Metronet Board, Decorah Telecommunications Utility Board to meet together for the first time Thursday morning

It was just about one year ago that 93 percent of City of Decorah voters approved a resolution to establish a Telecommunications Utility Board that would work on getting fast fiber Internet service in Decorah.

The board held its first meeting in July and has been meeting ever since to discuss the steps needed to create a city-owned utility.

But the city board has never met with the board that supervises the Metronet, the fiber network that serves six public entities, including Winneshiek County, the City of Decorah and Luther College.  That will change at 11:30 a.m. Thursday, when the two boards hold their first-ever joint meeting.

At Tuesday evening's Telecommunications Utility Board meeting, visiting consultant Eric Lampland congratulated the board on scheduling the joint meeting.  He urged the two boards to develop a clear understanding of each board's role in providing Internet service in the area, saying "Who does what?" will be an important question to answer.