On December 13, 2010, Columbia County initiated construction on more than 220 miles of fiber-optic network at a groundbreaking ceremony near the Columbia County Library in Evans, Ga. This library will serve as the first Internet access point for the new broadband network and house some of the servers needed to operate the network.

Extending throughout the county, the network will connect and increase Internet access speeds at more than 33 K-12 schools, two additional libraries in Grovetown and Harlem, 18 fire departments, as well as several other law enforcement agencies in Columbia County.

In the coming year, Columbia County plans to begin construction on more than five wireless towers, which will provide dozens of free Wi-Fi hotspots in places like parks, libraries, and community centers. In addition, Columbia County will connect the county’s traffic devices, including stop lights, surveillance equipment, and notification boards, to the statewide Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) using the new broadband network, which will improve public safety and traffic flow along the major transportation corridors.

As of March 2011, Columbia County has used BTOP funds to hire three contractors employing over 40 staff to complete network construction. Eventually, the network will be extended to public computer centers and thousands of households that currently have dial-up Internet connections or no access at all, allowing for continued job growth and economic development. The project also has a page on Facebook and Twitter with the latest news. To see local media coverage of the groundbreaking event, please visit The Augusta Chronicle, The Columbia County News-Times, and WRDW-TV News 12.

Last Updated: October 19, 2011.