Huntingburg’s high-speed internet on horizon

PSC in conjunction with the City of Huntingburg announced a $3 million investment into a city-wide fiber network Tuesday.

Engineering will begin shortly with plans to begin installation of a fiber-to-the-home network giving every residence and business in the city access to the highest internet speeds possible. According to PSC CEO/President Jim Dauby, the speeds offered on the network will be at gigabit capacity however it will be built to accommodate the rapidly increasing speeds necessary for businesses and demanded by residents.

“PSC is excited to be constructing a high-speed fiber optic network in Huntingburg,” said Dauby. “We have successfully deployed these advanced broadband networks elsewhere and have seen firsthand their impact on the community. In addition to the technology, PSC will provide the residents of Huntingburg with customer support and service that truly will set us apart from our competition.”

PSC currently provides high-speed fiber connectivity to Ferdinand and Tell City as well as the rural areas of Spencer and Perry counties.

As high-speed connectivity moves from luxury to necessity for cities seeking to attract people, it makes sense for the project’s first focus to be on the newly-created workforce housing project, Hunters Crossing.

“That was one of the things that brought the whole project together,” Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner said. “Seeing the need of the workforce housing and the market that is going to attract, having a house lit up from the moment those families walk in the door makes that project even stronger.”

Installation will begin in 2016 and from Hunters Crossing, PSC will continue to expand the network throughout the entire city.

High-speed internet breaks down the barriers of distance and time, allowing residents of rural areas to participate in economic and civic life far beyond their geographic region. Faster speeds allow businesses in isolated areas to compete with their big-city counterparts as well as supports the growing entertainment demands of a younger community.

“Across the country and our state, when it comes to broadband technology, the research is clear. Communities without the most up-to-date advanced telecommunications infrastructure will likely suffer economically and socially,” Huntingburg Mayor Denny Spinner said. “With the ‘High-Speed Huntingburg’ project, we are bridging the technology gap that exists in many rural Indiana communities and giving Huntingburg yet another chance to thrive and grow.”

According to Spinner, the investment is being made by PSC and no city funds or incentives were used to encourage the buildout of the network.

For more information on the importance of the growth of rural cities in connection to broadband, check out this article. http://www.choicesmagazine.org/magazine/article.php?article=156