Document text
Ashland caught just short of Net City had hoped to have its own high-speed access in operation Wire and staff reports ASHLAND -- The city's plans to roll out high-speed Internet and data services through the Ashland Fiber Network have run into unexpected delays. City officials had hoped to connect customers to the network last week. But a company the city contracted with to connect the network to the Internet hasn't finished its work as promised, delaying the much-anticipated debut. Workers have finished laying the core fiber-optic network within the city. From there, they will connect individual houses with coaxial cable, something city officials say they are ready to do. But a more crucial piece of the puzzle remains unfinished. To get the high-speed connections they want, the city must build a fiber connection between the Ashland network and the larger Internet backbone network that runs along the West Coast. The node, or connecting point, is in Medford. So the city must run fiber cable from Ashland to the Medford node to complete the connection. That's where the problem is, said Pete Lovrovich, who is overseeing the network's development. Qwest, a Denver-based telecommunications giant, contracted with the city in March to complete the connection. Though the company told city officials it would be finished by June, the connection has yet to be completed. Lovrovich says Qwest contracted with U S West to complete the work, and the phone company has yet to finish it. U S West officials couldn't be reached for comment. Frustrated city officials say they are trying to get a firm time line on the network's completion. They are declining to announce new target dates for the beginning of service to avoid raising the community's hopes. "Right now, we're experiencing delays. Until we get these things nailed down, we won't be giving any more estimates on when service will be rolled out," City Administrator Mike Freeman said. The city has been working for nearly two years to offer its own telecommunications services, including cable TV and high-speed Internet access. Today's Business Index Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA