South Charleston has approved a resolution giving Alpha Technologies Inc. the non-exclusive right to install fiber-optic cable and related facilities in rights-of-way within the city.
The resolution was approved at Thursday evening's council meeting by unanimous voice vote.
In December the Gazette-Mail reported that Alpha plans to build a $5 million, 30-mile, underground fiber-optic loop through downtown Charleston, Kanawha City and South Charleston.
The Alpha network is designed to connect the former Union Carbide Corp. data center to telecommunications hubs, commercial centers and government buildings. The network would be capable of providing a gigabit connection, which is 100 times faster than the average broadband speed.
Alpha is headquartered in Hurricane. In 2012 the company bought the data center for $6.1 million from The Dow Chemical Co. The center is in the West Virginia Regional Technology Park in South Charleston.
The resolution says, "The city has determined that service to be provided by Alpha...is beneficial to the public and businesses within the city" and that South Charleston "desires to promote the entry and operation of fiber optic service providers and facilities in a competitively neutral manner."
In a memorandum of understanding accompanying the resolution, Alpha agreed to provide South Charleston with exclusive control and ownership of four dark fibers within a single fiber tube contained within a single fiber bundle. "Dark fiber" refers to unused fiber-optic cable, which can be provided to entities that want to establish connections among their own locations.
The memorandum also says Alpha is providing the fibers "to help facilitate greater connectivity for the city's facilities, thereby increasing the efficiency of city operations."
Alpha agreed to grant the city "most favored vendee" status. This means that if the city purchases or leases any services from Alpha, it will receive terms no less favorable than the best terms offered to any other Alpha customer.
The city agreed that the fiber provided by Alpha will be used only for governmental or public purposes and that the city will not lease, assign or otherwise convey its fiber to any for-profit entity to be used in any manner that results in direct competition with Alpha.
Alpha previously struck deals with the city of Charleston and the West Virginia Division of Highways. Charleston and the DOH also agreed to grant Alpha access under streets and along roadways in return for fiber that can be used once the loop is built.
"This is going to be very important to South Charleston and Charleston," Mayor Frank Mullens said. "It is an important infrastructure need for the information highway" and "a big move for the county as a whole."
In other action, council approved closing Oak Street at a portion of Seventh Avenue from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. May 7 for the Trail of Dreams Bass Fishing Event.
Council also approved closing the alley between Chestnut and Walnut streets and Walnut Street between Kentucky and Ohio streets from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 11 for the Spring Hill Fest on the Nazarene church parking lot. Ward 2 Councilman Mark Wolford said the festival will have a safety theme.
Mullens proclaimed May 9 as Rotary Club of South Charleston Day in recognition of the club's 60th anniversary.
Also, the following Kanawha County candidates, listed with the positions they seek, asked for votes in the May 10 election: Charlotte Lane, state Legislature; Dave Hardy, county commission; Mike Rutherford, sheriff; Brent Hall and Paris Workman, magistrate; and Ric Cavender, Board of Education.
Police Chief Brad Rinehart said during department head reports that about 900 people attended the rally at the South Charleston Community Center on Thursday for Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders. "It went without any hitches," he said.
Also, Pubic Works Director Gerald Burgy said last week's spring cleanup in the Spring Hill area gathered 33 tons of trash, 148 tires, 30 gallons of paint and 800 pounds of scrap metal. Burgy reminded everyone that the spring cleanup from Jefferson Road east will be from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.
During announcements, Wolford said some erroneous information has been circulating about the Summer Fest car show around the Mound.
"It has not been moved," he said.
This year's show will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 20. In addition to the car show, Summer Fest will feature entertainment by Rick K and the Allnighters and a fireworks display, Wolford said.
All members of council attended Thursday's meeting.
Council's next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. May 19 on the second floor of City Hall, D Street.