November 22, 2013

CenturyLink upgrading ‘Net service in Lyons

LYONS — CenturyLink Inc. is upgrading its broadband network in Lyons – offering download speeds up to three times faster – in the wake of the September flooding that ravaged the town.

CenturyLink’s network was just one aspect of the town’s infrastructure that was damaged in the flood, along with gas and sewer lines and electricity service as rain pummeled the area for more than a week.

CenturyLink expects to complete its construction by the end of February.

“From the moment the flooding began, CenturyLink has been on the front line working shoulder to shoulder with communities to restore and rebuild, and we have seen firsthand the devastation from this historic disaster,´ said Scott Russell, CenturyLink vice president and general manager for Denver and Northern Colorado, in a press release. “When we finally were able to access Lyons, it became clear that the damage was extensive, and it presented an opportunity to rebuild our network and offer upgraded services to the Lyons community.”

CenturyLink previously offered download speeds of up to 12 megabits per second in Lyons. With the reconstruction, available speeds will reach 40 megabits per second, the fastest residential speeds CenturyLink offers in Colorado. The new service comes with a promotional price of $29.99 per month for 12 months depending on what bundles a customer might have or what other promotions are available at the time.

Lyons Chamber of Commerce managing administrator Tamara Vega Haddad said the only other Internet provider for the town is Lyons Communications LLC, noting that the two providers worked well together in the wake of the flooding to get services restored. Lyons Communications offers 20 megabytes-per-second Internet service for $66 per month.

Lyons isn’t the only flood-damaged area along the Front Range where CenturyLink is upgrading. The company placed two miles of advanced fiber-optic cable through rough terrain to provide Jamestown residents with 40-Mbps speeds. Estes Park and Glen Haven also are getting upgrades, along with a stretch of cable along U.S. Highway 34 between Greeley and Kersey that was washed away.

In all, CenturyLink is replacing 37 miles of damaged cable to reconnect flooded communities. The company declined to disclose the cost of the reconstruction and upgrades, although a press release noted that it would reach into the millions of dollars. A company spokesman added that the upgrades, in general, aren’t likely ones that would have come any time soon for the affected areas had it not been for the flood damage.

“This work by CenturyLink demonstrates how communities and businesses are working together to rebuild to improved standards, said Jerre Stead, Colorado’s chief recovery officer. “As a result, Lyons and other communities affected by the flooding are going to be even stronger than before.”

LYONS — CenturyLink Inc. is upgrading its broadband network in Lyons – offering download speeds up to three times faster – in the wake of the September flooding that ravaged the town.

CenturyLink’s network was just one aspect of the town’s infrastructure that was damaged in the flood, along with gas and sewer lines and electricity service as rain pummeled the area for more than a week.

CenturyLink expects to complete its construction by the end of February.

“From the moment the flooding began, CenturyLink has been on the front line working shoulder to shoulder with communities to restore and rebuild, and we…

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