Bloomingdale's Fiber Flash

Cornerstone Group © 2021 RAILROAD TRACKS, HIGHWAYS, AND FIBER NETWORKS HAVE SOMETHING IN COMMON All three of the above infrastructures are considered life-changing projects for the United States. By 1900, much of our nation’s railroad system was in place; it cleared the way for the settlement of the West, provided new economic oppor- tunities, and stimulated the development of communities. In the 1950s and 1960s, the new Interstate Highway System brought business to the towns it went through while towns far from the new faster roads struggled to survive. Today, fiber networks have become as essential to business growth, and everyday life in general, as railroad tracks and highways were in the previous century. The huge impact of fiber is even more amazing when you consider just how tiny fiber is; each strand of glass is only about the size of a human hair. Fiber uses light to transmit data and is unique in its ability to transport virtually unlimited bandwidth over long distances. It’s the only technology that delivers enough bandwidth—reliably and at a low enough cost—to meet the ever-increasing demand for more robust internet, video, and voice services. When fiber networks come to smaller cities and rural communities, it helps level the playing field and close the urban-rural technology gap. Existing businesses can access the internet speeds and reliability needed to expand e-commerce. Economic development organizations have an easier time attracting new businesses. Telemedicine programs can expand patient access to specialists. And educational opportunities for students, once only found in large schools, can now be delivered to rural classrooms via online education. Bloomingdale Communications is investing in a fiber network in your area in order to provide the community with access to the advanced communications services needed for today and tomorrow. FIBER COVERAGE IS GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES According to broadbandnow.com, 25 percent of the United States has access to fiber, and more than 1,100 providers offer fiber service. Those numbers are expected to keep grow- ing since Fiber to the Home (FTTH) is the gold standard of internet connections. Installing a new fiber-optic network is a large capital expenditure for service providers. However, as the cost to maintain aging copper networks increases over time, more and more providers will choose to upgrade to fiber. Making this investment in fiber technology is the best way to meet customer demands for faster and more reliable internet connections. The average residential internet speed in the United States is increasing. It was 12.6 Mbps in 2015, 16.3 Mbps in 2016, and 18.7 Mbps in 2017. 1 These numbers are not surprising since more bandwidth is necessary to satisfy requirements for activities such as online gaming, streaming, cloud-based services, video and VoIP phone systems, and more. To stay updated on the progress of our fiber project in your area, visit WWW. BLOOMINGDALECOM.COM. 1 https://www.statista.com/statistics/616210/ average-internet-connection-speed-in-the-us/