Kettering adds $116K to fiber ring

Internet project seen as big boost for schools, police and businesses.

Kettering is adding KETTERING — more than $100,000 to its share of a seven-city regional fiber optics ring that advocates say will save money, help solve crimes, benefit schools and invite business growth.

The internet network would expand on the concept of a 911 system now shared by Centerville and Kettering, said Miami Valley Communications Council (MVCC) Executive Director Brian Humphries.

The network is designed to allow MVCC members the opportunity to take advantage of lower internet costs, shared software expenses and shared programming costs. Seven cities are participating in the first phase: Centerville, Kettering, Miamisburg, Moraine, Oakwood, Springboro, and West Carrollton. Other cities may join in when it is decided to expand the “ring.”

The fiber ring is estimated to cost $935,000 to build, but costs for partners will be offset by $266,280 in leases from two initial customers, Kettering and Centerville schools, dropping the partner costs to $668,720. Each partner would receive 100Mb service with another 100Mb backup service.

Kettering City Manager Mark Schwieterman said the city had originally budgeted $273,000 and now is adding $116,870 to help fund the project.

“This is being done based upon planned development for the last year-and-a-half,” he said.

Construction is expected to be underway before the end of November, and the ring should be operational by the end of June, according to the MVCC.

The work will allow participating cities to have unique speeds and capabilities for their highspeed internet.

“In this age of communication, speed and capacity are critical components in any system,”

NICK BLIZZARD / STAFF One of seven cities participating in a new fiber optics network that will begin construction this month, Kettering is boosting its funding for the internet project by more than $100,000.