By Lindell J. Kay | lkay@springhopeenterprise.com | 252-265-8117
Despite a slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, broadband is on its way to rural Nash County, according to providers and county officials.
Nash County continues to be a priority for CloudWyze, said Shaun Olsen, founder and CEO of the Wilmington-based cloud communications and technology company.
“We have been diligently maintaining our efforts toward finalizing the remaining steps of our network deployment in Nash County,” Olsen said.
Nash County Manager Zee Lamb said the county has been pleased with its CloudWyze collaboration.
“The COVID-19 crisis, and resulting school closures, has made clear the urgency for internet access throughout the county to serve all residents and businesses, particularly to assure distance learning capabilities that are necessary for the educational needs of our school and college students,” Lamb said.
While COVID-19 has disrupted many residents’ lives, CloudWyze is set up to work from just about anywhere, Olsen said.
“The internet is what makes our work possible from remote locations; we understand its value,” Olsen said. “While we continue to work to bring quality internet access to you, it’s important for you to know that state and local officials are working with us, expediting approval processes and removing barriers. The support we are receiving is tremendous and helps us to deliver service to you.”
Lamb said county officials are anxious to complete Phase 2 and get positive notification later this month regarding state funding for Phase 3, allowing Nash County to complete the initial three-phase project.
“After the completion of Phase 3, the Nash County commissioners want to do everything possible to extend coverage to 99% of the county,” Lamb said.
CloudWyze has been working closely with Nash County and the state of North Carolina to secure additional grants, which will help add more coverage areas and move the county into Phase 3, Olsen said.
Lamb said that in March, CloudWyze submitted a Growing Rural Economies with Access to Technology grant application for Nash County and a small portion of Halifax County to the N.C. Broadband Infrastructure Office.
“The GREAT grant would help implement the continued deployment of high-speed internet throughout much of the remainder of Nash County,” Lamb said. “Awards are scheduled to be made by the N.C. Broadband Infrastructure Office by the end of June 2020. Implementing Phase 3 will result in most of the county, 80% plus, being served with high-speed internet.”
Olsen said the grant will allow CloudWyze to bring service to more than 2,000 households.
“This award is another huge step for Nash County and we’re excited to be working with county officials to make this happen,” Olsen said.
Olsen said it takes significant investment of time and resources to ensure a strong foundation for the years ahead, but each day, his company is making progress toward the mutual goal of empowering Nash County with high-speed internet access.
“Additionally, we are extremely appreciative of the efforts provided by Nash County,” Olsen said. “They have provided us strong support and always ensured this effort was a high priority. Nash has a special place in our organization and we’re very appreciative for our partnership.”
In the first phase, which started at the end of 2018, the company used a limited internet service to serve trial users. The company set up service in Nashville and sent it nearly 15 miles away using specialized wireless technology attached to commercial cell towers.
At the end of 2019, the company moved to Phase 2, where it’s moving its core network closer to more bandwidth, which will allow the company to serve the entire community.
“We are also adding redundancies to ensure the network is resilient when subjected to disasters, power outages and standard maintenance,” Olsen said. “What we are building is a carrier-grade network with immense capability to bring service to as many folks as possible and an ultimate goal of serving everyone who wants it. We’re coming, but we want it to be right.”
Olsen said he knows folks are eager, so he planned to be done with Phase 2 by the beginning of June. While the company has been in full operation, the coronavirus pandemic and statewide shutdown caused a number of issues with contractors, providers and suppliers.
“Now, we’re back on track and the upgrades and installations are moving along,” Olsen said. “We should have the fiber build-out to our network complete, the reconfigurations complete and three additional service towers live, likely sooner but no later than Sept. 1, 2020. Once these are all completed, we’ll be able to begin actively signing up for paid service. In the meantime, we may be reaching out to folks to schedule pre-installations.”
Pre-installs allow the company to confirm its ability to serve locations and connect them to its network but does not yet bring internet. To get internet to a rural Nash County house, Phase 2 must be completed.
Olsen said everyone should remind family, friends and neighbors to get on the company’s list for service through its online survey at www.cloudwyze.com/rural-broadband/nash-county.
Residents interested in broadband can contact Chris Utesch, business development manager for CloudWyze, at 252-220-5589, option 2.
“It is our privilege to serve your community, and we are grateful for your patience and continued support,” Olsen said. “Together we are quickly approaching the finish line of this phase of the network build-out, and we are dedicated to keeping you informed with ongoing communications.”
