Medina County Fiber Network director David Corrado works out of the Medina County Economic Development Corporation’s office at the county administration building in downtown Medina.
Donna J. Miller, The Plain Dealer
MEDINA, Ohio — The Medina County Fiber Network that carries cost-saving broadband services to businesses, government buildings and school districts is approaching a pivotal year in its development.
“With nationwide carriers bringing their Internet, voice and Internet-transmitted television services to the county, we are concentrating now on doubling the customer base from the current 50,” CEO David Corrado said.
Even though the county-owned network is solvent – its value exceeds the outstanding balance on the bonds issued to create it – its growth and financial success were hindered in its formative years, 2010 through 2013, by two things, Corrado said.
First there were lengthy negotiations to lower the fees Ohio Edison and AT&T wanted to charge the county to run its fiber lines on existing utility poles. Then, the first company the county hired to operate the network, One Community, was offering its own services to customers instead of selling the use of the network to other telecommunications companies that could bring new services into the county.
