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TMCNet: $26 million grant to expand Troy Cable fiber optics announced

[August 21, 2010]

$26 million grant to expand Troy Cable fiber optics announced

Aug 21, 2010 (Dothan Eagle - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- More than $26 million in grant money for a project set to bring more than 100 jobs and provide connectivity between thousands of homes and businesses in four counties was announced in Ozark on Friday at Troy Cablevision.

Lane Lofton of the office of Congressman Bobby Bright, D-Montgomery, said Friday that Troy Cable received a grant totaling $26,068,284 to assist in a $34 million project that deploys a fiber-optic network to provide a critical new broadband route between Pike, Crenshaw, Coffee and Dale counties.

Troy Cable Special Projects Director Jimmy Copeland said the project, titled the Southeast Alabama SmartBand Project, is expected to be completed over the next three years and to create at least 145 jobs.

The jobs are set to include contractors to put the fiber into the ground and on poles, as well as accounting, service, installation and technical support jobs.

"Our shortfall had been that in the rural areas, broadband would dissipate, but what we did was partner with the South Alabama Electric Cooperative to get to their substations in those areas and that makes sure that each of the volunteer fire departments there has access to broadband connectivity," he said.

"This is not just Troy Cable. This is 3,600 businesses that are impacted, 53,000 households, 127,000 people." Ozark City Schools Assistant Superintendent Diane Holman said the smartband project will allow for wireless internet throughout the city for parents who might not be able to afford it.

Ozark Mayor Billy Blackwell said the city has worked for years with Troy Cable to complete a project of such magnitude.

"Initially we may not see the financial effects, but over time this will be a tremendous, tremendous asset for this entire area," he said.

Ozark IT Director Larry Minton said the network would allow the city to connect to any other entity in the network it chooses in a matter of switches.

Dale County officials, including Commissioners Gerald Harden and Doug Williamson, both said the project will benefit county services as well.

To see more of the Dothan Eagle or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www2.dothaneagle.com/. Copyright (c) 2010, Dothan Eagle, Ala. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com, e-mail services@mctinfoservices.com, or call 866-280-5210 (outside the United States, call +1 312-222-4544).

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