Published: August 15, 2008 11:25 pm      

Cambria County wireless network in place

Cambria County residents and businesses waiting to connect to the county’s new high-speed, wireless telecommunications system now can be connected through private providers, the commissioners said Friday.

“The core network is completed,” President Commissioner P.J. Stevens announced.

The ring of 18 towers now is finished with the one in Carrolltown in place, he said. In addition, the second connection to the fiber system – redundancy for security purposes – is linked to the Internet, he said.

The state-of-the-art telecommunications system includes voice and video streaming. Wi-Fi hot spots soon will be set up at locations throughout the county, officials say.

Most of the $10 million project involved upgrading Cambria’s 911 system to high-frequency service.

The cost is $7.5 million for the 911 improvements and $2.5 million for the commercial Internet services, Stevens said Friday.

Consumers can choose a provider for access to the services, officials said. Currently, three companies are selling the service to businesses and residents, with a fourth likely to be added.

The providers will be paying fees to the county as an authorized service provider.

Previously, the commissioners estimated that the system would produce about $1.1 million – the equivalent of what one mill of the property tax brings in – for county coffers each year.

The commissioners said the county’s service is faster and cheaper than what has been available to local residents. In addition, it’s bringing services to many areas of the county that could not previously obtain it, they said.

“It has four times the speed, plus security. That’s why we look at this for economic development,” Stevens said.

Brian Shrift, president of Precision Business Solutions who attended the meeting, said he already has a dozen customers online and others – who have been waiting for the service – in the wings.

“It’s fabulous,” he said.



Providers

Three companies now are providing Internet service through Cambria County’s new high-speed, wireless telecommunications system:

• ComConn, a division of Precision Business Solutions of Ebensburg.

• Digital Razor, 439 Main St., Johnstown.

• In the Stix Broadband of Loretto.