12/12/11 A group of local technology companies have joined resources to construct an integrated high speed fiber and wireless solution servicing the Culver Academies and on to connect Culver Indiana.

With its unique vendor neutral broadband cooperative at the core, The Midwest Network Cooperative’s contributing members established connectivity with a licensed wireless loop system that will initially deliver multiple hundreds of Mbs of connectivity to the Culver Academies and eventually to the Culver community.

In an effort to allow others to join the network the Marshall County Economic Development Corporation is hosting a Broadband and Bagels Informational Series on Wednesday, December 14th at the conference room in the LifePlex.  The hour long session begins at 8 a.m.  The agenda includes an introduction of new services now offered through the Midwest Network Cooperative to connect Marshall County businesses with high-speed, low-cost, dependable wireless broadband. 

Anyone interested in attending the informational series should RSVP to pam@marshallcountyedc.org

Bryan Baker, managing member of The MNC (a local dba of the region’s top IT firms), states “It is this kind of innovative thought, hard work, and Midwest values that continues to set our region apart from the rest of the country.” “Only through the great efforts of the many people involved here, are we all fortunate to achieve such significant value platforms that benefit those companies reliant on high speed connectivity.”

“Internet Access is an everyday part of Academics and Business at the Academies,” states Larry Emmons, Director of Information Technology at Culver Academies. “For several years I have been tuned into the activity surrounding dark fiber in Marshall County, but needed additional bandwidth today. A key component of the Academies Curriculum is Leadership, so taking the lead in extending the Midwest Network Cooperative’s offering to the Academies and surrounding community was an easy decision when key members of the IT Department suggested we investigate wireless as an alternative. Having the additional bandwidth and an alternative last mile is proving to be worth the investment.”

“It is really a new horizon for us at Maplenet Wireless” injects Gene Cruise, President of Maplenet Wireless whom made the wireless radios available to MNC members for shared use. “We are very excited about the synergies between the existing fiber infrastructure and our ability to deliver the last mile connectivity using licensed microwave radio technologies to customer just down the road or dozens of miles across the state.”

Other supporting partners in this application are Com-Control Inc. South Bend Indiana, Network Solutions Inc. Granger Indiana, Martell Electric, South Bend Indiana, Elkhart.net, Elkhart Indiana and Charlie Hayes Corp, South Bend Indiana.

Additional information on this application and its ribbon cutting event on Sept 20 as well as other connected communities through the work of the Midwest Network Cooperative can be found at www.midwestnetworkcooperative.net