Rural Broadband and the Stimulus Package

Broadband internet is heading for the hills, and federal stimulus dollars could help it get there.

In the Stix Broadband started providing internet in June 2008. Now they've got a hundred customers, customers that wires can't get to and cables can't reach. The company goes out to people’s homes to test signal strength. The In the Stix Broadband guys say they have 17 transmitters and if you can see one, like the one on the Cresson Mountain Range, than you can get their internet service.

Cambria County owns the transmitters, but can't sell internet access themselves. Robert Dillon says there are four companies that contract with the county. In the Stix Broadband has more than 40 percent of the business.

Robert Weakland says it's perfect for places like Loretto, where it is very rural and there is no actual connection to a phone line. Weakland repairs cub cadet tractors. He buys and sells a lot of parts over the internet. He's had In the Stix Broadband for over a year now. Before that he had dial-up internet because it was the only option. He says his new service is unbelievable.

The Federal Stimulus Plan has 7.2 billion dollars to get broadband to rural areas. In the Stix has a couple of projects in the works involving stimulus dollars. Dillon can't say too much but the deals would help them expand to other counties in our area.

The state will apply for the stimulus money this week.

Click here for the In the Stix website.