Press Releases
LENOWISCO DEMONSTRATES BROADBAND COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK WITH WORLD WIDE PACKETS LIGHTNINGEDGE® SOLUTION
Area Planning District Commission has received $645,000 in state funds to help launch a regional fiber optic network capable of high-speed data, voice and video transmissions
Spokane, WA and Duffield, VA - May 13, 2002 - LENOWISCO, a regional development organization which assists its local units of government with infrastructure necessary to encourage private investment leading to job creation opportunities, recently used World Wide Packets LightningEdge Solution to demonstrate the capabilities of the regional broadband network planned for the area. The demonstration, held at Duffield, Virginia at the Pioneer Center for Business Opportunity on Wednesday, April 24, 2002, included live demonstrations of video on demand, ultra high-speed Internet service, and high definition television. "World Wide Packets network equipment performed flawlessly," said Ron Flanary, executive director of LENOWISCO Planning District Commission. "They provided a great demonstration of the kinds of applications high-speed access networks are capable of bringing to businesses and residences, applications that can encourage economic development that will greatly benefit our communities."
The multi-phase project will involve installing about 222 miles of fiber optic line in LENOWISCO's service area, which includes the City of Norton and Wise, and Scott and Lee counties. While LENOWISCO is playing a key role in developing the project, the agency itself will not offer services to businesses and residents. Instead, multiple private companies can offer high-definition television, cable TV programming, Internet access, telephone service and other programs by leasing the network. "LENOWISCO is providing a model for cities on how to deploy future-proof community networks that will deliver all the services residents and businesses require, now and in the future," said Bernard Daines, Founder, CTO and CEO of World Wide Packets. "This is the kind of network that will allow communities to attract businesses and enhance the quality of life citizens experience as well."
LENOWISCO's leaders believe that within two years, most businesses will be within reach of an arterial fiber optic system. "Communities need to move quickly to implement this kind of network, in order to remain economically competitive," said Flanary. "We are very impressed with World Wide Packets' vision of the kind of future technology can bring, and are looking forward to continuing the relationship with them as this project progresses." Within ten years, LENOWISCO projects that every citizen in the planning district area could have access to fiber-based, next generation services offered by multiple competing providers.
The fiber optic network is an economic development tool, according to LENOWISCO's Project Manager, G.A. 'Skip' Skinner. Throughout the United States and Canada, he said, new jobs have been created because a community developed fiber optic services, which in turn convinced a company to locate there. The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission has provided a $200,000 grant and $445,000 loan for the project. The commission is charged with distributing Virginia's share of the $200 billion being paid by big tobacco companies to settle a lawsuit filed by several states seeking to recoup the cost of treating sick tobacco users. Part of the money is to be used to promote economic development in tobacco communities.
About World Wide Packets
World Wide Packets pioneered the adoption of Ethernet-based access networks. The company has become synonymous with solutions for "Fiber to the Subscriber®," "Ethernet to the Subscriber™" and "Ethernet in the First Mile." World Wide Packet's LightningEdge™
offering enables a single access platform for both business and residential subscribers, providing the most cost competitive broadband access solution for delivery of voice, video, and data services. World Wide Packets is a privately held corporation, established by Bernard Daines, founder of Packet Engines, Grand Junction Networks and Tidewater Associates. For more information on World Wide Packets, please visit our Web site at www.worldwidepackets.com. Access Brilliance, Ethernet to the Subscriber, ETTS, Fiber to the Subscriber, FTTS, LightningEdge, World Wide Packets and the World Wide Packets logo are trademarks of World Wide Packets Incorporated. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
About LENOWISCO
LENOWISCO, organized in 1965, serves its citizens and their local governments as a development district by promoting regional cooperation, helping to coordinate the activities and policies of member local governments, and providing planning assistance to local governments in all their activities. The majority of the commission's work is focused in the areas of grantsmanship, management services and geographic information services, particularly on multi-jurisdictional issues that span more than one locality. For more information please visit www.lenowisco.org.
Contact
World Wide Packets:
Eileen DeArmon
(509) 242-9270
eileen.dearmon@wwp.com
LENOWISCO Contact:
G.A. 'Skip' Skinner
(276) 431-2206
gskinner@lenowisco.org
