(Columbus) The Columbus City Council Discussed a cyber security grant along with a new phone system at a recent committee meeting. The state of Wisconsin recently announced a cyber security grant application process for municipalities. The maximum award for the program is $100,000. City Administrator Matt Amundson says he has been in discussions with Rhyme since they came on board.
“We think we have a plan of how to extend fiber to city facilities that don’t, which addresses not only cybersecurity, but potential long-term costs savings in providing internet and phone to some of our satellite buildings.”
Amundson says he has also had discussions with AT&T about the phone system, the only difference being that grant requirements are needed to own the fiber line. The city administrator says it would be wise for the city to work with Rhyme since they have a state contract for installing fiber.
“They’ve walked and looked at our facilities and are working on a proposal that I hope to have somewhere in the near future,” says Amundson. “But it’s our intent to submit a grant to this program.”
Alderman Michael Lawson asked Amundson if the current plan will be covered by the grant completely or if the city will have to pay a portion.
“To my knowledge at this point it would be under that maximum award threshold,” Amundson says. “Now, if the program gets more grant requests than they have funds, they may scale back the award amount and then we’d come back and obviously have a discussion.”
Amundson says it is his understanding that this will be something that needs to be prioritized with or without grant funding. The item will be discussed further at future meetings.
