Additional fiber optic lines to speed communications

In fall 1998, students can use new technology to reach out and touch someone courtesy of a new fiber optic line between State College and Altoona.

Hyperion Telecommunications Inc. and Allegheny Energy Inc. announced plans to construct the line Friday at a news conference, but they will not be the first companies to travel this path.

Bud Manion, general manager of Bell Atlantic for the central Pennsylvania area, said the news conference was misleading because he said the announcement implied no fiber optic line exists between State College and Altoona.

"We think it's a great idea to place fiber (optic cable) between State College and Altoona. We did that in 1986," Manion said. "We certainly want competition but they're not the first to place fiber between here and Altoona. They're the third."

Fiber-optic wire is capable of carrying high amounts of information, including high-quality audio and video, compared to traditional data carriers such as copper wire.

However, Gary Augustson, executive director of computer and information systems at the University, said if fiber lines with these capabilities are already in place, then it is a surprise to him.

"There is already fiber over the mountain, but it is not available to meet the University needs," he said. "My understanding is that Bell Atlantic is not sufficient to meet our expanding needs."

- Gary Augustson, executive director of computer and information systems at the University

The ultimate goal is to get on a circuit that can transmit billions of bits per second, he added.

"In today's regulatory environment, there are only certain companies that can provide that," he said. "That (Bell Atlantic can provide that) is a surprise to me."

Even if Bell Atlantic has the capabilities, regulations that currently do not allow the company to be a long-distance carrier constrict how far they can transmit.

The University needs a service that will connect them to the national backbone in Pittsburgh -- which is out of Manion's company's area. But Bell Atlantic's fiber lines could connect to other long-distance carriers in Altoona, Manion said.

Fear of competition is not a concern at all for Manion, he said, because increased access allows for increased technology. The University, which does not have a contract with Hyperion or Allegheny, also welcomes the competition, said Bill Mahon, director of the department of public information.

"There are also the benefits that because there will be competition, prices will go down," he said.