July 23, 2014 at 2:10 p.m.
Commisioners back project (9/27/04)
Loan approved for high-speed Internet company
A project that could bring high-speed Internet access to most Jay County residences and businesses has won the backing of Jay County Commissioners.
The commissioners voted this morning to approve a loan of up to $380,000 from economic development income tax (EDIT) funds to Omnicity, an Indianapolis-based wireless Internet company.
The loan will be used in the initial phase of the project, which will include the placement of Internet relay equipment on existing or new towers in the Redkey/Dunkirk and Portland areas.
Company officials, who were present this morning along with Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi, said that each tower site can serve locations between five and 10 miles away. The company has a tower in Rush County and also serves clients in and around the town of Westfield, just north of Indianapolis.
Quadrozzi, who led today’s presentation, said that this project, which developed as part of a four-county regional effort to find high-tech solutions, represents Jay County’s best chance to get the high-speed Internet access it needs.
“I’m talking about a loan. We’re not talking about a grant,” said Quadrozzi. “I’m not going to say I’m presenting a no-risk deal. But the risk is if we do nothing.”
The loan would carry an interest rate equal to the prime rate, with payments to be made quarterly.
Omnicity chief executive officer and chairman Michael Early told the commissioners that his company’s service is very reliable. He said that within a three-mile radius of a tower only a small antenna on the back of a computer is needed to provide service. Outside of that distance, other antenna options may be used, Early said.
A preliminary price schedule for the company proposed a monthly charge of $22.95 for 256 kilobyte Internet access — a speed which is roughly equivalent to digital subscriber line (DSL) service through phone lines. A larger amount of bandwidth, which provides higher speed, would be available for an additional cost.
Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr., who approved using county funds several years ago for a similar project that was stalled by a lack of private funding from the company involved, were receptive to today’s proposal.
They asked their attorney Brad Burkett to work with Quadrozzi to draw up an agreement to protect the county’s interests.
Quadrozzi said that Jay County is at a disadvantage economically because of its current lack of high-speed Internet access.
He said he is especially concerned about having that high-speed Internet available for the county’s manufacturing base — including those related to the automotive industry.
Quadrozzi said that the major automobile manufacturers are relying increasingly on the Internet to conduct business and that the local companies have an increasing need for Internet speed.[[In-content Ad]]
The commissioners voted this morning to approve a loan of up to $380,000 from economic development income tax (EDIT) funds to Omnicity, an Indianapolis-based wireless Internet company.
The loan will be used in the initial phase of the project, which will include the placement of Internet relay equipment on existing or new towers in the Redkey/Dunkirk and Portland areas.
Company officials, who were present this morning along with Jay County Development Corporation executive director Robert Quadrozzi, said that each tower site can serve locations between five and 10 miles away. The company has a tower in Rush County and also serves clients in and around the town of Westfield, just north of Indianapolis.
Quadrozzi, who led today’s presentation, said that this project, which developed as part of a four-county regional effort to find high-tech solutions, represents Jay County’s best chance to get the high-speed Internet access it needs.
“I’m talking about a loan. We’re not talking about a grant,” said Quadrozzi. “I’m not going to say I’m presenting a no-risk deal. But the risk is if we do nothing.”
The loan would carry an interest rate equal to the prime rate, with payments to be made quarterly.
Omnicity chief executive officer and chairman Michael Early told the commissioners that his company’s service is very reliable. He said that within a three-mile radius of a tower only a small antenna on the back of a computer is needed to provide service. Outside of that distance, other antenna options may be used, Early said.
A preliminary price schedule for the company proposed a monthly charge of $22.95 for 256 kilobyte Internet access — a speed which is roughly equivalent to digital subscriber line (DSL) service through phone lines. A larger amount of bandwidth, which provides higher speed, would be available for an additional cost.
Commissioners Gary Theurer, Mike Leonhard and Milo Miller Jr., who approved using county funds several years ago for a similar project that was stalled by a lack of private funding from the company involved, were receptive to today’s proposal.
They asked their attorney Brad Burkett to work with Quadrozzi to draw up an agreement to protect the county’s interests.
Quadrozzi said that Jay County is at a disadvantage economically because of its current lack of high-speed Internet access.
He said he is especially concerned about having that high-speed Internet available for the county’s manufacturing base — including those related to the automotive industry.
Quadrozzi said that the major automobile manufacturers are relying increasingly on the Internet to conduct business and that the local companies have an increasing need for Internet speed.[[In-content Ad]]
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