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Completion of the liNKCity fiber-optic broadband network represents the realization of the Mayor and City Council’s progressive vision for North Kansas City. The $10 million fiber-optic network, called liNKCity, is the first municipally owned and operated FTTS (Fiber-to-the-subscriber) network in the state of Missouri and one of only a few nationwide. Prior to beginning the project, the City already had two fiber-rings in place that connected City facilities. These rings provided the foundation for an extended fiber-optic network which was needed to provide the state-of-the-art technology to the residents and businesses of North Kansas City. Construction on the backbone of the extended fiber-optic network began November, 2005 and was completed May 2006. This was followed by the process of installing drops to all residential and business customers who had signed up during the pre-construction promotional phase. Delays in construction extended the customer drop build-out period. However, the network began operating and providing internet services in late August 2006 as crews continued installation of customer drops.Unlike traditional DSL or cable modem services, the fiber-optic technology utilized throughout the network consists of pulses of light traveling down hair thin strands of glass fiber which are capable of carrying packets of data, voice, or video information over long distances which can be transformed at the other end into Internet, telephone or television. These pulses of light are indeed “lighting the way” for significant economic development, rich educational and employment opportunities, advanced health care, and many other benefits in North Kansas City which contribute to a high quality of life and an outstanding environment for commercial activity. The high capacity bandwidth provided by the fiber-optic network is capable of transmitting large amounts of data at super fast speeds providing North Kansas City businesses access to cutting-edge technology applications which are critical if they are to compete in today’s global marketplace. And, best of all, it’s affordable.
Much as the Mayor and Council envisioned at the beginning of the project, the network is stimulating transformation in the commercial district. A prime example of this is the recently renovated Cable Building (the former Whitaker Cable Building). Mike Carney and Todd Burnidge, representatives of BBC Ventures, LLC, the company that owns the property, were quick to recognize the opportunity the network presented for them to attract a different type of tenant for a better use of the space. As they became more familiar with the network and the technology, they converted the property into small spaces that have been very successful in attracting high tech tenants.
The city paid for the fiber-optic network with gaming revenues from Harrah’s North Kansas City Casino & Hotel. |
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