Participating in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday launching new gigabit service at the county library are, from left, John Tewell, Christy Lattin, Doug Drost and Natalie Parrish, Fallon Chamber of Commerce; Britta Kuhn, the Governor's Office of Science, Innovation and Technology; Bob Eastonguay, constituent services representative from Congressman Mark Amodei's office; Rachel Dahl, Churchill Economic Development Authority; Lisa Gonzales, Chamber of Commerce; Jean Beatty and Kim Farnham, Churchill County Library Board of Trustees; Mark Feest, general manager of CC Communications; LeAnn Davis and Marilyn Hedges-Hiller, Churchill County Library Board of Trustees; Library Director Carol Lloyd; County Manager Eleanor Lockwood; County Commissioner Carl Erquiaga; Fallon Mayor Ken Tedford; and Sherry Black, director of WNC Fallon.
Churchill County has joined other communities across the nation in taking a huge technological leap in an ever-changing world.
General Manager Mark Feest said CC Communications has become the first independent telecommunications company in Nevada to deliver gigabit broadband speeds to its county residents and businesses. A ribbon cutting on Wednesday at the Churchill County Library signaled the beginning of CC Communications being a leader in rural Nevada.
Feest said the fiber-based broadband speeds are critical for creating business opportunities, improving quality of life and improving the economic development of the Lahontan Valley.
“This will help with new business,” said Rachel Dahl, executive director of the Churchill Economic Development Authority. “This gives us another opportunity to tell the world what we can offer in this community.”
Shortly after the ceremony, Dahl said she sent a tweet out to tie in the gigabit service to CEDA’s marketing project.
“This is a great project,” Dahl added.
Additionally, CC Communications will upgrade city and county entities with the gigabit Internet service.
Feest said the library will be a great partner in providing the service.
“As we look at bringing in broadband to both the rural and urban areas, we wanted to start with the library as an anchor institution,” Feest said. “We know many people in our community use the library as their primary source of Internet. “
Feest cited several news reports about the gigabit service. He said ATT is adding 36 gigabit cities with Reno being one by the end of 2016. Furthermore, he praised the Gov. Brian Sandoval’s office of Science, Innovation and Technology for attracting high tech companies to the state and acknowledged support from Congressman Mark Amodei’s office.
As of May, Feest said a magazine article stated 30 communities provided gigabit services with more probably added since that time.
“In Churchill County we can join that list,” Feest said, noting that many rural companies are not mentioned.
County Librarian Carol Lloyd said she is excited with the technological advances.
“Gigabit is so big, and it’s going to mean fast Internet, faster downloading not only for our patrons but also for our staff who serve our patrons.”
Lloyd said the library and CC Communications have been working together for the past three years to rewire the facility. In the future Lloyd said the library would be able to provide additional services to its patrons with the newer broadband.