February 19, 2008

Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette

By John E. Koppin

As Gov. Mitch Daniels highlighted in his State of the State address, Indiana is fast becoming a leader in broadband deployment because of the telecom reform bill that passed in 2006. By removing old regulatory barriers and allowing the state to franchise video services, telecom investment has been pouring into communities in northeast Indiana and across the state.

Since 2006, the telecom industry has invested nearly $500 million to bring next-generation Internet and video services to Hoosiers. Of this total investment, an estimated $112 million has been spent by smaller firms in more rural locations.

One investor, AdamsWells Internet Telecom TV, has spent more than $1.2 million to bring broadband services to its customers in Craigville and Bluffton. Other small firms, including Ligonier Telephone Co. and the Citizens Telephone Co. in Warren are also investing millions of dollars to bring fiber-optic-based broadband to their communities in northeast Indiana.

Verizon spent well over $100 million to enhance broadband offerings and provide a fiber-optic cable TV alternative (FiOS) to customers in Allen County. Verizon also has provided high-speed Internet connectivity to communities such as Butler, Woodburn, Poe-Hoagland and Monroeville and upgraded its wireless Internet with EVDO service. In turn, AT&T invested $21 million in its northern and central Indiana wireless network last year to provide site enhancements and allow for more wireless broadband opportunities. Embarq continues to increase broadband investments in the area as well, upgrading its high-speed Internet services to 5 megabits per second.

These large investments also mean new jobs for Indiana. We estimate that the reform legislation has added more than 2,100 jobs to date across the state. AT&T has announced the addition of 1,650 new jobs since the legislation’s passage, and we expect the demand for additional telecom personnel to be strong across our industry in the years ahead.

Telecom companies statewide have delivered on their promise to connect more communities to high-speed Internet services. To date, 102 Indiana communities that once had zero or limited Internet access are now able to enjoy high-speed connections – thanks to the telecom reform legislation.

But it isn’t just consumers who have benefited from this bill – the impact is also felt on our economy. By offering better technology, Indiana is able to promote itself to new corporations and businesses as a leader in telecom advancement.

Telecom reform has put Indiana in the lead of all states to grow advanced broadband services. The legislation is delivering on its promises for all Hoosiers. We can take pride in the vision of the Indiana General Assembly and the governor for passing this new law that is leading our state to unprecedented technological growth.

John E. Koppin  is president of the Indiana Telecommunications Association. He wrote this for The Journal Gazette.

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