RANCHO SANTA FE — A topic which continues to linger in Rancho Santa Fe regards broadband. Staff members at the RSF Association are gathering proposals as they come in and presenting it to its board of directors.
It’s a work in progress and one, which requires frequent updates.
“The Board is continuing to review some different options for the provision of broadband service in the Ranch,” said Ivan Holler, acting manager at the RSF Association. “Yesterday the Board heard a presentation on one potential option that was a contract to design, construct, and own the infrastructure associated with high speed internet service.”
Holler stressed to the Board that this was another proposal among others it has received since the interest of acquiring broadband in the Ranch. Other service providers it has gathered proposals from include AT&T.
Holler told the board and its members in attendance that the Association anticipated receiving another proposal from a cable provider and another company.
“There are still a number of things that are under review,” he said. “The board and staff are still considering a couple of different options.”
Holler said that by the end of the month they will have more information for the board and predicted it would be available during the February RSF Association board of directors meeting.
“I think I speak for the entire board to say this is a very high priority for the board in getting this done for the benefit of the community,” he said.
President Ann Boon then asked if any other board members had questions.
Board Director Heather Slosar wanted to know that if they went with broadband would it be accessible to every single parcel in the Ranch.
Holler replied, “Yes.”
Slosar then asked for a better understanding of how it would work in terms of trenching and how it would affect the streets in the Ranch.
“I thought there was technology now where you can go down and then trench underneath without tearing up everything,” Slosar said.
Holler explained that horizontal boring is not really new technology.
“It works very well if you’re crossing a street perpendicular to the street,” said Holler, highlighting situations such as this. However, delivering it down a street, also referred to as long runs, horizontal boring isn’t as effective, he said.
Holler wanted the board to know that he anticipated a combination of traditional underground trenching, and then in some cases, horizontal boring. Both would take place.
Slosar was curious if an individual property owner was responsible from taking Broadband from the street to their home or if this was included in the proposal.
“It’s too soon to say,” Holler said. “There has been some discussion about both models, but there’s no decision at this point.”
Holler felt it was too early to respond to this portion of the project given that the proposals were just coming in with more on the way.
The Board would address this high priority topic at their next monthly meeting in February.
