Donobi ends TV service

EPHRATA — In a letter dated Oct. 11, Donobi, Inc. warned customers receiving their video TV feed in Grant County that it will be forced to disconnect that service on Oct. 31.

Chief Executive Officer William Wright said after that date, he could no longer guarantee the service over the Grant County Public Utility District's Zipp Fiber Optic Network and he would not jeopardize the reputation of his company.

Wright specifically sited the PUD's recent decision to surplus a video head-end.

"Right now they want a "stand-pat" model," Wright said. "Pulling video out is not a stand-pat model, that's pulling more services away."

He said that with the PUD's decision to sell the head-in or tear down an antenna, Donobi can no longer receive the video feed and therefore cannot provide it to customers.

"We're not talking about thousands of customers out there, but is sure had the makings to be very successful," he said.

Headquartered in the Seattle market, Donobi is a company that provides voice, data and digital video services over fiber optic and high-speed wireless technologies to under-served markets. Donobi was the only service provider offering video over fiber in Grant County.

"Based on all the comments made from PUD staff and commissioners, we had to make some assumptions that this was not going to be around Nov. 1," Wright said of the video service his company has been offering subscribers.

"It has a big effect on our business in that we spent years trying to work and foster a relationship in Grant County, and that time and effort is lost," he said. "We spent time and money here that we can't get back and that's unfortunate."

Wright said that until Grant County's current political climate changes into one demonstrating support for the fiber project, he doesn't expect investment by companies offering video service.

"You can't wish it to do well, it takes work," Wright said of the PUD's fiber project. "They're pulling resources away and they are not supporting it."

Originally, when Donobi started in Grant County, Wright said the area was attractive because of the progressive mindset that was focused on bringing connectivity to all citizens, especially in a rural area.

"If I could do it all over again, I probably would have put my resources into a community that was more accepting of our business," Wright said. "They should stop spending a bunch of money on economic development ads and trying to attract people."

Donobi will continue to provide fiber connectivity in Grant County, Wright said, which is still a solid service that the company can stand behind.