Tuesday, Apr. 25, 2023–8:17 a.m.

-David Crowder, WRGA News-

A Broadband Ordinance was placed on first reading during Monday’s Rome City Commission meeting.

The ordinance essentially says that the city will encourage and try to have high-speed internet throughout its jurisdiction and become a “Broadband Ready Community.”

It would make the City of Rome eligible for state grant funding through the Georgia Department of Community Affairs.

“Floyd County is pretty good with broadband from the City of Rome and eastward,” said Rome-Floyd Planning Director Artagus Newell. “Coosa and Texas Valley, those areas generally have 25 or fewer megabytes per second. The overall goal from a few years ago for the state is to try and increase broadband connectivity for everybody, like if you have a business or young people with homework. You know, three years ago, young people were doing a lot of remote school work, and internet access can be a challenge for a lot of families.”

Second reading and a vote will come during the commission’s first meeting in May.

Also Monday, the commission approved rezoning requests for a proposed tire shop in an existing metal warehouse-type structure on West Callahan Street, a duplex development on Holder Street, construction of a single-family home on Rogers Drive, and high-density traditional residential on Maple Avenue to match the current use.

Commissioners also approved a resolution to authorize the city manager to execute a contract with Verizon to upgrade the in-building radio system for the city’s waterworks at no cost to the city.