City Council approves fiber optic cable installation

Albion City Council approved a plan to install fiber optic cable in a portion of downtown Albion last Tuesday night, Jan. 8. The project could be completed in three to six months.
Great Plains Communications, Inc. applied to install fiber optic cable under the north-south alley between Third and Fourth Streets, from State Street (Highway 91-14) north to the middle of the block between Church and Main.
Mark McFarland, Great Plains district manager, said businesses in the downtown area had requested the higher level broadband service, and his company is willing to invest in this high speed connection.
The council discussed possible changes in the city’s occupation tax and franchise fees, so that all communications providers are treated equally. An alternative is to repeal all occupation taxes and franchise fees.