Town of Wellton Broadband Internet Access

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Town of WelltonBroadband Internet Access

• Matt McClymonds

A Joint Effort Between YUMA County The Town of
Wellton and Telespectra, LLC (An Arizona based
Provider of Wireless Broadband Transport
Internet Connectivity)
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Rural Wellton
Yuma County
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A Success That Could Be Replicated

• Wellton is a rural community that relied on
  agriculture to support the community.
• After this model was deployed, Wellton has
  witnessed astronomical community growth.
• This model could easily be replicated.

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Enablers / Lessons Learned

• Community buy-in (A need for faster access)
• Available money
• A Proven plan

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The Grant (Who?)

• USDA Rural Utilities Service (RUS)
• Part of Department of Agriculture
• Assists rural utilities in expanding and keeping
  their technology up to date
• Helps establish new and vital services such as
  distance learning and telemedicine
• Awarded 20 million in 40 total grants across 16
  states and the US Virgin Islands
• source http//www.usda.gov/rus/

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The Grant (What)

• Community-Oriented Connectivity Broadband
  (Community Connect) Grant Program
• Pilot Grant Program
• Wellton was the 3rd largest award last year

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What Does This Mean?

• The Town of Wellton will receive broadband
  Internet access free of charge for 2 years
• Other community organizations will receive
  broadband Internet access for 2 years
• Wellton Branch Library
• Wellton Sheriffs Sub-station
• Antelope Union High School
• East County School Health Care Center
• Wellton Elementary School

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What else?

• In addition to Broadband Internet Access, the
  Town of Wellton will also receive the following
• 18 computers (internet access points) to be
  installed at the library and available to the
  general public
• Software to filter inappropriate web sites

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What about residents and businesses?

• 18 computers for public use will be available at
  the Public Library
• Residents and businesses can purchase broadband
  wireless Internet service for their home or
  business use.

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System Design

• End Systems
• End Links
• Backbone Links

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System Design

• End Systems
• The end systems or PCs will be connected to the
  Internet in one of two ways
• Hard wired via Category 5e cabling
• Wireless broadband Internet access

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System Design

• End Links
• Required to connect the Community Center and
  Critical Community Facilities to the network
• Broadband wireless hardware was used to connect
  each facility.
• Antelope High School connected via an ethernet
  spread spectrum microwave radio

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System Design

• Backbone Links
• The backbone link establishes a full DS3 (45Mb)
  link connecting Wellton, Yuma, and Phoenix
• New transmission segments will connect Wellton to
  Yuma, and Wellton to Phoenix

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Benefits

• McElheney Cattle Company increased access from
  56Kb/s to T1 speeds.
• Arizona Clean Fuels Refinery planning on coming
  to the Wellton area
• Every resident has broadband access
• 56Kb/s 20 /mo
• 256Kb/s 40 /mo

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Options

• RUS enabled an immediate solution.
• Building/improving a copper infrastructure would
  have been cost prohibitive. (DSL)
• Fiber will take a long time to build but will
  provide the most capabilities for the future.

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Growth in Wellton

• Wellton in 2000 1829
• Wellton in 2003 1880 1/year
• Wellton after install 2080 10
• Plan to annex to double current size
• Plan to build another 900 residential lots in the
  next 2-3 years.