Fiber Optics is coming to Dresden All modern communications systems are based on fiber optic cable – hair-thin (or thinner) strands of glass that carry information by transmitting pulses of light, which are usually created by lasers. The pulses are turned on and off very, very quickly. A single fiber can carry multiple streams of information at the same time over different wavelengths, or colors, of light. *Fiber is great for rural areas. Signals travel long distances inside fiber cable without degradation or need for refreshing – 40 miles or more in many real-world networks. * Fiber is easy to deploy. Thin fibers can be packaged in a cable or a narrow ribbon or inside a hollow plastic microduct less than 1/8 inch in diameter. *Fiber is permanent. Once installed, fiber is upgraded by changing the electronics that create and receive the data, not by replacing the cable itself. *Fiber is rugged and weatherproof. Unlike copper, it does not corrode, is not easily affected by water and generates no heat. Lightning doesn’t damage it. It is our intention in the town of Dresden to make this technology available for everyone. We’re a little weak in Dresden. Not for long!
The Dresden, Wiscasset, Woolwich regional group was accepted in the first cohort of the Get Ready grant from the Maine Connectivity Authority (MCA). That will give us some financial resources as we move forward in the process to get affordable high speed internet for Dresden. It will also allow us more resources to help us choose the best Internet Services Provider (ISP) for needs and for our town.
Welcome to the new and improved town website! The intent is to share information through the website that will be relevent and timely for Dresden residents. We welcome your suggestions! Please contact the Committee Chair, Judy Tunkle at 207-656-2410 or at judy@tunkle.com for your topic to be considered.
Hi. My name is Judy Tunkle. I am chair of the Dresden Communication and Technology Committee. And that is an irony all its own. I know practically nothing about tech or broadband. What I do know about is the pathetic aspects of my internet and phone service. Web pages take too long to load. Streaming movies stop and say “loading” right at the best moments. I need to walk to a window in my bedroom to make a phone call. You may have some or all of these issues with you own devices. Our work as a committee is to bring high speed affordable fibre optic internet service to every household in Dresden. We have been meeting for several months. Our work is to establish the need for this service in Dresden by surveying current residents. We are working in collaboration with similar committees in Wiscasset and Woolwich. That collaboration will give us needed leverage as we apply for the many grants that will help make this possible. Right now there are substantial government funds to assist small towns to accomplish this work. We are going after as many grants as we can so that we minimize the financial impact on Dresden residents. This site will be updated as we apply for and receive grants and work with internet service providers (ISP’s). This improvement will help raise the quality of life in Dresden in several ways. Access to telemed appointments through video conferencing On line learning for students working remotely People working from home using the web Better communication with family and friends Dresden will be a much improved community and this project will give us an enhanced sense of pride in this town where we live. Contact me at 207-656-2410 or at judy@tunkle.com