Penfield, NY -- (SBWIRE) --06/13/2011 -- Axcess Ontario (http://axcessontario.com) is pleased to announce that the 200-plus-mile Open Access fiber optic ring in Ontario County, N.Y., has been named among this year’s “CIO 100” award winners by CIO magazine — the fiber ring’s first international recognition. ECC Technologies (http://www.ecctec.com), the global leader in full service technology and communications consulting; was the project consultant for the fiber optic ring.

ECC Technologies developed and executed the business model for this 200 mile, $8 million dollar Open Access dark fiber network. They played a key role in establishing the public-private partnerships necessary to fund and build this network. ECC designed the network and managed the construction of the project which came in under budget and ahead of schedule. They are also currently managing the operations of the network including sales and marketing. Today, wireless and local exchange carriers are reaping benefits of the Axcess Ontario Network to provide cost effective voice and data solutions to customers in Ontario County, NY.

The 24th annual CIO 100 awards program recognizes organizations around the world that exemplify the highest level of operational and strategic excellence in information technology (IT). Other award winners this year include Advanced Micro Devices, Dell, DreamWorks Animation SKG, IBM, and GE Energy. Only a limited number of public-sector award winners were named in addition to Ontario County, N.Y., including Chicago Public Schools, Fairfax County Public Schools in Northern Virginia, and the U.S. Marine Corps’ Global Combat Support System/Logistics Chain Management.

“The CIO 100 award is one of the most important recognitions that Axcess Ontario has received in that it ranks the Ontario County fiber ring among the top IT innovators internationally, significantly reinforcing our position as a broadband model for the United States,” said Ed Hemminger, CEO of Axcess Ontario. “In addition, the magazine reaches the top information technology officers and executives around the world, a key audience as we work to add telecom carriers and expand business and residential services using our fiber ring.”

The CIO 100 award is the third major award that Axcess Ontario has received in the past 10 months. The CIO 100 award comes on the heels of last month’s recognition by Computerworld magazine as a 2011 Honors Laureate. Axcess Ontario was also honored last fall by Harvard University’s Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at the John F. Kennedy School of Government as a “Bright Idea” — a promising, innovative solution that can assist other communities as they face their own challenges.

Axcess Ontario board member David R. Smith, chairman and CEO of Plures Technologies Inc. and chairman of SensiVida Medical Technologies Inc., nominated the fiber ring for the CIO 100 award.

“The people of Ontario County have every reason to be proud of the fiber ring project and the Axcess Ontario team,” Smith said. “Thanks to the county’s leadership and the public’s support of the project more than eight years ago, Ontario County is now recognized as one of the top IT communities in the country and around the world.” To exemplify this Ontario County which is predominantly rural was one of the first markets in the U.S. to receive Verizon Wireless 4G rollout. This is a direct result of the Open Access Fiber ring.

The 2011 CIO 100 awards will be featured online at www.cio.com on Aug. 1, and in the Aug. 1 issue of CIO magazine. The awards will be presented at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs, Colo., on Aug. 14-16 at the annual CIO 100 Symposium® and Awards Ceremony.

About Axcess Ontario
Imagine where fiber technology can take us. Axcess Ontario has. With an open-access, dark-fiber infrastructure and a non-profit approach — serving as an example for a national model — the 200-plus-mile fiber ring has Ontario County, N.Y., on the fast track to greater economic development, better quality of life, and global competitiveness. By providing this critical source for advanced connectivity and increased flexibility through quicker, more affordable broadband, businesses and organizations, as well as residents, will have improved capabilities like never before.

About ECC Technologies
ECC Technologies is a full service technology and communications consulting group. Over the past decade, ECC has been involved in over $1 Billion worth of project development worldwide. They are leaders and considered pioneers in community-wide telecommunications planning and development, specializing in project planning, design, engineering, implementation, and support services for educational, corporate, and community environments.

For more information, visit http://www.ecctec.com or call 1-585- 377-1850 today.