News

Mayor letter addresses fiber optic network expansion

Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Category: Fiber Optic Network

Get a letter from Mayor Rose this week? The city wants you to know about the fiber optic network expansion; why Council voted for it unanimously and why it’s coming to every neighborhood eventually.

Fiber optic technology will provide local employers a faster, more reliable network to access the world. It provides you with a new option for cable TV, Internet access and phone service. To see a short video that explains how fiber works, click here.

If you received the letter, you don’t have to do anything. It’s simply information. You’re not required to take any action.

The city has been asked by citizens to provide more information about the expansion. The letter you received was sent to every residence in Wilson. We thank you for reading it and we hope it provides the information you need to know more about fiber optics.

Quick Q&A

Is my tax money paying for this expansion?
No. The network will be self supporting.

What does fiber do?
Fiber is a technology that carries large amounts of information very quickly. It uses small glass fibers to transmit information using light. Fiber allows you to subscribe to high-speed Internet service, cable TV and/or telephone service.

I already have a high-speed cable Internet connection. Is fiber faster than cable?
Yes. Because fiber carries information using pulses of light, it is much faster than old-fashioned copper cable. It is the gold standard of high-speed data transmission.

When can I sign up?
The expansion of the existing network will begin this Spring. Look for the first residential customers to come online this summer. The entire build out will take one to two years.

Am I obligated to choose Wilson’s fiber optic services?
No. Fiber is a superior product, but no one will be required to sign up. You choose your provider. The city just wants to give you another option.

What does fiber optic technology have to do with attracting and keeping jobs?
More and more, businesses are relying on the fast transmission of large amounts of data. As the world connects to the Internet, it will become more and more necessary for Wilson’s employers to have the same tools that businesses in the nation’s largest cities have.

To learn more about the network, visit http://wilsonfiber.wordpress.com.