Are you ready to upgrade?

To broadband Internet service, that is.

Cherokee County Council on Monday approved a resolution in support of North Carolina-based Nu-Vu Communications’ attempt to obtain federal broadband stimulus funds from the U.S. Department of Commerce Broadband Technology Opportunities Program.

The application is on its way to the Governor’s Office, which will prioritize the requests.

If successful, the company would offer the broadband service to city residents before it is deployed to other areas of the county.

Lloyd Williams Jr., the company’s vice president of business development, and Cherokee County Development Board Executive Director Jim Cook met with council members in executive session for 15 minutes Monday.

After their return to open session, council members unanimously supported the resolution.

Williams said his company has applied for $32 million in stimulus money to install fiber optic lines.

The federal government is expected to award the broadband stimulus money later this year, he said. Williams said his company needs the money to move forward with the project.

Cook said the project’s economic impact would be substantial.

“We are talking about a $30 million investment and 60 jobs,” Cook said.

In addition to highspeed Internet, the company plans to offer telephone and television services over the fiber optic lines.

In April, Gaffney City Council approved Nu-Vu Communications’ request for a franchise agreement. Williams said Monday his company has been issued the franchise agreement by the South Carolina Secretary of State, who, under state law, has the sole authority to issue franchise agreements.

The company’s business plan shows Nu-Vu Communications has $9 million in assets and $10.29 million in liabilities this year. But the long-range outlook is much brighter, with total assets of $669 million and no debt in 2018.

Gaffney Board of Public Works General Manager Donnie Hardin said Nu-Vu Communications will lease the utility’s fiber optic network but will extend its own fiber optic lines into residences.

Hardin said it’s his understanding the company will eventually offer other telecom services.