News
Avilla going high-tech with fiber optics
4/22/2010
Author: Matt Getts
Published by: News Sun
The Avilla Town Council on Wednesday night took a large step toward what could be a technological leap for the entire community.
The council voted 3-0 to approve a total of $140,000 so 7.8 miles of fiber optic cable could be hung on the town's utility poles. In the short term, the move will allow the town to control both of its power substations from a single computer in the Town Hall.
If one substation goes down, switching to the other would require only a press of a few buttons instead of the several minutes it could take currently.
In the long term, the town could provide fiber optic Internet access to all of its businesses, including its industrial base. Depending on how the town sets up its system, residents could also have access to faster Internet service for their homes.
But that's down the road.
Spectrum Engineering of Auburn is overseeing the project.
"The fiber has been sized appropriately to benefit businesses and residences," Spectrum manager Mike Wannebacher said during Wednesday's meeting. "Tremendous growth can be added to this."
The fiber optic cable will be hung in a path which could also allow the town to tie into its many sewer lift stations, providing constant, convenient monitoring.
The one hiccup to the plan was the lack of a qualified bid for the computer equipment used to monitor the system. The town rejected the bids it received on technicalities, and will advertise the bids again.
According to Wannemacher, the bid situation on the computers should not delay the project, which could have the substations online as early as July 31.
Wannemacher said the ability for businesses, industries and residences to hook up to the fiber optic system is likely "a few years down the road," depending on how the town decides to proceed. Back to Top