Justin Ward
WDBJ7 Reporter
1:00 p.m. EST, November 8, 2012
DANVILLE, Va.—
Technology gurus have invaded Southern Virginia. They’re using Danville’s fiber optic broadband network as an example for the rest of the country to follow.
If it’s got wires, flashes, can plug into a gadget, and can attract a business chances are the broadband industry folks in Danville this week are interested.
“I look at broadband networks as modern day railroad tracks transferring the goods and services as a modern day railroad does. Those goods and services have now been digitized, and are being transferred throughout the community, throughout the country, throughout the world,” said Jeff Reiman, a broadband specialist.
For three days The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research is the broadband Mecca of America.
All things dealing with Internet speed, connectivity, anything that passes through hundreds of small fiber optic wires are centered in the ‘comeback’ city.
At least that’s what Broadband Communities magazine nicknamed Danville. Click here to watch video.
With no major airport or interstate around Danville, it’s not the most convenient place to host a national conference, but conference leaders say it sets the example for the rest of the country.
“We had published an article about the history of Danville,” said Scott DeGarmo, president of Broadband Communities magazine.
“They realized this could be the key to turning around the city and indeed it has turned out that way.”
Danville’s rags to riches success gives the city a new identity; from tobacco and textile, to fiber.
“We’ve got a long way to go, but we’re proud by the progress we’ve made and the recognition we’re getting,” said Joe King, city manager of Danville.
Danville offers broadband to businesses which in turn has attracted more tecnology centered industries to town.
The city’s hospital uses the service to connect to satellite offices.
Danville’s high tech charm attracted Noblis, a company running one of two supercomputers in the country.
“Danville is a model in terms of the success they’ve been able to accomplish,” Reiman said.
It sounds complicated, but what this can do is making the computing world easy.