Atlantic Mayor Dave Jones, Wednesday night, addressed efforts by persons on a social media site, “Connect Atlantic,” to bring high-speed internet to the community, through means other than MediaCom and Century Link. Jones said he’s been “Getting ambushed” by “Connect Atlantic” in efforts to work with Mediacom to bring 1 gig service to more customers in town. (click on the left side of each audio bar to listen)

High-speed internet is in-place in the community, but it’s not as wide-spread as many would like. Jones said many would prefer the City to build its own fiber-optic infrastructure and run the system, but the Mayor says that would be too costly.

He said in speaking with City Administrator John Lund, Jones said even if Atlantic had 40-percent of the market, 75-dollars of every 40-percent would go to pay the debt for the internet system.

Councilman Gerald Brink said having a City-operated internet service can be a huge financial burden that may be difficult to recover from.

Jones said right now, it appears the best use of tax dollars in the City of Atlantic, is to work with Mediacom to get the best deal, and keep on top of the company if problems crop up. He said many of the problems people are experiencing are internal (due to old wiring in their homes or an old router). He said he’s been asked why it’s taken so long to bring high-speed internet to town, when other, smaller communities nearby have, or are in the process of getting, the service.

He says that’s because they have their own, local phone companies that have applied for and received, grants. Atlantic doesn’t have a telephone company.