By Andy Diffenderfer

Correspondent

LaFAYETTE, Ga. -- Walker County officials hope fiber-optic connections at its industrial parks will be a promising step toward luring more businesses and creating a wider range of job opportunities.

The county recently completed equipping its two industrial parks in Rock Spring, Ga., and just north of LaFayette with fiber technology that will allow data processing capacity for whatever demand is required, officials said.

Fiber technology offers advantages such as increased bandwidth and capacity, extremely high speeds and improved signal quality.

"If a business wanted to locate in either of these two sites, the company would simply locate the building and plug into the fiber that exists there today," Walker County Resource Coordinator Larry Brooks said. "With fiber optics, there are no limits as far as file sizes are concerned."

The county is providing the technology as a basic amenity to the sites just as it provides sewer and water connections, Mr. Brooks said.

"This will make it possible for instantaneous communication all over the world," said Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell. "It's piqued a lot of people's interest. I think it will be very beneficial to us, and we look forward to future economic development."

Parker Fibernet, based in Summerville, Ga., has partnered with the county to provide the technology at the industrial parks, which are located off U.S. Highway 27 and comprise about 500 acres available for development.

"The new marketplace requires a new level of connectivity," said Parker Fibernet owner David Parker. "There's just so much more bandwidth and a lot of intrinsic value to the fiber."

Mr. Brooks said more businesses are looking at Walker County as a potential landing spot, and fiber optics could mean more diversified industry and a wider range of jobs for area residents. More college graduates also could be induced to stay in the county instead of looking elsewhere for work, he said.

Because Walker does not have an interstate connection, as in neighboring Catoosa, Whitfield and Dade counties, "we have to look at every advantage we have to bring jobs to our county," Mr. Brooks said. "I think Walker offers a business-friendly environment, and I think fiber optics speaks to that."

Andy Diffenderfer is based in LaFayette. Contact him at andydiff97@comcast.net.