Camden seeks Internet options By Cindy Beamon Staff Writer Monday, March 30, 2015
REPLY TO COMMENT CAMDEN — State Rep. Bob Steinburg, R-Chowan, said he will help Camden draft legislation to open up more options for Internet service in underserved areas of the county. Complaints about no Internet service or slow-speed service are leading Camden to explore alternatives, County Manager Mike Renshaw told Steinburg during the lawmaker’s meeting with county commissioners last week. “Expanding our broadband, we don’t we have a whole lot of control over the carriers that come,” said Renshaw. Commissioners asked Steinburg if the state is open to local governments becoming more involved in offering services, especially to customers without Internet. “Last-mile providers in northeastern North Carolina are putrid,” said Camden Commissioner Clayton Riggs. “We’re stuck in a rut. There’s no competition.” One Internet provider in the county said this week, however, that residents already have Internet options. Mediacom spokeswoman Phyllis Peters said most Camden residents have access to a choice of broadband providers, including cable, satellite, digital subscriber line and mobile wireless options. Mediacom is a top provider in the region because it offers uniform broadband width for “reliably fast speeds,” she said. However, commissioners and Steinburg both said Internet service in the region is lacking.