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RVP Fiber Company Opens
Saginaw Fiber Optic Hub
October 24, 2001
RVP Fiber Company announced plans to
light its established fiber optic network, one of the largest dark fiber
networks in the Midwest. The privately held Grand Rapids, Mich.-based fiber
optics solutions provider is ready to begin leasing capacity on it's
2,500-mile, fully-constructed fiber network to telecom companies and other
service providers in need of immediate fiber optic connectivity.
RVP's network was built across the SBC/Ameritech region of Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin over the last three years. The established,
fully-paid network includes both metro and long-haul fiber in high-growth
Tier 1, 2, and 3 markets.
Saginaw is included among 31 hubs in Michigan and RVP President Barry
Raterink said "we plan to have 80 to 100 hubs in the region by the second
quarter of next year (2002)." The company is a certified CLEC
(Competitive Local Exchange Company) authorized to put equipment in
Ameritech offices and has DS1 and DS 3 high speed pipeline data connections
to the Saginaw area.
"We provide all interconnectivity and will close the ‘last mile' to clients
in the area," said Raterink. "That ‘last mile' could be 100 feet or a couple
of miles and we'll lease the connections. If there is a fair amount of
activity in one area, we'll look into lateral builds to take our own fiber
to a central location."
Governor John Engler spoke at a Saginaw County Chamber of Commerce luncheon
earlier this month and spoke of his goal to keep Michigan in the nation's
forefront by facilitating the development of the most advanced and robust
telecommunications infrastructure in the country. One of the major goals of
the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) is LinkMichigan, a
project that will improve access to high-speed telecommunication services as
the most important state economic infrastructure issue for the new century.
According to the MEDC's LinkMichigan report, facilitating the development of
the most advanced and robust telecommunications infrastructure in the
country is the goal of the LinkMichigan initiative. "Whether for business,
government, healthcare, or educational purposes, higher speed "broadband"
access is increasingly becoming a necessity—not a luxury. Michigan is a
recognized leader in competing for new business growth and attracting and
retaining a world-class workforce, but unless greater telecommunications
access becomes available to all parts of the state, Michigan stands to lose
its prominence.
"LinkMichigan is about building an environment where every child, regardless
of location, can access the best education resources in the world; where
every police officer has an immediate electronic ability to ascertain
criminal information about potential suspects; where every citizen can seek
government information or services on-line; where every employee can gain
access to the best training and learning resources while continuing to live
and work in the state as his or her career unfolds—a Michigan that provides
its citizens with the best of all worlds—a great place to live, work, and
play no matter where they are located in our great state."
Raterink stated "we're talking to LinkMichigan folks about helping to expand
that process."
Click here for the complete LinkMichigan
Report BACK |
