Wireless communications online in Cambria County
By David Hurst, dhurst@altoonamirror.comEBENSBURG - Cambria County officials say the ''core network'' of their wireless communications system is online, allowing residents and businesses to log in for high- speed Internet service.
The network will allow the county, months after switching its 911 frequency to a 17-radio tower system, to offer high-speed Internet, video and Internet-based phone service to residents and businesses countywide through contracted Internet service providers.
''This is an exciting time,'' said Bob Dixon, county communications consultant. ''The system is working very well right now, and we hope everyone takes advantage of it."
Cambria is the first county in the state - perhaps in the nation, officials say - to roll out a countywide wireless communications system.
The county itself will be using it by early next year, creating a $250,000 annual savings in communications costs.
The system works through a series of towers placed throughout the county, creating a ''sonnet ring'' that allows countywide connection. It's something the county will work to tweak and improve as needed, President Commissioner P.J. Stevens said.
Three service providers - CamConn, a division of Precision Business Solutions; In the Stix; and Digital Razor -have contracts with the county to offer Internet services to residents and businesses.
It is likely at least one more will be added in the coming months, the board said.
Users will connect to the system through a small radio antenna.
The county also is working on establishing wireless hot spots in Johnstown, Ebensburg and other towns throughout the county, but that phase is not complete, commissioners said.
Stevens said the $2.5 million high-speed system - part of the county's $10 million communications upgrade - was held up a bit while developers secured a second fiber-optic connection to the Internet.
Such ''redundancy'' is required by the Federal Communications Commission for security and backup.
That's now in place, Stevens said, allowing residents, businesses and governments to link to the system safely at higher speeds and lower costs, developers say, than national competitors offer.
Dixon said services now are available, but an official ribbon-cutting won't be held until September.
Stevens said county buildings will begin making the switch to the system this fall, with a goal of taking care of all of their own communications needs by next year.
''The benefits of this are just starting out,'' he said, adding that revenues are starting to trickle in. ''But we know this will pay dividends for years to come."
Mirror Staff Writer David Hurst is at 946-7457.
