| 6/9/08 - Ashburn-based DigitalBridge Communications (DBC) announced that it will expand coverage of its high-speed wireless Internet services to areas surrounding Appomattox. DBC launched service late in 2007 in Appomattox as part of its national expansion to small and medium-sized communities. DBC's current WiMAX network extends service to over 1,000 businesses and residential households in the Appomattox area.
DBC was selected by the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative (MBC) and the Virginia Tobacco Commission (VTC) to be part of a pilot program to deliver broadband access to Southside Virginia. The DBC facility is housed at the MBC Node at the Appomattox Center for Business and Commerce that provides the DBC network with state-of-the-art backhaul using MBC's advanced optical transport services.
"DBC is honored to have been chosen by the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative and the Virginia Tobacco Commission to offer Appomattox a broadband on-ramp to the global economy through its high-speed WiMAX technology," said Kelley Dunne, CEO of DBC.
"DBC has been instrumental in increasing broadband coverage in Southside Virginia and is a key player in our pilot program to enable broadband access in rural markets," commented MBC General Manager, Tad Deriso. "The delivery of advanced high-speed Internet service with the support of private telecom companies like DBC is critical to the growth and prosperity of the region."
DBC began selling BridgeMAXX Internet service to homes and businesses in Appomattox in January 2008 and exceeded a 20% level of penetration within the first three months. Given the strong demand, DBC plans to invest more capital and extend service to a broader area.
John Spencer, Appomattox Assistant County Administrator, stated: "Appomattox County is pleased to see the aggressive uptake of wireless Internet services by the community and is delighted that DigitalBridge Communications is making a larger investment in the region."
DBC was the first provider to launch a fixed and portable WiMAX service for consumers in the US. Selling under the name BridgeMAXX, service plans are for consumers and businesses starting at $24.99 per month and $49.99 per month respectively. Currently BridgeMAXX service is available in regions covering over 2.5 million people throughout Virginia, Indiana, Idaho, Montana, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
The BridgeMAXX service is plug-and-surf technology that allows customers to set up and begin using a WiMAX high speed Internet connection in a matter of minutes. For most residents, service can be accessed using a small portable modem that connects to the computer. The wireless high-speed Internet service employs licensed radio frequencies to provide service instead of traditional coaxial cable, telephone wires or satellite dishes. WiMAX is a secure, high-speed, long-range wireless Internet technology.
BridgeMAXX service features extremely easy set-up, value and portability, and offers residential plans delivering download speeds up to 2 Mbps and upload speeds up to 500Kbps which is significantly faster than dial-up or satellite. Subscribers can get online anywhere in the BridgeMAXX service area in Appomattox by just taking their modem with them. Enhanced service plans for business use are available as well.
Customers can sign up for BridgeMAXX online or over the phone. Also, because BridgeMAXX is so simple to use, a customer can try it and take it home the same day by visiting Next Generation in Appomattox at 175 Old Courthouse Road in the Triangle Plaza Shopping Center.
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Keywords: private telecom companies, assistant county administrator, wireless internet services, southside virginia, residential households, speed internet service service, virginia tobacco, tobacco commission, pilot program, global economy, Wireless Access Points | 
