High-Speed Fiber Internet Arriving in Halls
Halls residents will soon be able to connect to high-speed, fiber broadband—and transform the way they work, learn, play and stay connected with family, friends and the outside world.
Ripley Power and Light is partnering with Aeneas Internet and Telephone to bring high speed, fiber broadband to each home and business in the footprint of the fiber buildout, which is shown in the map below.
The buildout started this summer and should be completed this fall. Ripley Power and Light will own the fiber network and lease it to Aeneas, which will initially offer telephone and tiered, internet services up to speeds of 1 Gig.
“This partnership marks a significant step forward in ensuring that Halls has access to the fastest and most reliable internet service available,” said Mike Allmand, president and CEO of Ripley Power and Light Company.
Ripley Power and Light has explored ways to bring fiber broadband to all customers, Allmand said. The most recent cost estimate to do so was $9.8 million. The Ripley Power and Light Board, however, is reluctant to put electric customers at this much of a financial risk, Allmand added.
The decision was made to start a pilot project in Halls, Allmand said. “One of the major deciding factors for Ripley Power and Light to partner with Aeneas was its ability to serve Halls customers from two different locations. If storms affect internet service from the north, our customers will be served from the south. This provides unmatched reliability.”
The Town of Halls has applied for a grant to pay for a part of the buildout. Customer response in Halls and funding options will help determine if the fiber network will expand beyond Halls to other Power and Light customers, Allmand added.
Fiber is more reliable and faster than wireless internet and copper infrastructure, said Ripley Power and Light Head Engineer Chris Mooney.
Halls residents and business owners can sign up for the service at fiber.aeneas.com. Aeneas will contact them when it becomes available.
“We hope the Halls community signs up for high-speed, fiber internet,” Allmand said. “It will change their lives.”
