By John Howell Sr.

Batesville submitted its response late Sunday night to C Spire’s request for information (RFI) in the media provider’s “Get Fiber First” challenge to be selected for ultra high speed fiber optic Internet service.

The response followed a weekend “Feed The Speed” blitz to raise the awareness that Internet speeds up to 100 times faster than present will first become available to the municipality that makes the best proposal in its RFI. Batesville is competing with 27 other cities from the Gulf Coast to Tennessee state line.

In the RFI, Batesville presents demographic information that portrays it as the ideal small city for C Spire’s analytical purposes.

“Please consider Batesville’s history of achievement,” the RFI response states. “From state and national championship football teams to our outperforming cities with three times our population in sales tax revenue, Batesville succeeds.

“Our work to obtain a Healthcare Zone designation and Batesville’s 2030 Comprehensive Plan show insight and leadership from business and government,” the RFI response continues.
Batesville citizens mobilized quickly following the Sept. 24 C Spire challenge announcement. Alderman Eddie Nabors brought the RFI to the attention of other city officials at their Oct. 1 meeting. At their Second Tuesday meeting Oct. 15, aldermen voted unanimously to provide up to $5,000 to fund the response, the Task Force for Fiber organized and the weekend Feed The Speed Blitz was initiated.

Dubbed the “small task force,” representatives of city government, the Panola Partnership, local schools, the regional library, TVEPA, WBLE and The Panolian promoted Feed The Speed support signup on C Spire’s designated web site: http://www.cspire.com/fiberhome/fiber_signup.html.

The South Panola High School Technology Student Association (TSA) has also endorsed the effort and adopted the quest for the ultra high speed Internet as its community service project.
“Our plans are to assist the City of Batesville in their efforts to rally sign-ups for service should we be chosen,” SP Career and Technical teacher Brandy Arnold wrote in a letter of support.
The Oct. 24 deadline for the RFI response has been met. C Spire will announce its selection on Nov. 5.