WINNEMUCCA - We've come a long way from being satisfied to wait for dial-up Internet connection. And if Internet service was still charged based on the amount of time we spent on the Web, few users would be able to afford to keep up their current usage.
For many of us, fast, safe, and secure Internet connection has become a priority, but it's absolutely essential to efficient operation in many business offices.
That's the case with the offices in Humboldt County's courthouse. Courthouse Internet uses include audio-video conferencing necessary for video arraignment. Many county department heads and officials use the Internet for research and communication with state offices.
County Administrator Bill Deist said he depends on Internet access for much of the information exchange needed for day-to-day county operations.
Deist watched Legislative hearings available on the Internet regarding bills important to Humboldt County during the session. He depends on the Internet for much of the research he passes on to inform the county commissioners on upcoming issues.
Many county offices hook to State of Nevada servers via the Internet to access the software they need to do their jobs. Internet tutorials are used for training throughout county offices.
The county has two dedicated T-1 lines for Internet connection. County information technician JD Ames said the lines are "enterprise-grade."
"If something happens to our Internet connection, we can call and immediately get priority service. In fact, if there is a problem with our Internet service, our provider (AT&T) usually knows about before I do," he said.
However, two T-1 lines do not deliver enough bandwidth for all of the courthouse Internet usage. The ideal solution would be fiber optic cable, which would provide plenty of bandwidth for all Internet uses.
Ames said while fiber optic lines were laid in Winnemucca quite some time ago, the actual tune-in and turn-up of this media has been delayed.
Ames told Humboldt County commissioners recently that his research indicates that both AT&T and Cal-Neva are working on providing fiber optic hook-up, but as yet both companies are still in process and fiber optic service will be until at least the third quarter this year.
Once that happens, fiber optic's larger path into networks will allow Internet service providers to offer much higher volume traffic. The county would consider going with either company, depending on service offered and price, but neither company has indicated they'll be ready to have that conversation until late this year.
In the meantime, Ames recommended to the commissioners that the county add one more T-1 line to provide county offices the bandwidth they need for daily operation until the fiber optic hook-up is possible.
Commissioner Marlene Brissenden questioned if the additional T-1 line was the best use of money, or whether they should wait for fiber optic connection.
Ames said waiting is not an option, specifying, "We need help now."
Another T-1 connection comes at a cost of $345 a month, bringing the price for the county's monthly Internet connection to over $1,200, or nearly $15,000 a year. The commissioners approved the additional T-1 line.
Ames said when the fiber optic connection becomes possible, the change-over will not be difficult, but the installation cost will be significant.
Once the actual costs are known, the commissioners will have to determine whether the county will be able to go forward at that point, or wait for the following year's budget.
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