City of Bellevue launches rural wireless service

(Bellevue, IA) - Bellevue’s Josh Scheckel wasn’t going to take no for an answer.
The longtime businessman, who frequently buys and sells large earth-moving equipment during live online auctions across the world, needed reliable high-speed internet for his business.

He kept asking if he could be connected to the Bellevue Broadband Internet system, but since his business was outside the city limits, it was cost prohibitive to run and bury a fiber optic line several miles west of town.

But city leaders decided that the demand was there and contacted their digital consultant Mike Palm, who together with local utility workers, did some testing at J.J. Scheckel Heavy Equipment and found a viable solution.

This was the catalyst new Bellevue Wireless Broadband Internet service, now available to customers in the rural areas of eastern Jackson County.

With an investment of time and special equipment, Bellevue utility workers under the direction of Bob Ploessl climbed the big bluff by the water tower to install a new wireless antenna over 100 feet above the city.

Then after a bit of connecting, testing and adjusting, Scheckel was up and running with speeds he had never before experienced.

“Obtaining this fast, reliable and affordable internet service was absolutely crucial for our business,” said Scheckel. “Bellevue has delivered and satisfied our needs completely.” (full article...)

BY DAVID NAMANNY, Bellevue Herald-Leader, November 19, 2015.