ITC Begins Fiber-Optic Installation in Brookings County

Interstate Telecommunications Cooperative (ITC) is currently replacing the copper electrical lines with optical cable in the north and east of Brookings. The $5 million fiber-optic installation also extends to the towns of Bushnell and Aurora.

ITC is a local internet, cable and telephone cooperative headquartered in Clear Lake with a service office in Brookings. The company provides communication services to 15,000 consumers in Minnesota and South Dakota.

The General Manager of ITC, Jerry Heiberger stated that the conversion to fiber-optic cables is essential due to the deterioration of old copper cables. He added that the fiber-optic lines need less maintenance and also provide more data, voice and video services including enhanced high-speed internet and 200-channel TV. The fiber-optic cable offers higher bandwidth for rapid data transmission and provides better video and audio reception on systems including televisions, headphones and speakers, he said.