A fiber optic ring would provide the ability to:

• Attract more high technology and professional service companies to the area. Companies that will offer higher paying jobs.
• Dramatically improve cost effective educational options for our children.
• Generate more tax dollars.

A 2002 Yankee Group Study found that broadband internet access and competitive telecommunications services provide businesses invaluable productivity gain and that, over time, the benefits increase:

1. Improved employee efficiencies
2. Improved customer service and client relationships
3. Improved competitiveness
4. Improved opportunities to compete and level the playing field with larger companies
5. More distance learning for employee training, retention and competitive advantages

Telecommunication ability is no longer a luxury for companies.  Choices are needed for inexpensive internet access and related telecommunication services which have become key competitive tools for communities to attract companies and retain top talent which grows businesses and resulting tax bases while improving community quality of life for all.

So, what is the Medina County Economic Development Corporation's (MCEDC) Fiber Ring Project?

The fiber optic ring project is an initiative, by a locally controlled public-private entity to self-fund and sustain a “carrier neutral” fiber ring so that businesses, local governments, schools, libraries, hospitals and institutions will have access to more services and better products at much lower prices.

The fiber optic ring will create a high capacity, open access telecommunications infrastructure providing businesses (both large and small) and institutions access to wholesale, below-market pricing for retail telecom services.  Long distance, local telephone service, data communications, and high speed internet access will become more accessible and more affordable.  The fiber optic ring will provide Medina County companies with more telephone companies to choose from thereby increasing competition and quantity of service offerings at much lower prices.

Ok, but why a fiber optic ring?

In the very competitive, global environment of economic development, Medina County has become increasingly less attractive to both new businesses and newer alternative communications providers.  Medina County is also having a hard time attracting quality talent for those companies currently located in the county.  There is little to no incentive for incumbents to improve their facilities and service offerings and/or to invest in any business model other than status quo.

The local phone companies' protection of high-margin T-1 service.  T-1 is a service that provides 1.544 MB of high speed broadband internet access service -always on, always connected - much like a cable connection but it is dedicated just for you.  No other company is using that line to the internet to access the internet; unlike cable where many companies share the same line to the internet.By limiting deployment of any other type of service, economic growth is stifled.  How many companies are looking elsewhere because Medina County cannot provide extensive broadband connectivity?

Accelerating deployment and access to low cost, symmetric internet services and other wireless services can jumpstart our economy.  It will help our businesses compete better, faster, and cheaper.It creates the potential to attract more companies who want to live and work in our rural, family-friendly county.

Medina County should be a DESTINATION stop for top talent and top companies.  There is a need to better serve our existing base of companies while attracting new firms.  Companies need better internet and information technology support to improve their businesses and their systems reliability, redundancy and scalability without having to pay exorbitant fees for access to basic telecom services; or worse to relocate.

By collaborating, we can make a difference for Medina County.  We can set Medina County apart from the competition - today and in the future.