By Rex Boner

Special to the Salisbury Post

Hats off to the Salisbury City Council, engaged citizens and businesses, the Fibrant volunteer advisory board and especially City Manager Lane Bailey. For the past 1 and 1/2 years these folks worked tirelessly to create a much-improved and profitable structure for the operation of Fibrant. The opportunity for Salisbury to cooperate with Hotwire and to engage them in the management of Fibrant moving forward is dependent on the vote of the citizens. We must vote yes on Tuesday, May 8.

Our community is extremely fortunate to have the exceptionally fast and reliable service provided by Fibrant. When my wife and I moved to Salisbury we were totally surprised by the speed, low cost and reliability of Fibrant. We have been extremely satisfied with Fibrant and have had zero issues with it.

As a concerned citizen I have independently talked to Hotwire representatives and have reviewed their proposed plans. I strongly believe that they will be an excellent partner with the city of Salisbury. We are fortunate that they see the terrific opportunities for Fibrant and are willing to join hands with the city to pursue these opportunities while reducing the major financial debt now in existence.

If approved by voters on May 8, the city of Salisbury and Hotwire expect to save the city $20 million over the next 10 years. These public dollars will then be available for other urgent general community needs.

Hotwire is the fastest internet service provider in America and has direct connections to Amazon, Google, Netflix and other major internet providers. The National Cable Television Cooperative awarded Hotwire its Innovator of the Year award for its customer service. I certainly look forward to that excellent service.

Hotwire plans to expand the Fibrant customer base and to offer low-cost options to lower-income citizens. They also plan to bill Fibrant users separately and not be tied to our water bill. This will provide a more complete and easier way to follow our personal Fibrant costs moving forward.

Hotwire is already involved in the community and plans to continue to be involved in civic and economic development groups to help Salisbury continue to grow and prosper. In my brief interactions with the Hotwire staff I found them to be very responsive, to be open to the needs and expectations of the citizens of Salisbury and to offer creative ways to continue to improve and expand Fibrant.

On May 8 please join me and many other Salisbury citizens voting in favor of the city of Salisbury and Hotwire to cooperate on the management of Fibrant moving forward. This is too good of an opportunity for Salisbury not to support it.

Rex Boner is a resident of Salisbury.