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Balfour Beatty Communities 

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2018
Jul. 30, 2018

Balfour Beatty Communities secures broadband fiber optic network for Vandenberg AFB families

Balfour Beatty Communities secures broadband fiber optic network for Vandenberg AFB families

Balfour Beatty Communities announced today that a new broadband fiber optic network at Vandenberg AFB is fully operational and providing reliable, high speed internet service to its residents at Vandenberg Family Homes. Vandenberg Family Homes are part of an on-base privatized family housing project managed by Balfour Beatty Communities and serving active duty Air Force families at Vandenberg AFB near rural Lompoc, California.

“Helping residents find and maintain a high quality of life in our communities is our top priority, particularly our military families who sacrifice so much for our country,” said Ty McPhillips, Balfour Beatty Communities (BBC) Regional Project Director for the company’s Air Force portfolio. “The lack of high speed internet service is an issue throughout Lompoc and the surrounding rural areas, creating a frustrating experience for those living here.  Although it was outside our scope of work, when we identified that the lack of high speed internet capability was adversely impacting our Service Members’ quality of life at Vandenberg Family Homes, we set out to see if we could facilitate improvements in this area.”

In late 2016, BBC reached out to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), part of the U.S. Department of Commerce, to gain broadband fiber optic understanding in this rural area.  The discussion inspired a partnering between BBC and Inyo Networks, a California-based fiber optic network developer and service provider.  

BBC worked with both Inyo and Vandenberg AFB Command, to design and build a broadband fiber optic network that provides voice, video and 1-gigabit internet access for subscribing residents.  “One of the issues was finding the right provider who could not only develop the right plan, but also guide it through the complex approval process needed to make it a reality. We found that partner with Inyo,” McPhillips noted. 

“The Vandenberg Air Force Base Housing Project internet infrastructure initiative is a real win for our housing community,” said Colonel Michael Hough, 30th Space Wing Commander. “I appreciate the VAFB Privatized Housing Project, Balfour Beatty Communities and Inyo Networks working together to solve our lack of high speed internet which was a major quality of life issue for VAFB housing residents.”

“For many years military families noted limited internet as a main concern with residing on base. Through partnership, out of the box thinking and persistence, additional capabilities are now a reality thanks to the Vandenberg Family Housing project” said Gretchen Swinehart of the VAFB Housing Management Office.

“Inyo Networks is honored to be the broadband service provider for our military families at Vandenberg,” said Michael Ort, Inyo Networks CEO, adding “This state-of-the-art network will deliver exceptional performance well into the future.”

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