Lake County Internet project head denies connection to former employer's financial troubles

The head of a non-profit putting together Lake County's high speed broadband network says financial problems at his former employer will have no effect on the Lake County project.

National Public Broadband Chief Executive Tim Nulty served six years as General Manager of Burlington Telecom in Vermont, which is now under investigation for allegedly misspending public funds. Nulty said he left that company before its troubles began.

"I left three years ago; slightly over three years ago - it was 38 months ago," he said. "And everything that's being investigated, all the stuff that happened was after I left."

But the situation worries Lake County Commissioner Thomas Clifford who says it could hurt subscriptions to the new network. County Commissioner Paul Bergman, however, said that's unlikely.

"When you get right down to a Superior project, and better pricing, it's kind of hard to say no to it," Bergman said.

Nulty blamed poor financial practices -- something he said will not happen with Lake County's broadband network. He said financial safeguards will be in place, and the project overseen by the federal government, which provided $66 million in federal stimulus funds.

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