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JB-Nets provides Internet-expansion update to Commission [Gallipolis Daily Tribune, Ohio]
(Gallipolis Daily Tribune (OH) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Jan. 15--GALLIPOLIS -- The owner of a local high-speed Internet service provider working to expand its services to under-served areas of the county, provided an update of the progress of the project to the Gallia County Board of Commissioners during a regular meeting on Thursday.
Jacob Kline owner of JB-Nets, a company based in Bidwell, told the commission that the addition of his company's equipment on three county-owned towers has aided in the expansion plan for high-speed Internet service throughout the county.
JB-Nets signed an agreement with the Gallia County Board of Commissioners in mid-September for the lease of space on towers located on Boggs Road in Harrison Township, at a site near Hamilton Road in Ohio Township and at a tower located on Mound Hill.
"Since the last time we met, we've made pretty good strides with different things. We've actually brought five new tower sites on-line since then and installed approximately 100-115 new clients," Kline said. "Three of those five towers are the three county towers, so, we have all the on-site equipment installed on those towers and we've got some clients on all three of them. So, they are doing a pretty good job for us. Definitely, its been a very good help to us as far as expansion."
Kline reported that the other tower sites are located near Holzer Clinic and on Hillside Road and, due to this, his company is currently providing service in the Northup area. He also reported that he is looking to add additional equipment to the Hillside Drive location to cover areas near Ohio 775, Ohio 141 and near Raccoon Creek County Park.
Kline also stated that his company is moving forward with other tower site locations including a site on Shoestring Ridge and a site that will help provide service to the subdivisions located on Centenary Road.
In addition, Kline reported that his company is in the process of bringing in and testing newer equipment to provide faster Internet service to its customers. Kline reported that JB-Nets would work to bring this newer equipment to the new tower sites once it has been thoroughly tested.
"We've got several irons in the fire, so to speak, as far as trying to continue with expansion on top of bringing on new clients as well," Kline said.
Kline also reported that his company is considering the possibility of adding additional equipment to the tower located on Hamilton Road to expand service in the southern portion of the county.
"We are possibly planning to add, maybe, an on-line site system down on Hamilton Road to kind of cover more in the area, because there really isn't that much population right around the tower site -- maybe add another sector on to that so we can cover further out with it," Kline said. "So far, its definitely been a very big benefit to us to help us deliver service out that way."
In addition, during previous meetings, JB-Nets officials reported that they have plans, over a three year period, to expand service further by placing smaller secondary towers on property owned by interested individuals throughout the county.
These smaller towers would help to provide service to harder-to-reach areas and Kline reported on Thursday that his company is currently seeking those individuals who would be interested in leasing space for these smaller repeater towers.
"That's what we're looking for is folks that wouldn't mind a 30-foot piece of steel sticking off of the end of their garage, something like that, to try to bring service into an area," he said. "That's exactly what we're looking for for the smaller repeater towers."
Overall, Kline stated that his company is hoping to make strides in 2012 to bring the possibility of high-speed Internet service to as many residents as possible.
"We're hoping to make a pretty good push this year, as the cash flow will let us, obviously, to trying to expand, especially in the southern part of the county, but then to fill in the gaps in between as we go," he said. "We're making progress on the plan that we had laid out before. It was stated in the plan that we'd hope to have at least a hundred new customers by the end of the year by using the county towers, and we're pretty much right on target with that."
County Commission President Harold Montgomery encouraged Kline to continue the expansion as high-speed Internet service is needed by residents throughout the county.
"We would encourage you to continue and advance out into the county as far as possible, because it is something that is needed and wanted. It also enhances the ability of people to conduct business and further their education," Montgomery said.
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(c)2012 the Gallipolis Daily Tribune (Gallipolis, Ohio)
Visit the Gallipolis Daily Tribune (Gallipolis, Ohio) at www.mydailytribune.com
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