It’s quite an eye-opener to see 6,600 households in Jamestown using the Affordable Connectivity Program.

The federal program provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward broadband service for eligible households. The benefit also provides up to a $100-per-household discount toward a one-time purchase of a computer, laptop or tablet if the household contributes more than $10 and less than $50 toward the purchase through a participating broadband provider. It is open to households that have a total income at or less than 200% of the federal poverty guidelines or that participate in some governmental assistance programs.

Stephen Neilans, whose city communications coordinator position is paid through the federal government because it includes boosting use of the Affordable Connectivity Program, has signed up 1,500 households for the program this year alone.

Neilans told City Council members last week that 65% of households in the city are eligible for the Affordable Connectivity Program, meaning roughly 8,400 of the city’s 12,979 households qualify. That leaves about 2,200 households for Neilans to reach between now and June 2025 when the city’s contract with Neilans ends.

Imagine how much more Neilans could have done to help people had he not been used as a de facto public relations person for the mayor’s office, sending out news releases and filming promotional videos. That’s especially galling when one considers the mayor’s office already had an assistant’s position who was handling the mayor’s press duties before Neilans was hired. To be fair, the pace of releases from Neilans has slowed in recent weeks.

“One, to be able to expand broadband access across the city using the Affordable Connectivity Program and, two, to help streamline communications across all of our city departments, really like a Public Information Officer for the city,” Sundquist said in July when City Council members approved the contract with Neilans.

In our view, the city doesn’t need a public information officer. By and large there aren’t so many media beating down city officials’ doors to warrant such a position. The grant-funded position, in our view, should focus on the Affordable Connectivity Program and getting as many households as possible to sign up over the next 18 months.