County to get update on fiber optic cable services

Frontier Communications rep to make presentation to board of supervisors

The Inyo County Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting today is scheduled to Board receive a presentation from Doug McAllister, vice president of External Affairs for Frontier Communications, on the company’s infrastructure upgrade project in the Bishop area.

McAllister, who was scheduled to make a similar presentation to the Bishop City Council at its Monday evening meeting, requested the opportunity to speak before the board of supervisors regarding potential opportunities beyond the company’s current service area.

Frontier Communications, one of two internet providers in Inyo County, recently received permits from the city of Bishop to upgrade its infrastructure in the city of

Bishop from copper to fiber optic cable. The goal of the project, which also will cover unincorporated areas surrounding the city of Bishop, is to provide faster, more reliable internet service.

The local project is part of a larger, multistate fiber build and expansion of Frontier’s fiber customer base in order to deliver fiber to 10 million locations by 2025, according to the county.

Although Frontier’s services are currently only available in the Bishop and Big Pine areas, the project has potential implications for the entire county.

The board is scheduled to meet in open session at 10 a.m. today.

The meeting will be held in the Board Chambers at the County Administrative Center in Independence, 224 N. Edwards St. It can also be viewed via Zoom through the county’s website at www.inyocounty.us and click on “Board Meeting.”

During his presentation, McAllister is set to discuss how fiber broadband impacts communities, including how it revitalizes both rural and urban communities, including fostering entrepreneurship through a high-speed internet infrastructure.