We’ve run several articles about American municipalities that are planning, building or already operating their own municipal broadband networks. Some experts say there may be as many as 500 cities and counties on that list. But now it’s time to add one more: Sandy, Oregon.
Named SandyNet, the Fiber To The Network (FTTH) gigabit network is up and running in the suburb located approximately 25 miles southeast of Portland, and already looking toward future expansion. Officials say they have plans to expand the network until it reaches every home in the city (a total of more than 4,000 homes).
SandyNet began as a small solution to a small problem and quickly evolved into a big solution to a big problem.
“We started out because we couldn’t get a DSL line at city hall,” Joe Knapp, IT director for the City of Sandy and general manager of SandyNet, explained to MuniNetwork.org.
Sandy started as a 900MHz wireless network to substitute for city hall’s lack of a DSL line. But before long the city utility realized the network could also be used to connect residents to broadband.
“That became so popular that we took about 40% of the market with wireless,” Knapp said.
Despite the fact that many American municipalities are building networks for their residents, Knapp said his high-speed dream didn’t come true immediately.
“It took three years of beating my head against the wall to finally get it to happen,” he noted.
SandyNet takes a very realistic approach toward selling the system to residents. Knapp wisely realizes that not everyone’s internet usage requires the best of the best, and not everyone can afford it.
“As a muni network, we view this as trying to benefit the community,” Knapp said. “I tell them to try the 100-Meg service first — we’re actually not pushing the gig that hard.”
Speaking of affordability, you might wonder what SandyNet charges for its high-speed broadband service. Gigabit service goes for $59.95 per month, but the more affordable 100 Mbps service costs just $39.95 per month. But the best news of all for Sandy residents is that there are no usage caps and no onerous long-term contracts.
Fiber optic ABCs
What is a high-speed fiber optic network and how does it compare to competing technologies?
Fiber optic is a top-of-the-line solution to municipal fiber optic networks that transmits data through thin strands of glass. Compared to other technologies, fiber optics are the fastest option available, and are reliable and capable of almost unlimited expansion. They’re also tough as nails and fail far less often than copper and cable networks.
On one hand, fiber networks require more labor (and, therefore, higher costs) to bury conduits underground or to place them overhead on poles. But once they’re in place, they’re far more flexible and operate far less expensively than cable, DSL and wireless networks.
That’s why so many cities and counties are looking toward the future and investigating the possibilities of building their own fiber optic networks.
sandee Brock says
HI THERE,JOLLY GOOD DAY,I M REQUESTING INFO FOR CHEAP INTERNET,IN WEST COLUMBIA S CAROLINA AND SURROUNDING AREA S time warner/comcast/at&t are our providers,and they don t seem to know anything,,lol thanks for reading,sandee