Claypool Approves RTC’s Wireless Internet Proposal
September 16, 2020 at 9:05 p.m.
Claypool Approves RTC’s Wireless Internet Proposal
By Alaister McFarren-
Currently, Claypool’s only internet option is DSL via phone lines. After hearing Wachtmann’s proposal, the council approved RTC’s plan, pending a future meeting to hammer out electrical details.
According to Wachtmann, RTC is based out of Rochester and has been serving technological needs in local communities since 1896.
“For about 100 years, we just did Rochester,” he said. “Then, about five years ago, we went into a growth mode when we saw a need in local small communities: If someone doesn’t work to get internet to rural America, kids are going to move to big cities.”
Wachtmann added that for many employers – especially during the current pandemic – are requiring employees working from home to have high-speed internet to fulfill their job obligations, it is getting increasingly difficult to get families to move to small towns with sub-par internet speeds. Likewise, businesses cannot feasibly move into small towns if they do not have sufficient internet access to do their jobs.
While Claypool currently lies out of the feasible reach of RTC’s fiber optic network, Wachtmann said that RTC’s wireless service is the next best thing and will be more than adequate for the typical household’s internet use.
“As long as you have a clear line of sight to the water tower from within 300 feet of your home or business, you’ll have our best service,” he said. The water tower is where RTC plans to set up the tech they will use to provide internet.
Wachtmann added that if a household does not have a clear line of sight to the water tower, RTC is able to work around that problem, although it will cost extra.
The wireless service will be able to serve a four-to-five-mile radius around the water tower.
“We can get you download speeds of 25 megabytes per second and upload speeds of 3 megabytes per second,” Wachtmann said. “We have a few different plans available, but this is the most used one for about $50 per month.”
He also said that RTC does not require contracts.
“If you’re not happy with our service, we’re not happy with our service,” he said. “We’re not going to lock you in for something you’re not satisfied with.”
Although RTC usually requires around a 40% expected usage rate when they set up fiber optic networks in a community, they do not ask for such commitments when setting up wireless networks.
“For fiber optic, we have to make sure that we’ll get a return on the millions of dollars we invest in installation, but we’re willing to take a chance and hope that we get enough subscribers to make it profitable in these small communities quality wireless internet, since the installation cost is much lower,” Wachtmann stated.
In other council news:
• The new fireworks ordinance prohibiting fireworks except on specific days in July and at New Year’s, will take effect on Sept. 26.
• Penelope Wagley said that training for 3B – an exercise program designed at helping the elderly stay active and healthy – has been put on hold due to COVID-19.
• The council approved a motion to have town employee Danny Warner tear down a dilapidated pavilion so that they could get quotes on a new one.
Currently, Claypool’s only internet option is DSL via phone lines. After hearing Wachtmann’s proposal, the council approved RTC’s plan, pending a future meeting to hammer out electrical details.
According to Wachtmann, RTC is based out of Rochester and has been serving technological needs in local communities since 1896.
“For about 100 years, we just did Rochester,” he said. “Then, about five years ago, we went into a growth mode when we saw a need in local small communities: If someone doesn’t work to get internet to rural America, kids are going to move to big cities.”
Wachtmann added that for many employers – especially during the current pandemic – are requiring employees working from home to have high-speed internet to fulfill their job obligations, it is getting increasingly difficult to get families to move to small towns with sub-par internet speeds. Likewise, businesses cannot feasibly move into small towns if they do not have sufficient internet access to do their jobs.
While Claypool currently lies out of the feasible reach of RTC’s fiber optic network, Wachtmann said that RTC’s wireless service is the next best thing and will be more than adequate for the typical household’s internet use.
“As long as you have a clear line of sight to the water tower from within 300 feet of your home or business, you’ll have our best service,” he said. The water tower is where RTC plans to set up the tech they will use to provide internet.
Wachtmann added that if a household does not have a clear line of sight to the water tower, RTC is able to work around that problem, although it will cost extra.
The wireless service will be able to serve a four-to-five-mile radius around the water tower.
“We can get you download speeds of 25 megabytes per second and upload speeds of 3 megabytes per second,” Wachtmann said. “We have a few different plans available, but this is the most used one for about $50 per month.”
He also said that RTC does not require contracts.
“If you’re not happy with our service, we’re not happy with our service,” he said. “We’re not going to lock you in for something you’re not satisfied with.”
Although RTC usually requires around a 40% expected usage rate when they set up fiber optic networks in a community, they do not ask for such commitments when setting up wireless networks.
“For fiber optic, we have to make sure that we’ll get a return on the millions of dollars we invest in installation, but we’re willing to take a chance and hope that we get enough subscribers to make it profitable in these small communities quality wireless internet, since the installation cost is much lower,” Wachtmann stated.
In other council news:
• The new fireworks ordinance prohibiting fireworks except on specific days in July and at New Year’s, will take effect on Sept. 26.
• Penelope Wagley said that training for 3B – an exercise program designed at helping the elderly stay active and healthy – has been put on hold due to COVID-19.
• The council approved a motion to have town employee Danny Warner tear down a dilapidated pavilion so that they could get quotes on a new one.
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