Monticello’s fiber optic website states that they will begin construction of a smaller fiber loop build on September 2 with a completion date by the end of the year. This fiber build includes construction of 11.19 miles of fiber optics that is an important subset of the larger FiberNet Monticello project. The Fiber Loop will connect important commercial, industrial and civic facilities thereby allowing commercial and industrial users to have access to high-speed fiber optics for data only services via 100% fiber optics thus contributing toward the achievement of economic development goals. This fiber loop will also connect City Hall, Community Center and Public Works facilities to improve communication/data speeds and reduce Internet access expenses. The service provided at this time would include high-speed data only and no telephone or cable TV.

The project is projected to be financially self-supporting and can be integrated into the FiberNet Monticello system both financially and physically once it is constructed.

The city’s commitment to avoid the use of taxpayer dollars did not anticipate an 11th hour lawsuit by TDS that made the proceeds from the revenue bonds unavailable by freezing the money at a critical time when construction was ready to begin. The city moved forward with the smaller fiber loop build to begin this year in order to protect the project from increased costs that will inevitably arise if construction continues to be delayed by the TDS litigation. It is anticipated that the cost of this initial fiber build will be fully reimbursable from the bonds the City has already sold and has put into escrow due to the lawsuit.