Fiber-optics is the right decision for PUD and the county

By Gary Montague, PUD Board President (commissioner 1998-2006)

5/4/2006

So far, more than 4,000 homes and businesses throughout Chelan County are taking advantage of the new fiber-optics network built by the PUD to receive either Internet, phone service, video signals, or all three.

That number is expected to grow rapidly as the network is extended. People throughout the county continue to ask when they can get service because they know the PUD system will be reaching into many areas not served by other private systems. Three-fourths of Chelan County will be hooked up and ready to receive service by the end of 2008. Reaching the rest of the county will take a little longer.

We are pleased that so many people are benefiting from the decision by PUD commissioners in 2002 to go ahead and extend the PUD’s backbone fiber-optic system to the rest of the county so private businesses could offer new services to customers all over Chelan County. In some places where fiber-optic connections have been available for several years now, more than 80 percent of the homes in a neighborhood are getting services from one or more of the 14 private business providers. That “take rate” is a sure indicator that the network was needed and that the PUD’s approach to building it is working.

Our PUD Mission Statement says we are “to safely provide utility services that enhance the economy and quality of life in Chelan County.” The PUD’s open-access fiber-optics network is a prime example of how we fulfill that mission.

If you have questions, check out the fiber-optics system at this link, or give me a call at 661-4264.