Over the next few months, Green Hills Communications will continue construction on its underground fiber-optic network that is bringing an “Internet Revolution” to businesses in Chillicothe, MO.
Last year, the Breckenridge-based telecommunication company began a multi-phase fiber-optic build out through the business corridors of Chillicothe. Phase 1 was completed earlier this year which installed a fiber optic loop to businesses along Washington St. between Highway 36 and the viaduct. Businesses north of the viaduct will soon have the same access to fiber with the completion of phase 2 scheduled to be done this fall. The fiber path in phase 2 will conclude at the intersection of Washington St. and Highway 190.
Although ground construction has not begun yet, phase 2 of the fiber optic build out technically began last month with the installation of Green Hills’ CO building at 1003 Jackson Street. “The CO houses communication equipment from which the fiber connectivity occurs” said Gene Dinwiddie, Green Hills’ Plant Manager. “Having a CO building inside the city limits of Chillicothe will aid in bringing enhanced services closer to businesses in Chillicothe and also allow us to expand into residential neighborhoods if that becomes a priority”.
“We are excited about the economic development and growth opportunities our fiber network provides businesses in this community”, David Adams, Green Hills General Manager said. “Fiber optics allow us to offer business customers high capacity circuits, private Ethernet service between two locations, and even a symmetrical gigabit (1,000 Mbps) of bandwidth if needed so that innovation and efficiencies are not limited by bandwidth constraints”.
Chillicothe is yet another success story within Green Hills’ fiber gigabit network expansion efforts. In 2016, Green Hills was recognized by NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association, the premier association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America, as a Certified Gig-Capable Provider for delivering gigabit broadband speeds and enabling technological innovation in Avalon, Bogard, Breckenridge, Cowgill, Dawn, Kingston, Lock Springs, Ludlow, Mooresville, Polo, Tina, and Wheeling communities.
But Adams said the investments made in the gigabit network won’t end here. “Our customers require a state-of-the-art, highly-reliable and high-capacity infrastructure, and with each construction project, we are one step closer to our goal of having all of our customers connected to a gigabit fiber network” Adams said.
“I applaud Green Hills Communications for its commitment to delivering the Internet’s fastest speeds—an accomplishment worthy of much praise considering the unique and challenging circumstances small, community-based telecommunications providers operate under every day in serving some of our country’s most rural and remote communities,” said NTCA Chief Executive Officer Shirley Bloomfield. “By building a gigabit-capable network, Green Hills Communications has not only overcome these challenges, but also shattered conventional benchmarks for broadband speed to enable cutting-edge technologies that drive innovation and promote economic development in their communities, region and nationwide.”
More information about the NTCA Gig-Capable Provider certification program is available at www.ntca.org/gigcertified.
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About Green Hills Telephone Corporation
Green Hills Telephone Corporation is a local broadband telecommunications provider serving 6 counties in northwest Missouri with a full suite of communications services. Headquartered in Breckenridge, Missouri, Green Hills continues to expand its services including local and long distance phone service, high speed Internet, unified communications, Ethernet connectivity and customized networking solutions. Visit us at www.greenhills.net.
About NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association
NTCA–The Rural Broadband Association is the premier association representing nearly 900 independent, community-based telecommunications companies that are leading innovation in rural and small-town America. NTCA advocates on behalf of its members in the legislative and regulatory arenas, and it provides training and development; publications and industry events; and an array of employee benefit programs. In an era of exploding technology, deregulation and marketplace competition, NTCA’s members are leading the IP evolution for rural consumers, delivering technologies that make rural communities vibrant places in which to live and do business. Because of their efforts, rural America is fertile ground for innovation in economic development and commerce, education, health care, government services, security and smart energy use. Visit us at www.ntca.org.