Mineola Economic Development Corp. revised a proposal from Peoples telephone of Quitman to install fiber-optic cable throughout the city in order to provide universal high speed internet.

Peoples Business Development specialist Jason Slagle laid out how the plan would be implemented in seven phases throughout the city.

The estimated cost is $3.8 million, and Slagle said Peoples is requesting the city to pick up 25% of the tab in order to expedite the program.

Slagle said that in surveys Peoples has commissioned, residents are looking for two principal items, better reliability and better pricing.

“That’s what fiber does,” he said.

High speed internet is also one of the first things businesses look for when relocating.

It also enhances home values, and Peoples would also be paying property taxes on the new infrastructure.

City Manager Mercy Rushing said it would also promote new residents to the area to live inside the city.

Peoples would use existing right-of-way where available and prefers to bury its lines, though above ground might make more sense in certain locations.

Rushing said the city and the EDC would be considering funding the initiative, including the possibility of tax incentives in lieu of cash.

The installation would take 18-24 months, Slagle said. The city’s financial commitment would be from one to four years.

Peoples’ goal would be to add 30% of the 1,925 potential new customers.

Peoples already has a limited presence in Mineola, including city hall, downtown businesses, Blackmon Meadows housing development and the new Park Central development off US 69 South.