Chanute commissioners viewed equipment Monday evening that will connect a fiber optic network to home customers.
Rick Willis brought the equipment to Monday evening’s commission meeting for discussion about how the city could expand fiber optic service to homes in the community.
A fiber optic connection would link to a box on the outside of a house containing an Optical Network Terminal. Willis said the ONT would be like an electric meter, and would plug into a wireless router or switch inside the house, which would then link to a television, video game or other equipment.
The city would be responsible for service up to the ONT and would fix any problems going to it, and the homeowner would be responsible for any problems from the ONT into the house. The ONT itself would cost about $300.
Willis said maintenance may be by the city’s Information Technology Department or a separate fiber service department.
Two Chanute neighborhoods have requested connection to fiber optic service, and city officials are looking at expansion.
Commissioner Randy Galemore said the cost would be astronomical for a total build out. Officials are looking at a fee of $100 a month, and commissioners discussed how to go about building the connections to home customers.
(Read more: The Chanute Tribune)