Recent Fiber Optic Network Announcement
Positions Hampton as a Key Digital Player

February 22, 2008

The recent announcement that Cox Communications plans to upgrade its fiber optic network here means much more than just better cable television. According to City Councilman Charles N. Sapp, Hampton is positioned to become one of the region's leading communities for digital telecommunications infrastructure and competitive choices.

"Cox's willingness to invest in Hampton is further confirmation that we are going in the right direction with our schools, our housing, and our businesses," said Sapp. "Cox's decision was a business decision, the investment is being made with their own money."

Both Cox and Verizon are in the process of major upgrades to the digital infrastructure in Hampton which supports telephone services, Internet access, and video cable television. Many believe that fiber is essential infrastructure in the 21st century and paves the way to global competitiveness and a higher quality of life, making it as important as the streets and roads or the electric utilities were a hundred years ago.

With the changes the Internet has already made on society, experts predict that new advances will be even more profound.

"Our children will be enjoying lessons with next-generation graphics and sound applications, collaborating on projects with their classmates from home," Sapp said. "It will be a different world."

Cox announced the upgrade of Hampton's network this week. Verizon began upgrading their Hampton network with fiber back in December.

The demand for digital infrastructure also plays into Hampton's business strategy. As part of its economic development plan, the city has a unique mix of growing and established business clusters that depend heavily on digital communications. Hampton is host to the NASA Langley Research Center, the National Institute of Aerospace, and Langley Air Force Base and the Air Combat Command. Hampton also hosts the Global Cyber Integration Center, an arm of the soon-to-be-established Air Force Cyber Command, which already depends heavily on electronic communications.

The city has over 60 companies working in the modeling and simulation industry. More than 20 companies are focused on the communications and communications equipment industry, employing 1,400 people. Over 4,400 workers are involved in homeland security, and another 3,000 in aerospace.

Only two years ago, the city stood to be at the bottom of the digital infrastructure food chain, with a dated communications infrastructure built by Time-Warner in the 70's and later purchased and upgraded by Cox Communications. Hampton was also one of the last in line to get Verizon's fiber upgrade that stretched from Newport News to Virginia Beach.

Recognizing the importance of the digital infrastructure, the city began studying what it would take to build more fiber optic infrastructure and met with the upper management of Cox and Verizon. The city made efforts to point out not only the need for fiber infrastructure, but the market that existed in both the residential and commercial sectors of Hampton, and the burgeoning high-tech markets that depend on digital infrastructure.

Now the city stands to be at the forefront with both companies building simultaneously in Hampton, and with both currently negotiating new franchise agreements.

Additionally, the city has partnered with the telecommunications incumbents to ensure rapid development of high-quality and robust networks. The city has worked to build streamlined permitting processes and establish processes to assure that the new digital networks position the city as a key digital player in the region.

Besides the increase in digital capacity which will improve cable television service, Internet access speeds and telephone services, the city is also working to increase usage of public, education and government television, including online video services for Council meetings and other items of interest to the public. The digital upgrades will also prove to be a significant advantage to residents by providing a competitive choice between providers.