After getting the go-ahead for a fiber optic infrastructure in the City of Rushville, the $179,000 cost of phase one of the project is underway, and on schedule, according to contractor Randy Frye. The Rushville City Council gave its nod to the project in early August, and since that time, Frye’s crews from Blue River Telecom have been diligent in getting phase one complete by Christmas.

Thus far, conduit pipes have been laid for the downtown network; the next step will be to run the actual fiber optic cable through and completely connect the downtown network.

“We started two weeks ago, and despite a few delays, we are pleased with the progress,” Frye said, adding that although his company has completed network jobs, this project will actually be the first major network job for the city and county.

Phase one of the project includes a network linked between the Rush County Courthouse, the Rush County Sheriff’s Department, the Rushville Fire Department and City Hall. It is a monumental step in the direction of advanced technology for both city and county, according to Frye.

“All of the offices that will be on this network will also have access to the fiber optic cable that’s being brought to town (for residential use),” Frye said. “This means that eventually, everyone can get large amounts of band width - that equals speed. So by having access to the cable from RushShelby Energy, city and county offices will have access all over the state, with other agencies. The possibilities are literally endless. This is a tremendous jump in technological advances for this community, and I believe it will serve as a model for other communities - mainly for their willingness to install this type of high-speed network.”

The two-part plan that is now underway is still in need of adjustments, according to Frye. As phase one is completed, it is likely the City Council and County Commissioners will be asked to make a decision on phase two.

The initial $179,000 cost of phase one has been divided evenly between city and county; phase two has been given a rough estimate price tag of $750,000. Frye said that it is likely the project will pay for itself in five years or less.

Initially the city, along with Rush County and RushShelby Energy, had agreed to spend $100,000 towards a fiber loop project; that plan has since been altered to use only RushShelby funds, which left both the city and county with money set aside for such a project.

Phase one includes:

n Install a 12-strand fiber optic cable from the Rush County Courthouse to the mayor’s office.

n Install a 12-strand fiber optic cable from the courthouse to the Rush County Sheriff’s Department.

n Use two strands of an existing six-strand fiber optic cable from the RCSD to the Rushville Fire Department.

n Install a 24-strand fiber optic cable from the courthouse to RushShelby Energy to provide high speed bandwidth to serve as a feed to the outside world.

n Install a load-sharing server in the courthouse to serve both the city and county.

n Install Cicso equipment in the mayor’s office, the RCSD office, the RFD and the courthouse.