CentraCom brings high-speed Internet to Ephraim
By John Hales
1-9-08

EPHRAIM—A recent upgrade of CentraCom’s cable system in Ephraim has allowed the Fairview communications company to offer more and better service to its Ephraim customers.
The upgrade, made during the summer and early fall, allowed CentraCom’s cable-television service to offer more channels, but more importantly, say company officials, made the system capable of delivering high-speed Internet.
The upgrade and additional service completes a goal the company has had for some time.
“This is an exciting development for the City of Ephraim,” said president and general manager of CentraCom, Eddie Cox. “We’ve had the goal of bringing high-speed Internet to Ephraim ever since we purchased the system from Precis.”
That was about three years ago.
The Internet service, which was made available to Ephraim customers beginning in October, provides a standard Internet speed of 5MB. That’s about 20 times faster than average DSL in the area, which is 256KB.
CentraCom’s Internet department manager, Brad Welch, said the service offers what every Internet customer wants—more speed at an affordable price.
The service comes into homes or businesses via a coax cable, just like the cables that carry cable television.
And speaking of cable television, the upgrade boosted CentraCom’s cable-television service, too.
Before the upgrade, the company’s “expanded basic” service went up to channel 49. Now, it goes to channel 72. With digital programming channels, the system now offers over 170 channels, in addition to the high-speed cable Internet.
Even though the upgrade in equipment and service achieves an objective, it is only the beginning, says Branch Cox, the company’s CEO.
Cox said CentraCom is planning to carry out similar upgrades in all the major communities it serves over the next few months.
“The focus now is getting our remaining cable-only markets upgraded to receive the best of both our cable modem Internet and cable television product offerings,” Cox said.