| |
| | Wednesday, January 23, 2019
|
Newport Utilities
The Newport Utilities Board meeting Tuesday was told by General Manager Glenn Ray that expansion of the new fiber network throughout the community may utilize wireless transmission in some areas. The move he said could speed the expansion of the network to outlying areas, while reducing the cost. "You keep hearing about 5G, and the wireless system that we are looking at is building toward being able to support 5G," Ray said. He also reported that Phase I construction will be complete in several days, all schools in the county now are connected and Phase II construction is underway. The board was told that more than 600 customers have already signed up for the fiber service "Of all the folks doing fiber networks in the United States, there are only 55 utilities that are actually fiber to the home only. We are number 56. And in the Tennessee valley there are only seven utilities offering fiber service," the manager said. Ray said Morristown began it's fiber service in 2007 and "it doesn't take much to look at Morristown and figure out what has happened over there in the last 10 years. He told the board that Morristown Utility has only 5,500 fiber customers, and those customers have stimulated lots of growth, while NU has the potential for 23,000 fiber customers. "So the economic impact that(fiber)has on a community is obvious by just looking over there. And of course alot of that for them has been industry coming to Morristown just for the broadband." Chair of the Board, Craig Wild, thanked the utility employees who have been in the vanguard of the project, saying the fiber project speaks well for the utility and will have a long-lasting impact on the community. Board member Jeff Fancher said he is disappointed in the decision by the state to place large unsightly poles on East Broadway as part of the project to upgrade the traffic lights. He argued the large poles are inhibiting efforts to revitalize the historical appearance of downtown. Ray said he was told the project is costing the state $600,000 per intersection, to upgrade the traffic light system.
|
Return to Today's News Stories - Front PageThursday, April 29, 2021
US 411 Project News
Mill Creek Wildfire Update
More Bad News For Smokies' Fans
Wednesday, April 28, 2021
Mill Creek Wildfire doubles in size
Goodbye Smokies?
Keep Cocke County Beautiful
Cocke Co. High School Remote Learning today!
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
The fireflies are coming!
Burnout Operations on MillCreek wildfire today
Gas prices drop
Tennessee keeps all US House seats
Monday, April 26, 2021
Boat accident victim ID'd
Traffic stop yields drug arrest
Cocke County Wildfires
Friday, April 23, 2021
Leaving WNPC
Mathis announces candidacy
Newport drug roundup
Cruise Against Cancer
Jobless numbers
|
|
|