Main Street Broadband officially entered into Decatur County Thursday, saying the offer of extending to the county’s rural areas broadband Internet service is a unique opportunity.

Mike Mies, the co-founder and chief executive officer of Main Street Broadband, said Decatur County is the only county in Georgia that established SPLOST funds for broadband to stretch to the outer reaches of the county.

Give credit to the voters of the county who approved the latest SPLOST fund, Mies said. “This was a great idea that got approved.”

He said he believes Decatur County is also the first rural county in the southeastern United States to have broadband access partially paid for by tax dollars. The individual’s equipment and installation costs are waived by the company and paid for by sales tax receipts. Those cost savings are approximately $200 to $300 per installation.

Voters approved the SPLOST referendum for approximately $2 million for the construction of between seven to eight communication towers and to allow businesses and households to receive the broadband service.

Carl Rowland, the county’s finance director, said approximately 2,000 to 2,500 businesses and households are budgeted for the service. Those receiving the service must still pay a monthly charge for using the Internet, depending on the speed of the service.

Randy Lindsey, vice president of sales and marketing, said approximately 300 people have so far signed up for the service.