[1st-mile-nm] Open Fiber Projects in VA

[Richard Lowenberg]

Design Nine, Inc., Andrew Cohill's Blacksburg, VA based broadband planning
firm, is stewarding two community broadband projects in Virginia, that are
early, example-setting works-in-progress for the 'open access' systems and
services model, advocated for by the 1st-Mile initiative.
rl

(Note:  I am a senior broadband planner with Design Nine, Inc.,
www.designnine.com)
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The Wired Road Project is a regional open access, multi-service
telecommunications network that has been started by the governments of
Carroll and Grayson Counties, the City of Galax, and the Crossroads
Institute.   When Phase Three is completed in 2012, the network will offer
integrated fiber and wireless services with fiber connections to more than
80% of the homes and businesses in the region.   The Wired Road will be
operated as a digital road system - local governments will build and
maintain the digital road system, but private businesses will use the
digital road to deliver goods and services to customers. Local government
will NOT sell services to businesses and residents.
	www.thewiredroad.net

The City of Danville's Connecting Danville to the Future project will
use high performance fiber and wireless technologies to provide a
broadband connection to every home and business in Danville' electric
service area over the next five to seven years. Broadband connections to
households and businesses will provide access to educational resources,
open economic development opportunities, improve utility resiliency and
reliability, and involve the community in energy management and
conservation.
	www.ndanville.net


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Richard Lowenberg
P.O.Box 8001, Santa Fe, NM 87504
505-989-9110,  505-603-5200 cell

1st-Mile Institute
New Mexico Broadband Initiative
www.1st-mile.com
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