LV Ranch Estates Get Fiber Optic Phone And High-Speed Internet Service
Midvale Telephone Exchange recently won approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission to begin providing telephone and high-speed Internet access to Williamson Valley and LV Ranch Estates through a state-of-the-art fiber-optic network.
Prescott, AZ (PRWEB) - Residents of LV Ranch Estates in Williamson Valley, just north of Prescott, Arizona, are celebrating their good fortune as they look forward to a significant upgrade to their current Internet and telephone connections. As of February 2009, the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) approved a proposal from Midvale Telephone Exchange (MTE) to provide fiber-optic telephone service and broadband Internet access to homes in the LV Ranch Estates community and North Williamson Valley areas. MTE has already installed more than half of the planned ten miles of underground fiber-cable.
MTE, which operates five similar exchanges in Arizona, applied for permission to service the area in September of 2008. The plan positioned MTE as a utility provider, subject to regulation by both the ACC and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). This type of structure guarantees local residents receive reliable and reasonably priced coverage. MTE then upped the ante by choosing to install fiber-optic cable instead of traditional copper wire, thereby delivering superior speed and reduced fire risk--both important considerations in rural communities.
Access to adequate telephone and Internet coverage can be a frustrating trade-off for rural homeowners. It's a struggle residents outside of Prescott, Arizona have been dealing with for years and has made life awkward at times for vacationers and homeowners alike. Even though the Prescott AZ property developer of LV Ranch Estates, True West Companies, provided a community-wide wireless Internet and telephone service, a fiber-optic network offers owners an attractive and more reliable alternative.
While all area residents will receive coverage under the new plan, those looking to build in the area will see the most seamless integration. Dennis Farrington, MTE Southwest Operations Manager, points out that, "It's easiest and least expensive to provide service during the construction phase when ditches are open," adding, "Current homes will simply have to dig a new conduit trench as the cable is drawn to the house."
With seventeen 36 to 52-acre ranch estates still available in the sprawling 4,900-acre development, integration will be almost effortless during the construction phase. The new service also provides an ideal solution for the developer, Peter Gooding Sr., who describes LV Ranch Estates as offering an "authentic rural experience without having to sacrifice any modern conveniences."
"Telephone and Internet service is one of the top concerns of prospective LV Ranch Estates buyers," said Gooding. "We provide water via a well on each parcel and underground electric service, so reliable communication was really the last piece of the puzzle. Now, thanks to MTE's fiber optic network, owners can enjoy one of the most convenient features of urban living in an unspoiled rural setting of stunning natural beauty."
Flexibility is another benefit of the plan. Residents can now choose between traditional phone services or voice-over-internet-protocol (VOIP) services, such as Vonage or other popular services.
VOIP is a huge aid to those with more than one home, because it allows them to use the same phone number at multiple locations. Rather than being tied-into a phone line, users access their line by logging into their VOIP provider via the Internet and attaching a compatible phone to their computer. It's a great way to simplify communication issues between homes, and offers better call quality and reliability than cell phones in rural areas.
Gooding echoed a similar sentiment, admitting that he likes "The prospect of working from a place like LV Ranch Estates without anyone knowing I'm away from the office." He continues, adding that the view of the street from his Scottsdale office "doesn't quite compare to the 80 miles of views of the Williamson Valley."
Currently, MTE's broadband operates at a respectable speed of 1 megabyte per second (Mb/sec), with plans to increase it to 5mb/s by the end of 2009. When the upgrade is complete, users will experience download speeds similar to, if not faster than, what they currently see in cities and suburban areas. And, the installation of more than 10 miles of fiber optic cable allows for almost limitless expansion of the network speed without reinstallation. Farrington explained that MTE "designed the network under the assumption that it will likely support transfer rates of as much as 50mb/s in the not-too-distant future," because, as he says, "We see broadband becoming the lifeline for rural communities like LV Ranch Estates in the next five to ten years."
Midvale Telephone Exchange, Inc. (MTE) is an Idaho-based Local Exchange Carrier that operates in four states and serves more than 3,000 customers. The company has gained a reputation for taking telephone and Internet service to locations not previously covered by telephone or Internet service. LV Ranch Estates is the fifth Arizona development MTE will serve.
Las Vegas Ranch Estates is a Prescott, Arizona real estate development of True West Companies. To learn more about LV Ranch Estates, visit www.lvranchestates.com.
True West is a Scottsdale, Arizona-based company respected for its high-quality, rural residential projects throughout Arizona, including projects in Coconino, Yavapai and Maricopa Counties. For more information about True West Companies, please visit truewest.com.
SOURCE: PRWeb
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