BendBroadband and Zolo Media have more than 300 employees who love to live and work in Central Oregon.
In the last two years, BendBroadband has invested in faster internet products, converted to a new e-mail platform, moved to 24/7 technical support service, doubled the capacity of the entire network twice and installed a new half-megawatt generator to provide backup power. All of these improvements have significantly improved the customer experience at peak internet usage times. Many customers are enjoying 300 Mbps internet speeds today due to these investments.
For our business customers, BendBroadband has introduced unlimited internet packages and has continued to build out fiber connections. Over the next several months, plans are underway to launch 300 Mbps internet service to businesses and to launch a cloud-based Voice over IP phone service.
BendBroadband is dedicated to the future growth of Central Oregon. For the last two years, BendBroadband has spent about $12 million a year on capital improvements in Deschutes County. We installed about 270 miles of fiber in Bend and surrounding communities, including the entire downtown, and built fiber networks to St. Charles Hospital as well as Sunriver, La Pine, Madras, and Prineville.
In addition, BendBroadband hired nearly 100 new local employees since 2014.
We’ve invested more than one million dollars in Zolo Media to double the content production staff, renovated the TV studio, upgraded production equipment and relocated KOHD to a more stable frequency. Just six months ago, KOHD launched a daily local newscast.
While investing in improved services for our customers is important, we also see the value of being involved in communities throughout Central Oregon. So far this year, BendBroadband has sponsored more than 25 community events, donated more than $100,000 to area non-profits and distributed nearly $50,000 worth of free and reduced-price internet and cable services to area non-profits and economically disadvantaged families.
Faster, less expensive and more powerful communication services is important to Oregon residents and businesses, which is why BendBroadband joined a coalition of more than 24,000 businesses, consumers, community organizations from every corner of Oregon to oppose Measure 97. We are concerned Measure 97 will not only affect our ability to provide more services, but also about how it will affect other businesses ability to maintain affordable prices for their customers.
The passage of Measure 97 will have a cumulative effect throughout the business community. Some goods will be taxed multiple times. It will likely end up being a tax-on-a-tax-on-a-tax.
Measure 97 will increase the costs of essential items, such as food, health care and utilities including heat, internet and cable. These are considered table stakes in today’s economy and it’s not a good idea to increase taxes on these items. Measure 97 will hurt the most vulnerable in society, including low-to-moderate income earners and seniors on fixed incomes.
Finally, Measure 97 does not designate where the money raised will be spent. Lawmakers are not bound to spend the funding on education, health care and senior services. Years down the road, these tax dollars could be spent in any way lawmakers choose.
With this in mind, it’s quite possible Measure 97 will not accomplish what it set out to do and it certainly will negatively impact businesses and consumers alike. Keeping broadband and video services affordable for Central Oregon is vital to us. That’s why we’ve joined other businesses across Oregon to express our concern. We hope you consider and decide to Vote No on Measure 97.
For nearly 35 years, Larry Boehm, Director-Network Implementation & Optimization, has worked at TDS and most recently at BendBroadband. He lives in Bend.
