The Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), together with project consultants and partner organizations, will host a one-hour program designed for IT professionals and those charged with IT related duties. The discussion will include broadband availability and capacity, the South Shore Fiber Link (dark fiber connection), and utilizing the Fiber Link for cost savings and phenomenal speed.

Registration is open and there is no cost to attend. Email bbaker@com-controlinc.com to register for one of the following sessions:

November 9

8:00-9:00am (CST) Porter County—Entech Innovation Center (880 Eastport Centre Drive, Valparaiso)

3:00-4:00pm (CST) LaPorte County—Michigan City School Administration Building (408 S. Carroll Ave, Michigan City) Includes preview of Michigan City fiber network

November 12

8:00-9am (EST) St. Joseph County—South Bend Airport (4477 Progress Drive, South Bend) Includes preview of cross connect facility

November 16

8:30-9:30am (CST) Lake County—Purdue Technology Center (9800 Connecticut Drive, Merrillville)

3:00-4:00pm (CST) Lake County—Hammond Innovation Center (5209 Hohman Ave, Hammond)

The South Shore Fiber Link stretches 75 miles of dark fiber from the South Bend Airport to the NICTD Kensington station (Illinois) along the South Shore Commuter Rail Line with a spur to Elkhart through an arrangement with Norfolk Southern Rail Road.

South Shore Fiber Link is the business of leasing carrier grade, vendor neutral, dark fiber “circuits” to community and corporate consumers.

The aerial and terrestrial (buried) lines allow for redundancy and looping capabilities.

This infrastructure provides the region with a fiber optic corridor and a competitive edge; it is a strong foundation for economic development.

Vince Galbiati, President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum said, “Fiber Link’s advantages and provider-neutrality coupled with communities’ ability to exempt personal property tax on IT equipment, positions the region as an ideal location for tech-based businesses.”

“Communities and companies now have choices,” says Brian Baker, Principal of ComControl. “This Fiber Link delivers options to companies and communities that will significantly reduce costs and drastically grow capacity.”