Question: I ask, why do the monthly fees that we pay every month go to Atlanta? The company that put the Fibrant cable in was from Atlanta. Our fees were going to Surry County here in North Carolina. I ask, why can’t the money stay in Salisbury? To me, that looks a little odd. The name of the company that installed the Fibrant cable was Atlanta Engineering Group from Braselton, Ga. The fees started going to Atlanta right after the work was complete. You can do your own thinking. (The truth shall make you free.)

Charles Black

Salisbury

 

Answer: The city doesn’t currently pay any fees to an Atlanta company, but previously contracted with a group located in the Atlanta metropolitan area.

The group, named Atlantic Engineering Group, provided consulting services to the City of Salisbury as Fibrant was being built, according to Interim City Manager John Sofley.

“We did have a contract with AEG for consulting and construction, but there’s no ongoing agreement that I’m aware of,” Sofley said.

Atlantic Engineering Group has offices in Braselton, Ga., which is northeast of Atlanta along I-85.

Sofley said Fibrant does pay ongoing fees to companies, but none to an Atlanta-based group.

“Obviously you have to buy your programming and content,” he said. “You do have to pay a monthly fee for programming. We pay for the backbone that allows us to connect to the world.”

Sofley said the fees that Fibrant pays are similar to the same costs paid by other internet providers across the United States.

Got a question for the Salisbury Post? Email it to Askus@salisburypost.com