The city will begin offering locally managed telephone service to Thomasville Utilities customers as early as next month, according to Assistant City Manager Don Atkinson.

“We made a commitment to the community to be a broadband service provider,” he said. “We have a fantastic network already in place (with CNS Cable and Rose Net Internet service) providing video and data today, so it’s a natural environment for this third service. It will allow our customers to have another option and get all their billing on one consolidated bill.”

The local phone service will save the city a significant amount of money. Its phone bill averages about $300,000 annually. It has been testing the local phone service in selected residential areas to identify and fix any problems.

Atkinson said the city is working with a consultant on the countywide radio project. An assessment has been made on the existing radio equipment and technology in the county, and local agencies have been interviewed to determine what their needs are.

The main purpose of the new radio system will be to connect county and city emergency and law enforcement agencies. There will also be other advantages to having the system in place, Atkinson explained.

“This system is not just to serve in the county — it will also provide interoperability for the region, allowing our people to go out of the region and still be able to communicate,” he said. “Other personnel coming into our community will be able to communicate as well.”

The new system will also offer better reception or coverage throughout the county, allowing intergovernmental personnel to transmit information more effectively. It has yet to be determined whether existing radio towers will be used for the new system or if new infrastructure will be built. The project could reach the construction phase by the end of this year.

Funds for the new radio system were approved in last July’s SPLOST referendum and will come from sales tax revenue. The amount approved for the system was $2.7 million. The city will pay additional costs, if any.

Since the beginning of last year, the city has been testing wireless Internet networks.

“We have a great need for wireless service in the community,” Atkinson said. “There are some who want to access the Internet wirelessly to give them the mobility to carry a laptop around. It would also serve people coming into the community to visit or for business.”

Wireless Internet would also help city and county government agencies with tasks such as processing work orders or transmitting data, Atkinson said. The city will continue to test wireless providers until an appropriate one is found, he added.

Atkinson said upgrades to local communications will make the city and county a better place.

“We want to be able to provide the best technology for communications to serve our citizens. Right now, one of the biggest issues out there in public safety is the ability for interoperable communications — this agency can talk to that agency,” he said.