TMCnet News
Cebridge Stalls TDPUD Broadband with LAFCo Challenge TRUCKEE, Calif. --(Business Wire)-- Sept. 7, 2004 -- The Truckee Donner Public Utility District's (TDPUD) Fiber-to-the-User broadband network has been stalled by Cebridge Connections, who has challenged the Nevada County Local Agency Formation Commission's (LAFCo) final certification to provide broadband services. With LAFCo's approval, the TDPUD was scheduled to close financing for the project this month. Construction was to begin in October.Cebridge Connections, which was formed in 2002 and acquired USA Media last month, requested that LAFCo withdraw the TDPUD Broadband resolutions approved at last month's public meeting. The demand for reconsideration officially prohibits the TDPUD from moving forward with any broadband planning until LAFCo takes further action. "The actions of Cebridge at this point have delayed the District from proceeding and contradict their previous statements that they were looking forward to healthy competition," Alan Harry, TDPUD Director of Telecommunications, said. "This challenge only proves that they are afraid of the services we will be bringing to the community." "We've been working closely with LAFCo for nearly four years to bring forth a business plan that would provide a comprehensive and state-of-the art telecommunications system," Harry said. With the TDPUD's hands temporarily tied, Cebridge has retained the services of local public relations company Switchback Public Relations and are soliciting contracts with customers throughout the Truckee Region. "They've put a local face on a St. Louis company using it to gain the community's trust," Peter Holzmeister, general manager of the TDPUD, said. "We're counting on the fact that Truckee knows our services are community-owned and about quality, not profit." "There's no other explanation for their actions other than they're scared," Harry said. "Why else would any out-of-area company go to such measures?" LAFCo will address the Cebridge requests at a public meeting, Thursday, September 16 at 10:00 a.m. at the Truckee Town Hall, 10183 Truckee Airport Road, Truckee. The Truckee Donner Public Utility District has a proven track record of providing reliable, reasonably priced water and electric services for the last 75 years. The District, owned and controlled by its customers, is governed by a five-member Board of Directors, each elected to serve a four-year term. District Board meetings are open to the public and are held the first and third Wednesday of each month, 7 p.m. at the District's headquarters. For more information about the District's proposed broadband system, contact Alan Harry, director of telecommunications, at 530-582-3951 or [email protected]. |
