The days of dial-up may soon be over.
TRAIN subscribers in the Houston area could have wireless Internet access within the next month, according to Brenda Bates, director of the Texas County Library. An antenna has been erected on the city’s north tower to transmit the wireless signal and equipment for the system, which has been tested by members of the Texas County Library Board, may be rolled out to consumers within the next 30 days.
Bates said an agreement has been reached with the City of Houston for the wireless equipment. Customers will be required to buy or lease equipment from TRAIN that would sit on their home to receive the signal. Bates said the board is considering two types of receivers and will have a price for the equipment at its next regularly scheduled meeting.
The wireless signal has a 45-mile line-of-sight radius. But hills and valleys throughout the county limit its transmission. Bates said the furthest test signal received was 10 miles from the tower.
Raymondville will also have Internet service soon. Bates said a contract is being negotiated that would allow fiber optics to be run to the village within the next 30-45 days. She said the system should be up and running before the end of June.
Bates said TRAIN hopes to eventually make wireless services available to larger parts of the county.
TRAIN – Texas County Rural Area Information Network – was the county’s first Internet service provider and was formed originally under a grant received by 1997.