Fillmore council considers fiber optic option

FILLMORE — Being in a rural area, reliable broadband connectivity in Fillmore is sparse. Town leaders are looking at a fiber optic expansion to improve this.

Standing in for Clerk-Treasurer Bill Miles, Monica Bray and the Fillmore Town Council heard from Jay Watkins of Endeavor Communications on building out services at a special meeting Monday.

Watkins outlined that Endeavor, which is based in Cloverdale, has aimed to build its connectivity out to similar communities. The provider formed a joint venture with Hendricks Power Cooperative in 2019 for it to branch out in the latter’s service territories.

With the venture to wrap up in 2023, Watkins said Endeavor is currently evaluating the needs of smaller communities. He noted that its fiber now surrounds Fillmore, as well as Bainbridge and Roachdale.

“We’re in evaluation mode right now,” Watkins said, suggesting that no commitments anywhere have been made. “Fiber build is very, very expensive; it’s very labor-intensive on the front end.”

With Endeavor itself being a cooperative, Watkins said the provider’s leadership expects five-year returns on investment with projects. Building in a community like Fillmore, ensuring this return means greater financial and labor capital to set up the distribution.

Watkins brought up that TDS, another fiber optic provider, has already built locally from its central office out to Cemetery Road. He also said Endeavor fiber currently runs to Fillmore Elementary School, Dixie Chopper and Liberty Trailers.

As such, Watkins said Fillmore would be taken out of consideration if TDS were to build more fiber. He provided that it would not be feasible to have both in the same place as to distributing services.

“We’d like to think our product is superior, but fiber is fiber,” Watkins said.

But besides expanding connections for future opportunities, he added that Endeavor’s broadband service is 10-gig-capable. The new fiber lines would also be buried.

Watkins said Endeavor is now more than a year out on acquiring much of its materials. As such, any work could not take place until well outside that projection.

Meanwhile, Bray and the council were also expecting to hear from a TDS representative via phone. However, calls made to him were not returned.

In other business:

• The council approved trick-or-treating in Fillmore to be on Halloween, Oct. 31, from 6-8 p.m.

• Due to the previously signed document omitting the tax rate, the council re-adopted Ordinance 2022-4 outlining the town’s budget for 2023. The rate is 0.6354.

The figures for the town’s funds otherwise remain the same. It was noted that the budget as it was advertised did show the rate as required.

With the whole council of Meredith Trusty, Jerry Huff and C.J. Huller present, Town Attorney Jeff Boggess and Utilities Operator Joe Cash were not in attendance.