OHIO: Fremont, Cyde for broadband over power lines or BPL system.

Fremont considers high-speed connections
Cyde, other cities have own broadband systems
By MATT SANCTIS
Staff writer
Originally published September 4, 2006


Fremont city officials are gathering information to determine whether it would make sense to invest time and energy into acquiring a broadband Internet system for the city.

Residents can acquire their own Internet service through a number of providers, but after a suggestion at a recent city council meeting, some consideration is being given to whether it would benefit the city to acquire its own service.


Fremont City Council member Karen Wagner said Friday she is in the earliest stages of researching the idea, proposed by Dave Forgatsch at the meeting. For now, Wagner said she plans to discuss the idea with other cities providing their own Internet service to determine how well it is working in those towns.

Forgatsch said at the meeting he would like to see the service come to Fremont because businesses and schools could benefit from affordable, high-speed access if it can be provided through the city. He said other small cities in Ohio that provide their own Internet access include Chesterhill, Worthington and Grove City.
Wagner said when enough information is gathered, she will likely hold a meeting with city residents to determine whether there would be any support for such a venture.

"We're going to start working on it, but I'm still in the process of gathering information," she said.

A few miles down the road, Clyde is moving closer to the end of a project to provide high-speed access to residents and schools in the city. City Manager Dan Weaver said workers are running a loop of fiber optic wire through the city's power lines, moving a bit closer to the end of a four-year project. The technology is called a broadband over power lines or BPL system.

By the end of the year, he said he is hopeful the first loop will be installed, bringing high-speed access to most of the city's residents. A second loop will eventually be added to reach remaining residents.

Once the project is complete, Weaver said he expects the city to be able to bring high-speed access to residents for about $30 to $40 a month. Residents or businesses that need a little more speed will also be able to purchase a faster connection for about $60 or $70 a month.

They are currently contracting with The Shpigler Group of Nyack, N.Y., for the design, equipment, service and technical support, Weaver said.

For Clyde, running the system over its power lines was an easy decision, because it was the cheapest and most effective method. However, unlike many small cities, Clyde has its own electric company and therefore owns the lines. In Fremont, that would not be the case. But Weaver said that would not necessarily prevent such a move if it would be effective and feasible in Fremont.

"Obviously Fremont would have more hurdles to jump since they don't have their own municipal electric," he said.

As well as benefiting city residents, Weaver said it may also make Clyde more attractive to companies looking to relocate or start in the area.

"I think businesses look for communities that are connected and if Clyde is a community that's able to provide that service we think it will be attractive," he said.