Why has the 1.7 million dollar fiber optics bridge been renamed from THE BROADBAND PROJECT to THE FIBER OPTICS BRIDGE PROJECT?  Answer: The name was very misleading.     
          The Frankfort Fiber Optics Bridge and The Data Center can fill two potential fundamental functions.  (1) They potentially can and will connect Frankfort to the outside world through Indiana Fiber Network.  That connection will be achieved as a result of the recent 3 to 2 Utility Board vote.   (2) The Frankfort Fiber Optics Bridge can, and as we speak actually does, provide inter-communication, data and video between government institutions in Frankfort.  
          For instance the Frankfort Fiber Optics Bridge now allows the three Frankfort Fire Department locations to network with the potential of sharing documents, data, programs etc.  That allows the Fire Departments to collaborate their duties better.  The Fiber Bridge has the potential of connecting all the Frankfort schools together for communications and data.  The possibilities are limitless.  
          Another instance…the Fiber Optics Bridge, as we speak, is transmitting video pictures as the surveillance cameras at the war memorial stand guard on the Court House memorial protecting that community asset from vandals and destruction.  These surveillance cameras use the Fiber Bridge to transport those pictures 24/7 to the Clinton County Sheriff’s office.  
          Now that the world is going digital this Frankfort Fiber Transport, known as the Fiber Optics Bridge, is now in place and has the potential to ‘raise the well-being’ of the Frankfort community.  It is a factor in bring Frankfort, technically, into the 21st century with many things such as voice, video and data.  Little ole Frankfort can be as up to date as downtown Kansas City.
          You may be surprised to learn that Frankfort, the county seat of Clinton County, is now technically far behind and playing ‘catch up’ to Mulberry, Indiana.  
          For instance; I control four commercial radio stations and a St. Louis ‘on-line’ newspaper.  I do it from my house, in rural Washington Township.  If it had not been for the progressive thinking of the Mulberry Telephone Company board of directors offering me data and video service I would have to move…and that move certainly would not be to Frankfort as their technical facilities are not yet up to 21st century speed.   
          Consider Frankfort as being on an island.  When it communicates with the outer world it has two ways to go.  One is AT&T for voice communications in and out of Frankfort.  Those communications are transmitted on their lines.  The video/entertainment comes to Frankfort via Comcast.  In addition, of course, to over the air.  Those are the two, hard wired, technical connections with the outside world.  
          When the Frankfort Fiber Optics Bridge is fully operational, in some way shape or form, Frankfort will then have a third connection with the outer world.  That could be a factor in bring consumer rates down or at least keeping them in line.  Competition tends to do that.  
          As Frankfort strives, technically, to catch up with the 21st century each stage has to be approved by a majority vote of the Frankfort Service Utility Board.  The consensus is, and I totally agree, that at some point in the progress there will have to be a Frankfort City/Private Partnership as things develop.  This is what we do with our Frankfort airport.  As this project approaches its ‘end potential’ there is no way the city could run it with all the political ‘churn’ that develops with any city administration.  
          I also see this project following a slow and deliberate course that each step is financially sound and self amortizing over time.  
          Let’s not panic and say NO, NO, NO until we really understand what it is that we are saying NO to.  The Mulberry, Indiana telephone folks were faced with 21st century doubts and decision.  They studied it over… decided to build and now have a very fine 21st century digital operating system that serves Mulberry and surrounding rural communities.  We salute them for it.  
          It is time Frankfort seriously considers playing ‘catch-up’ for the good of all.  As our past Frankfort leaders prepared community assets for OUR generation…we now have an opportunity to prepare assets, not only for us but, for Frankfort’s generations to come.   

Vern Kaspar