Better internet for county on the way
Jan. 24—If things go as planned, sports and movie fans who live in many places across the county should have better internet service this fall to watch their favorites on their internet devices.
Approved last month by Union County Board of Supervisors, the county agreed to spend $145,988 of its American Rescue funds to improve internet service in underserved parts of the county, mainly in the rural areas. The funding was from the federal government given to local governments to make up for revenue lost because of COVID. Union County was awarded $2.3 million and has spent about $1.18 of the amount.
That $146,000 was spent on Lockridge Networks, a provider based in Seymour and is growing in southern Iowa.
Improving internet service in needed areas of the county was a discussion a year ago according to Union County Development Association Executive Director Wayne Pantini.
"We reached out to broadband providers as there were federal grants then," he said, wanting to learn if any of those grants could be put to use in Union County. "It's a regional issue, not just in Union County."
Pantini started reaching out to to other Iowa counties and eventually learned how Ringgold County was starting to work with Lockridge.
"Once the pandemic hit, it really exploded," Pantini said about internet service as businesses were having employees work from home and students learn online to prevent the spread of COVID-19 to others in traditional office and school settings.
"Ringgold had been working with Lockridge as it had built up service in northern Ringgold County," he said. "How could it expand into Union County?"
Pantini said he was encouraged by Lockridge's strategy as it will have complete coverage of Union County. Other providers, especially those that requested to spend the county's Rescue dollars, explained how they were to have service in specific areas.
"No gaps," Pantini said about Lockridge.
Those conversations with Ringgold turned more serious.
Lockridge's operation is considered line of sight or fixed wireless. Instead of using underground cables delivering the signal, towers broadcast the internet signal through the air to customers. Many towers are set up in rural towns and cities to provide a maximum coverage. Lockridge is working on location and agreements to install towers in Union County.
Lockridge officials have begun meeting with property and business owners to have places to install towers. Pantini said the tallest tower Lockridge will use is 130 feet. It is common to have infrastructure attached to city water towers and certain grain silos.
"The satellite provided internet is not always reliable," he said. "As agriculture relies more on internet activity, there is only so much internet speed from satelllite service,"
In addition to the equipment, Lockridge will hire a technician to monitor the equipment.
Those Union County residents interested in using Lockridge don't have to wait until the work is complete. The plan is to have the service provided and expanded as more towers are installed. Pantini said the hope is for Lockridge to have much of the towers in place in the next six to eight months, depending upon the agreements made for tower locations. The system is expected to be complete in early 2023.
