City survey looks better broadband access

Pickerington officials are seeking to survey businesses in the city, as well as Violet Township, to find out more about their current broadband services and Internet needs.

The 18-question survey is available online at the city's website, pickerington.net, as well as on the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce website at pickeringtonchamber.com.

According to Pickerington development director Joe Henderson, it's designed to gauge local business' Internet needs, and to help determine if the installation of more fiber optic networks -- which typically yield faster Internet services -- would better serve those needs.

If the survey shows businesses are interested in more fiber optic networks within the city, or that they're interested joining a collaborative to negotiate for broadband services, Pickerington officials could take that information to telecommunications providers, Henderson said.

"We want to show businesses and high-speed Internet providers that there's a current and future need for fiber optics," in the area, Henderson said.

"It's one thing to have the Internet ... but they want the fiber optics because of the speed.

"We want to make sure we get (businesses) what they need," Henderson said.

"Showing the need is one way we think we can attract those providers."

Currently, only Wow! is the only telecommunications company with a fiber optic network in Pickerington, and its network serves predominantly businesses and residences along state Route 256.

In addition to possibly persuading more telecommunications companies to upgrade broadband services and access, Henderson said the survey could show Wow! other areas of the city which are ripe for fiber optics.

More fiber optic infrastructure also could be a selling point to promote economic development in the city.

"We're just trying to show fiber optic companies that Pickerington is a great place to come," Henderson said.

"Then, the more lines that are here, the more (high-speed Internet) capacity there is."

The city has contracted with Reid Consulting to conduct the broadband survey at a cost of $6,800.

There is no charge to complete the survey, and Henderson said he's hoping for a big response from the business community.

"Right now, any business can go online to the city's website and the chamber's website to fill out the survey," he said.

"We're asking all the businesses to go on there and take a few minutes to fill it out.

"It doesn't take long and it really will be helpful to the city and the future of the businesses here."

Violet Township officials said they support the city's efforts to attract more telecommunications providers and fiber optic networks to the community.

According to township director of operations Bill Yaple, it's an initiative the township has taken up in recent years to meet the needs of the business community and the township's economic development department is working closely with Pickerington's development services department to identify and address the needs of current and prospective businesses.

"The team effort speaks to the cooperation between the three entities to further the goal of providing the best service to all of our residents and businesses," Yaple said.

"Also, a partnership between the township, city, chamber and school district would create more connections for a service provider allowing them to spread the construction cost among all the entities reducing the monthly costs for each when compared to constructing a fiber connection to a single entity," he said.

"Our township has an inclusive -- both incorporated and unincorporated areas -- population of nearly 40,000 people, but there are areas within our boundaries whose sole access to the Internet is through dial-up services or air cards through wireless providers," Yaple said.

"It is difficult to be progressive and provide quality services to our residents if they are not able to obtain a high speed connection," he said.

"It is our hope that if we continue to express a need, more private providers will enter our market making it possible for businesses and residents to enjoy what has become a necessity to operate in our current world."