franchise in Danville doesn’t prevent another company from doing business there. He said his company would pay the borough a franchise fee.
“We feel it will increase revenues and increase options for what people want to pay for,” he said.
He said he would be investing $4 million in the construction package.
CATV, which has served the area since 1953, employs nearly 50 people in the service area covering Danville, Lewisburg, Milton, Watsontown and surrounding municipalities, Haulman said.
In his initial letter to the council, Belfanti wrote an alliance has been formed with Lyric Communications that has been asked to apply for $10 million to $15 million in grants to rewire the entire Lower Anthracite Region for high-speed Internet and high-definition cable TV at no cost to municipalities.
Lyric is a Maryland-based telecommunications broadband company that has received federal contracts related to design, construction and installation of infrastructure for communities in Pennsylvania and Maryland, the letter said.
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CATV official questions stimulus proposal
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