By RYAN CHRISTNER

rchristner@dailynews.net

A long-envisioned plan by Eagle Communications to modernize services for communities throughout north-central Kansas is progressing toward the finishing line, the company reported.

The project, which broke ground in April, will connect Milford, Riley, Wakefield and Solomon to Junction City, Clay Center, Abilene and Chapman with more than 100 miles of fiber optic cable.

"It's a lot of work," said Dennis Weese, director of business development for Hays-based Eagle.

Weese said the company began development of the plan to modernize the area about three years ago and is working to finish the first phase of the project.

"Phase one of this fiber project is the foundation of the modernization plan that will make faster Internet speeds, digital cable television, digital telephone and HD programming available in many communities along the new fiber route," Weese said in an Eagle press release.

Barring any unforeseen setbacks, Weese said workers should be on pace to lay the last bit of fiber in Clay Center and connect the network together by the end of February, with the hope testing can begin in early March.

The process has taken longer than it usually might due to a recent company decision to buy its own equipment and use only company workers, rather than hire a contractor.

"We wanted Eagle people to serve Eagle customers," Weese said. "It takes a little longer ... but we're satisfied with that approach."

Weese said this will be the first telecommunications fiber network in the area, although the company hopes to expand to other regions, eventually to the point that the entire state is tied together.

Rex Skiles, Eagle's broadband division general manager, said a fiber network first tied Hays and Ellis together in approximately 1996, with further expansion to WaKeeney and Russell in 2003.

"We've been working on projects in this area for 10 to 15 years," Skiles said.