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Customers that live in areas served by Panora Telco, including all rural customers, are in line to benefit from some of the most exciting technology in the past 50 years, when the company installs a 'fiber-to-the-home' product starting later this year, according to Panora Telco General Manager Andy Randol.
As its name implies, the project uses fiber optic cable to bring one converged network right to a customer's home or business. The fiber "pipe" opens nearly endless opportunities for communications and entertainment services because of the shear volume of space, or bandwidth, which is available to every customer.
"It is hard to know where to start when talking about this project because there are so many areas to address and be energized about," said Randol. "There are the obvious benefits that the new network offers customers by providing significant bandwidth. Additionally, since this new fiber network will extend to all rural customers, too, there is the aspect of bringing new, cutting edge services to more member customers. And, we have not even mentioned the potential economic development benefits or the fact that this network really is the foundation for our services long into the future."
The project, which will start after Memorial Day and not be finished until sometime in 2010, will replace the existing copper and coaxial cabling that is currently used to provide telephone, Internet and cable television service. The 'converged network' will bring all services to customers over one 'piece of glass' and therefore make it easier for the company to maintain and troubleshoot, according to Randol.
"There will be a lot more communication with customers about the specifics of the construction and installation phase of this project," stated Randol. "Please be on the look out for more information in the paper, in our newsletter and in your mailbox. There are many details about the installation we will need to share as we move through the process."
"We have a committed board and staff that make a great team at Panora Telco," said Pat Moylan, Panora Telco's Board President. "One responsibility we have as a board is to assure that our members have the services they will want and need when they want and need them. Most of our members count on Panora Telco as their technology expert, so it is our job, as a team, to have the technology in place to assist members before they may even know they need a product or service."
Moylan stated that one converged network, consisting of fiber optic cable directly to the customer's home or business, will be able to deliver all the communications and entertainment services a customer may want. Many of those future services may not even be developed yet.
According to Dave Duncan, the President of the Iowa Telecommunications Association, the installation of fiber optics shows how progressive Panora Telco is.
"As communications services continue to advance, customers will require extremely fast networks to handle larger and larger amounts of information. Whether we know it or not, much of the information that comes to us as users comes in the form of data - Internet, even TV services and sometimes voice services. I applaud Panora Telco for being forward thinking and providing its member customers access to this network of the future."
The new fiber network that Panora Telco is installing will be capable of more than 100 Mb per customer, and will allow for more high definition TV channels, and the continued expansion of Internet and entertainment services and applications, according to Randol.
Both Moylan and Randol mentioned that the plan is to cover the entire Panora Telco service area with the fiber-to-the-home product, so rural customers will be able to get video services, which before have only been available to city residents. High speed Internet, which has been available to 100% of members for a long while, will be available in higher speeds to all customers, including rural residents.
Many local leaders agree that this fiber-to-the-home project will enhance the region for economic development purposes on many fronts.
Panora Mayor, Steve Baker said, "With the expanded availability of video services and the super fast Internet everywhere, it will be easier to operate a satellite business from our small community. It will be another advantage to use in the economic development area and have the potential to be a real boost to the local economy."
John Rutledge, General Manager of Lake Panorama Association, said, "This will be a fabulous benefit to the lake residents and a huge competitive advantage for our area. We already have many telecommuters and entrepreneurs that live here and this new network will enhance our ability to attract more residents that want great communications and entertainment technology. Without a doubt, this positions our community for the future."
"Enhanced communications really plays a unique and special role from an economic development standpoint," said Jason White, Executive Director of Midwest Partnership Development Corporation, the group responsible for regional economic development in a three county area including Panora. "We are always looking for an edge and the lake, bike trails and other amenities provide the region a bit of a resort feel. We already have a communications advantage with Panora Telco, but with this fiber project, and the speed it will provide to residents and businesses, it makes the community that much more appealing to high quality companies and new residents."
Panora Telco is a communications cooperative, and along with its subsidiaries, serves over 3,000 customers in a service area that touches six counties. The company offers telephone, high speed Internet, video entertainment, wireless Internet, computer and networking support and cellular services.
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©Guthrie Center Times 2009
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