TC3 gains loan guarantee for fiber optic network

The network will allow the company to deliver its services over fiber optic cables that will go all the way into individual homes and businesses, Mattausch said.

Most of the company’s services today are provided over copper lines.

Construction of the new network, which will involve both overhead and underground cable, will probably start late this year, Mattausch said. The goal is to have the project completed 12 months after construction begins, he said.

The new network will allow the company to provide 100 megabit per second service and faster, up from the 5 to 20 megabit per second service available over copper lines, Mattausch said.

“It really opens the lid on the quantity of service we can deliver to customers,” Mattausch said.

Besides the telephone and Internet services it provides today, TC3 will be able to deliver cable television, home security and other services, Mattausch said.

TC3 cable television service is probably five years away,  Mattausch said.

At present Comcast and D&P Communications of Petersburg, which the Adrian City Commission granted a cable television franchise in March 2011, offer cable television service in Adrian. D&P has 100 to 200 customers now but is building its main line and expects to have more customers soon, D&P president Dave LaRocca said.

TC3 is a partner with Merit Network Inc. of Ann Arbor in building a high-speed Internet connection to underserved areas in the state. That project is under construction in Adrian but not complete, Mattausch said.

TC3’s new fiber optic network would “probably not” be happening if the Merit project was not taking place, Mattausch said.

The new TC3 project will include downtown Adrian and a “significant” portion of Adrian, Mattausch said.

The Small Business Administration loan guarantee is important because local banks tend to be cautious of loans for technology projects, Mattausch said.