Russell Black, chairman and chair of economic development for the Blue Ridge Downtown Development Authority (DDA), is continuing efforts to improve cell phone reception and internet in the Central Business District (CBD).
During the DDA’s Monday, February 7, meeting, in which he was voted in as chairman, Black explained that he’s been in touch with Toro Blanco Group out of Atlanta.
The group is known for their distributed antenna systems (DAS) and have worked with Telluride, Colorado, and are currently expanding cell and internet services in the French Quarter of New Orleans, he said.
Black explained that the DAS includes units that can be mounted to existing poles throughout the CBD, and it won’t cost the city or DDA a penny.
“They pay for it,” Black said. “They bring the carriers in.”
The group will come in and do a study to determine the best options for the city, and if it’s something the city can agree with, the company will work with cellular carriers, like Verizon and AT&T, to get them to rent a spot on the DAS.
Additionally, they would have to work with ETC due to ETC’s fiber capabilities.
In turn, that rent money would be split evenly with Toro Blanco Group and the City of Blue Ridge.
This method would also improve radio signals for police and emergency responders, Black said.
He added that the group would also provide language for a city ordinance that would force new carriers to connect to existing macro networks or cell towers.
“Because again, as a city, we’re starting to see some towers. There’s a new one popped up over there ... as you turn on Aska,” Black said. “What you wanna do, the city and the county both, probably wants to force the carriers to all get on the existing towers that are here instead of just popping a new one up everywhere.”
Also during the meeting, since former Chairman Cesar Martinez’s two-year tenure expired, Black was nominated as chairman, and Martinez was nominated as vice chairman.
New members Angie Arp, Laura Ray and Andy Bowen were sworn onto the DDA prior to the meeting by Mayor Rhonda Haight.
Design and Historical Preservation Chair Nichole Potzauf provided members with the locations they’ve identified to place way-finding signage.
Community Outreach Chair Natalie Kissel told members that the DDA’s social media would be up and running by the end of the month. On it, they will post community events and highlight downtown business.
In addition, Martinez provided the previous month’s financial statements. The Hotel/Motel Excise Tax provided $6,218.67 and parking with $19,538.38, which they will no longer receive a portion of.
This brings the DDA’s account to $434,152.15.