Rural Internet service changes hands

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March 9, 2010

By SUSAN EVANS The Tribune-Democrat Tue Mar 09, 2010, 10:58 PM EST

EBENSBURG — A Nicktown firm will now service The Cambria Connected Network, an advanced communications system built years ago by the county for more than $9 million.

There will be no financial implications to county taxpayers as the Cambria Connected Network is sold by Ebensburg-based Precision Business Solutions to Nicktown-based In the Stix Broadband.

Transfer of the system, developed and marketed so that broadband Internet access could be available in Cambria County’s most rural areas, was announced Monday.

The move will allow Precision Business Solutions to concentrate on providing information technology to existing clients.

PBS President Brian Shrift called the transaction a “refocus.”

Cambria Connected was established when the federal government issued an unfunded mandate that all 911 emergency systems could no longer use low-band radios. That meant the county would be in violation if something was not done to broaden its information highway.

Cambria installed the service, patterned after another rural broadband Internet system, for $9.1 million.

Called Cambria Connected, it consists of 17 core towers and is expected to grow.

Technical support has been provided by Precision Business Solutions, which also provides other services to private customers including businesses and local government.

“Our biggest concerns were our CamConn.net customers,” Shrift said.

“Many of these customers have been with In the Stix since day one, and we wanted to ensure that whoever purchased CamConn.net would provide the same level of service they have been accustomed to,” he said. “After talking to In the Stix and Cambria Connected, we all felt this was a perfect match.”

In the Stix is owned by Robert Dillon of Nicktown, who started in business with one tower and has been interested in and involved with the Cambria Connected network from the beginning.

He said the network brings him new clients with a new confidence in rural communications.

Shrift said his company will work with In the Stix to ensure a smooth transition.

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