Serving Whitman County since 1877
Serving Whitman County since 1877
A new option in internet connection is available to Farmington and Malden residents as the result of a $1.7 million project completed at the end of June.
Friday, July 6, Frontier Communications of Moscow began to offer high-speed internet to people within a four-mile radius of Farmington.
“It’s pretty significant to our customers there,” said Martin Erkela, Frontier’s general manager.
Before the new option, Farmington residents had a few choices to connect to the internet, although none were as direct or inexpensive.
People could connect to the internet within 100-200 feet of the library through its wi-fi hotspot, or connect to ground-based wireless if a residence is within the line of sight from a transmitter, such as those on Steptoe Butte. Another option was to sign up with a satellite provider.
Erkela said the new option – installed at a cost of $35-50,000 per mile – is much more equal-opportunity.
“This opened the internet to 90 percent of these two towns,” Erkela said, referring to Farmington and Malden. “If your only choice in getting to town is buying a Rolls Royce and a Cadillac, then you might walk.”
Farmington Mayor Ron Dugan said he believes residents will have to wait a while to see how it all shakes out.”
Erkela and other Frontier representatives appeared at the Farmington Firemen’s barbecue July 11 for an informal opening of the line. Erkela said they plan a larger one in August.
The fiber optic path was laid from Tekoa with work starting in April.
A similar fiber optic line from Rosalia to Malden was also installed.
Garth Meyer is a former Whitman County Gazette reporter.
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