By John Howell Sr.
Batesville aldermen during their Tuesday meeting approved a franchise agreement with C Spire, giving the media provider a 25-year, non-exclusive franchise to build a telecommunications system on public property within the city.

The unanimous vote brings the communications provider a step closer to installing fiber optic cable to allow ultra high speed Internet connections to Batesville homes.

Batesville was one of nine cities selected as a finalist in C Spireís “Get Fiber First” competition announced in late Sept. City elected officials, at the encouragement of Alderman Eddie Nabors during their Oct. 1 meeting, agreed to aggressively position the city for selection in the competition by streamlining its construction permitting and waiving fees during the construction process.

C Spire on Nov. 4 announced Batesville’s selection as one of nine finalists among 33 cities seeking the fiber optic cable for the high-speed communications.

During that announcement, C Spire also that it would consider responses from neighborhoods within the nine cities. When a critical number of neighborhoods in an individual city reach their percentage goals of pre-registrants who pay a $10 refundable deposit, the company plans to begin construction, C Spire senior vice president Greg Logan said during the Nov. 4 announcement.

The franchise agreement includes two renewal terms of 10 years each. C Spire agrees to pay the city three percent of gross revenue from the sale of basic video services and two percent of revenue from telecommunications services from local calling.