Rural access

An internet service provider has expanded its broadband reach in Jay County.

Watch Communications, a sister company of Portland-based Community Fiber Solutions, held an open house Thursday at John Jay Center for Learning to share information about its rural broadband, other services and job openings.

Rather than having a single presentation, the open house was designed as an opportunity for Jay County residents to visit any time over a four-hour period and meet one-on-one with representatives about the broadband internet service that may be available to them.

“We just want them to be aware that this great technology — 100 megabit service in rural America, that’s the vision. The (Federal Communications Commission) has really been touting that,” said Aaron Miller, Watch’s general manager for north and central Indiana. “It’s ready and widely available today. Our push today is really to generate a lot of interest and educate the customer on ‘What does 100 megabits mean?’ … This is a very fast, dedicated connection on a reliable system. We’re here to deliver the same services that you’re receiving in town out in the rural communities.”

The company was also touting job openings for sales support representatives, field service technicians and tower services technicians based in Portland.

Watch, under parent Benton Ridge Telephone Company, was among the bidders in the FCC’s reverse auction in 2019 and obtained Connect America Fund Phase II for all of the eligible areas in Jay County as part of its $52.4 million in purchases in Indiana, Ohio and Illinois. The company must be at 40% coverage by the end of 2022.

“That’s a lay-up based on where we’re at today,” said Watch chief revenue and strategy office Tommy Della Rocco.

It then has until October 2025 to build out the infrastructure to serve 100% of the specified areas in its FCC contract.

Shortly after securing the contract, Watch looked for “vertical assets” — grain legs, silos, etc. — to help design a grid to extend internet service. It utilized one such location on a farm in northeast Jay County and also transmits from cell towers near Portland, in Redkey and near the intersection of Indiana 1 and Indiana 18.

It also has sites in northern Randolph County and southern Adams County that help to service Jay County customers, with another expected to go online soon in Fort Recovery. (An additional eight sites with older “legacy equipment” also help to serve the county.)

Watch chief operating office Conrad D’Souza explained that while the FCC designates areas that need to be “25 by 3” (25 megabit per second downloads and three mbps uploads) and others that must be “100 by 20” (100 mbps downloads and 20 mbps uploads), the company’s goal is that all of its sites will be able to provide the faster 100 by 20 speeds.

Jay County Commissioners president Chad Aker, who visited the open house, emphasized the importance of high-speed internet in rural areas, specifically noting the need for students with the implementation of e-learning and remote learning.

“The way the world is right now, everything is technologically advanced,” he said. “Everything is driving by wireless communication. It's driven by computers. This is just something Jay County needs.”

(During the pandemic, Watch provided 10 Wi-Fi hotspots in partnership with Jay School Corporation to assist students who did not have access to high-speed internet.)

Representatives at Thursday’s event noted that while the ongoing coronavirus pandemic has created some challenges in terms of inventory and construction, it has also created an increased demand for high-speed internet services with working from home or from a distance being more common.

“We’re excited to get back out and do these kind of events,” said Della Rocco. “We’re thrilled to meet people face to face again.

“That’s what the rural market is. …

“We’re thrilled to be where we’re at.”