On December 13, 2010, Columbia County initiated construction on 205 miles of fiber-optic network at a groundbreaking ceremony near the Columbia County Library in Evans, Ga. This library was the first Internet access point for the new broadband network and houses network servers.

Upon completion, Columbia County had connected nearly 100 community anchor institutions to its 205-mile, county-wide fiber middle mile network. The county improved access to healthcare, public safety, and government facilities, and provided dozens of free Wi-Fi hotspots to community locations, including parks, libraries, and community centers. The county constructed seven wireless towers (five are BTOP-funded) to improve wireless communications capabilities throughout the region.

One of the primary goals of the network was to enhance public safety communications in the county. Using the new towers, the county connected more than 30 public safety entities and also connected traffic devices, including stop lights, surveillance equipment, and notification boards, to the statewide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) to improve public safety and traffic flow along the major transportation corridors. The first entity to benefit from the high-speed access was the Sheriff’s Office. “This is 10 years in the making. This is huge…No matter where they are, with this portable radio, they’ve got coverage…It’s like going from a tin can and string to a real radio,” Sheriff Clay Whittle said.