October 13, 2005 Charleston, WV -- iTown Communications announced the launch of an independent review of its plan, called "West Virginia First," to deploy an ultra-high capacity broadband network in Wood County, WV. According to a press release, the review and analysis will be conducted over the next several months by a team of consultants including Black & Veatch Corp., the Yankee Group, and Utility Financial Solutions.
"The independent assessment is needed by financial institutions to complete their due diligence process when financing the construction phase of the project," says Keith Montgomery, iTown's CEO. "Our consultant team is internationally recognized. Those involved in financing this project will rely heavily on the team's analysis and opinions."
iTown is working collaboratively with the communities of Wood County, Parkersburg, and Vienna to design, construct, and operate its Local Community Public-use Network (LCPN). The company says its LCPN uses FTTP and complementary wireless technologies to connect homes, businesses, schools, hospitals, and government offices across the county. According to the company, the network also is specifically designed as an open access network for use by multiple providers of Internet, data, voice, and video services, providing a level playing field for service competition.
West Virginia First is a state-wide project also serving Raleigh County, the City of Beckley, and Fayette County, WV. iTown is working with communities across the state to expand the project.