More Than a Bike Race

from Peachtree Corners Magazine - June/July 2023

City

Curiosity Lab at Peachtree Corners Criterium was an opportunity to showcase technology and strengthen community partnerships.

To the casual observer, Curiosity Lab Criterium was an exciting event where local cyclists got the chance to race unfettered along a challenging course on the streets of Peachtree Corners. It was also an opportunity for cycling aficionados to see worldclass professionals up close.

If that weren’t enough, specta-

By Arlinda Smith Broady

tors also witnessed the dawn of a new technology that will make roadways safer for bicyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and other vulnerable road users.

“We got the opportunity to host a U.S. criterion here as part of Speedweek and it’s the first one we’ve ever done,” said Louis Svehla, communications director with the City of Peachtree Corners. “We have this lab and we’re one of the smartest

Photos by Roxy Stone, Tytan Pictures

cities in the world. …To be able to bring technology to protect cyclists, scooters, walkers, kids going to school, this is the perfect environment. As part of this race, we were testing some really cool technology. …It’s the first time it’s ever been tested in real time, and everybody gets to be a part of that.”

But that wasn’t all it was about.

Speed Week 2023

It was a showcase of the strength of collaboration that Peachtree Corners has cultivated from its inception. It’s that kind of passion and determination to be among the best in smart technology incubation that led Clearwave Fiber to become an elite sponsor of a leg of the Speed Week 2023 in the Southeast United States.

The weeklong event kicked off in Athens and wrapped up in the Airport District in the Southern Crescent of metro Atlanta. For the first time, Peachtree Corners represented the Northern Arc of metro Atlanta on April 26.

Derrick Grissom, general manager for Clearwave Fiber here in metro Atlanta, was excited for his company to be part of something so major. The company currently offers high-speed secure fiber internet services to businesses in Peachtree Corners, Norcross, Lawrenceville and Covington. Although it’s headquartered in Savannah, the footprint goes from Jacksonville, Florida, through central Georgia, up into Illinois and the Kansas City market.

Although Clearwave Fiber doesn’t directly involve cycling, the technology showcased is reliant on the type of technology the company provides. When Grissom learned the city was hosting the competition, he said it was a no-brainer for Clearwave to partner with them.

“Number one, we knew it was their first time doing it. Number two, it’s just a great partnership and and we believe that community is what really brings people together,” he said. “So having that tight knit relationship with the city, not just from a business standpoint but anytime, shows how great the relationship is.”

Clearwave Fiber

Although T-Mobile powers the 5G technology at Curiosity Lab, it’s Clearwave Fiber in the infrastructure. Grissom explained T-Mobile often uses Clearwave Fiber to reach cell towers.

“We provide fiber to their cell towers so it can produce the technology needed for you to use your T-Mobile cell phone, if you have that service,” he said. “They’re not so much a competitor as a client.”

But Clearwave Fiber also has its own network. “We’re just like AT&T or Comcast, but we’re just a much smaller version,” he said.

Although it may seem like all communications companies are alike, Grissom said there are differences.

“Right now, one of the most important things in the telecom industry is security,” he said. “If you were in one of our residential footprint areas, or even our commercial footprint areas, an advantage of having Clearwave Fiber is that we do offer a more secure underground network.”

“And we’re a local partner. I think that’s what differentiates us from our competitors,” Grissom added.