Another step for fiber-to-home internet project

LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - High-speed cable and internet services to parts of Tippecanoe County are two steps closer to happening.

Tuesday morning, the County Commissioners approved a resolution to assign responsibility for the project to the City of Lafayette's Redevelopment Commission.

According to a consultant for the company, MetroNet, West Lafayette's Redevelopment Commission also decided Tuesday to recommend that the city council assign responsibility to Lafayette, possibly as early the city council meeting next month.

Commissioner Tom Murtaugh said, then MetroNet will be able to begin a study, which will determine what areas of the county could get high-speed internet.

"As Tippecanoe County, we're most interested in how far out into the county it's going to go. Once that's determined, the actual TIF revenues can be estimated," Murtaugh said.

"The part I think important is actually taking it to the home, where you actually have that capability from your home," said MetroNet consultant Steve Biggerstaff. "So I call it 'home entrepreneurship,' and I think that's the big door that opens up for the community.  I think those who don't have it, they will know it, they will be at loss."

Biggerstaff said the study is expected to take several months. He believes construction work could begin as soon as the end of the year, or early 2013.