On Tuesday, May 4th the Rural Nebraska Healthcare Network (RNHN), a consortium of 9 rural hospitals and related clinics in western Nebraska, announced a pending transaction with Zayo Group, LLC and Adesta, LLC that will facilitate the deployment of a new $20M fiber-optic medical network.
Utilizing federal funding under the Rural Healthcare Pilot Program of the Federal Communications Commission, in conjunction with funding provided by Zayo Group, the RNHN will connect 9 primary care hospitals and dozens of affiliated clinics creating one of the most advanced and robust medical technology networks in Nebraska. “This fiber network will facilitate the deployment of advanced medical technologies and vastly improve patient care and physician communication,” said Lisa Bewley, Chief Information Officer for Regional West Medical Center.
The RNHN will be partnering with Zayo Group, a Colorado based provider of Bandwidth Infrastructure and Network Neutral Colocation Services, in the construction of the network that will enable additional commercial telecommunications projects to be offered in under-served rural Nebraska.
The proposed 750- mile fiber network spans twelve counties in western Nebraska, and will connect to national research networks such as National Lambda Rail and Internet 2 in Denver, Colorado. Adesta, LLC, a local Nebraska company, hopes to break ground on network construction this summer. “This is a fantastic project,” said Bob Sommerfeld, President of Adesta, “and is a vital step forward for rural Nebraska. Adesta is honored to be selected to design and build the advanced fiber-optic based network infrastructure so badly needed in our home state of Nebraska.”
Almost 2 years in the planning, the RNHN has utilized Fiberutilities Group, LLC; an Iowa based technology and management firm, to handle the planning and financing, operational and government coordination functions necessary to make the project a reality. “This network represents the power of people working together,” said Kent Van Metre, Vice President with Fiberutilities Group. “With tremendous support from the FCC, and by partnering with community-oriented organizations like Zayo and Adesta, the RNHN is poised to have a truly state-of-the-art, advanced healthcare network.”
The final stages of federal approvals through the Universal Services Administration Corporation are expected yet this spring with construction commencing shortly thereafter. The network has a planned completion date of fall, 2011.
