Broadband Service in Southeastern Chatham County off HWY 902

Date: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 16:12:37 -0500
From: Marian Norton
Subject: Broadband Service in Southeastern Chatham-HWY 902

I’ve responded to Nancy who was looking for information on broadband service on Hwy 902, but if anyone else needs information–here is what I know.

Satellite and mobile connections are just not real solutions for broadband.

After years of crying for broadband service in our area, we do have a provider who is willing to bring fiber to the home service along Hwy 902 from Harper’s Crossroads to the Rocky River, and outlying roads. In a meeting with residents on September 25, 2014 Randolph Telephone Cooperative gave detailed information on their plans and gave residents a packet of information. What is needed is for homes along this corridor to make a commitment to take service. Randolph Telephone will extend service if they can get an average of one connection per thousand feet.

This also goes for anyone living on NC 42 from the Siler City Glendon Rd. east to SR 2336 ( Indian Creek Estate) and along SR 2336 to the Goldston Carbonton Rd.

You may contact Randolph Telephone representatives Stephanie Gee at 336 879-7964, OR Anita Wright at 336 879-7994, for complete information. Even if you have high speed internet with DSL on NC 42 from the Siler City Glendon Rd. to the Bonlee Carbonton Rd. or Hwy 902, you will get faster and better service with the fiber optics connected directly to the house rather than fiber optics along the highway and copper running to the house. T.V. service will also available as an option if one wants to get rid of an unsightly satellite dish in the yard.

After years of offering us no connection, CenturyLink announced through the Chatham/News Record on October 9, 2014 (and just 2 weeks after the Randolph Telephone meeting) that they would expand “high speed Internet service” in the Bonlee and SR 2306 area using Connect America Phase I funds and some investment of their own. I have not been able to confirm that any new service is available or what type it will be. A neighbor tried to sign up on-line, only to get a call from CenturyLink cancelling the installation, saying they did not know when it would be available.

It now appears that residents in this area have the choice of supporting Randolph Telephone’s effort to bring fiber to Chatham County or connecting with CenturyLink when this announced expansion is completed.

We will soon be 15 years into the 21st Century. I’m going to encourage the fiber to the home expansion!

Marian Norton, Hwy 902