When Oregon Governor Kate Brown signed Executive Order 18-31 in December of 2018, establishing the Oregon Broadband Office, she was hoping for a day like this. The rural city of Maupin recently completed a broadband project connecting the community with the help of Q-Life, Gorge.Net and LS Networks, partnering on a one-gigabit broadband network.
“The new high-speed fiber network in Maupin is proof that no town is too small or too remote to make sure their community is connected,” said Governor Kate Brown in a state press release.
“This is a total game-changer for Maupin,” says Maupin Mayor, Lynn Ewing. “Our new high-speed broadband network significantly improves the professional and learning opportunities for residents while luring visitors to stay longer and even consider moving here.”
Before Maupin set out to build its own fiber optic network, the town had some of the state’s slowest upload and download speeds, putting businesses, job seekers and kids at a disadvantage. The city partnered with QLife Network, an inter-governmental agency that’s helping facilitate reliable, cost-effective, open-access link to fiber optic, and Portland-based LS Networks to design and install the network.
Maupin received financial assistance from the Oregon state legislature, as a result of legislation introduced by former State Representative John Huffman of The Dalles, the Oregon Regional Solutions office, and QLife Network.
Initial funding for the network was secured in 2015, and design, facilitated by QLife Network, began in 2016. Full build-out was completed in early 2019. Local service providers, Gorge.Net and LS Networks, worked through the winter to complete connections to individual buildings. Comments? Email Us.
March 22, 2019
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