Category Archives: FTTH

Gateway Fiber starting broadband construction with ribbon cutting in Moorhead, MN

Posted on by
Reply

Business Wire reports…

Gateway Fiber employees and Fargo-Moorhead Chamber of Commerce members and guests celebrated the start of construction on the internet provider’s new 100% fiber internet service in Moorhead, MN, on October 16, 2025.

Gateway Fiber officially celebrated the start of network construction in Moorhead with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 16 at the Hjemkomst Center, commemorating the beginning of its all-fiber network designed to bring world-class internet service to the community. The event marked an exciting milestone for residents and businesses eager for faster, more reliable connectivity.

City officials, community leaders, and Gateway Fiber team members joined together to celebrate the project, which will deliver 100% fiber optic connections to homes and businesses throughout Moorhead. Attendees enjoyed the opportunity to meet Gateway Fiber representatives, learn more about construction timelines, and hear about the company’s commitment to transparent pricing, friendly service, and no-contract options.

Willmar Council approves next step in Willmar Connect in split 5-3 vote

Posted on by
Reply

The West Central Tribune reports…

The Willmar City Council on Monday in a split 5-3 vote approved moving forward with the Willmar Connect project, a city-owned, open-access broadband network.

After more than three years of planning, the Willmar City Council on Monday in a split 5-3 vote approved moving forward with the city-owned, open-access broadband network now known as Willmar Connect.

Councilor Tom Gilbertson made a motion to approve the plans and specifications for the first phase of the project, as well as to solicit bids, which Councilor Vicki Davis seconded. Both voted in favor of the motion, along with councilors Carl Shuldes, Audrey Nelsen and Justin Ask.

Voting against the motion were councilors Stephen Gardner, Rick Fagerlie and Tom Butterfield, who all questioned the financial viability of the project to pay for itself without affecting property taxes.

Phase one of the project involves constructing the network operations center and installing fiber throughout all the neighborhoods west of First Street South, between U.S. Highway 12 and Willmar Avenue. Phase one may expand into areas within phase two of the project if there are clusters of residents and businesses who have completed the pre-sign-up for the service.

The infrastructure will be owned by the city and the network will be managed by Hometown Fiber. Multiple internet service providers can contract with the city to offer services on the network for a fee, which will be used to pay the principal and interest on the bonds that will fund the construction of the project. Eventually, those fees are expected to generate revenue for the city, as well.

Construction of phase one is estimated to cost approximately $7.8 million and phases two and three are estimated to cost just under $7 million each. The total estimated cost of the project is approximately $24.5 million, excluding interest on the bonds that will be used to fund it.

The city has already invested more than $1.1 million in planning the project, which has been funded by the city’s Industrial Park fund.

 

Golden Valley MN attracts fiber installation in City right-of-way and easements

Posted on by
Reply

CCX Media reports on Golden Valley’s adventures with a local fiber build…

 Over the next few years, several companies will be working throughout Golden Valley to install fiber optic cables in City right-of-way and easements. Fiber internet, also known as broadband, is a private utility similar to gas and electric. High-speed fiber optic internet offers a new service option for residents and businesses throughout the community. …

The city has set up a website to offer information and, when construction begins, an interactive map so residents know where the construction will be taking place.

 

Paul Bunyan Communication expands to Itasca and St. Louis Counties

Posted on by
Reply

From Paul Bunyan Communication…

The end of construction season is near and Paul Bunyan Communications is still on track to complete its planned broadband expansion projects across parts of Itasca and St. Louis Counties. The first project started this year was Sandy, Pike and Wuori townships and the network is now in service!
Status of Paul Bunyan Communications Broadband Expansion projects:
• Itasca County:
City of Coleraine- Construction is done, fiber splicing is almost done. Services expected to become available by the end of October
City of Bovey- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by mid-December
Bearville(s) Township- Construction is done. Fiber splicing will start this month. Services expected to become available by mid-November
• St. Louis County:
Sandy Pike, & Wuori Township- COMPLETED. Network is operational and services are now available.
Alango, Angora, & Owens Township- Construction is done, fiber splicing is in progress. Services should become available by end of October.
Balkan Township- Construction is in progress. Services expected to become available by end of December
French Township- Construction is done. Fiber splicing is in progress. Services expected to be available by early November
Great Scott Township & unorganized township north of Great Scott- Construction has started. Services projected to be available by end of January
Once the network is operational in a project area, customers who signed up for service will be contacted to schedule service installations.
Service Applications Still Accepted for Fiber Optic Connection
 Residents and businesses in these expansion areas who did not sign up for services already are welcome to do so at any time, The cooperative will still install the fiber optic connection up to the location with no construction fee. When the network can be installed depends upon when the service application is received. Service applications can be completed online at www.paulbunyan.net, by phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center.
Services Available Upon Completion
Once the network is live, customers will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone® services, including high-speed fiber-optic Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig and dependable, low-cost unlimited local and long-distance GigaZone® voice services.

Spectrum expands fiber access in Wright County with help from MN Broadband Grant

Posted on by
Reply

Charter Communications reports…

Spectrum, the #1 rural internet provider in the nation*, today announced the expansion of Spectrum Internet, Mobile, TV and Voice services to more than 1,000 additional homes and small businesses in previously unserved or underserved addresses in Wright County, Minnesota.

Our multi-year rural construction initiative is driven by more than $7 billion in private investment from Charter and will ultimately add an additional 100,000+ miles of fiber-optic network infrastructure and deliver symmetrical and multi-gigabit speed internet access to more than 1.7 million new locations across the country.

The project was supported by Minnesota’s Border to Border Broadband Program with Round 7 funding in 2022 to build fiber-to-the-premise technology to previously unserved locations. This latest effort, which completed earlier this summer, includes areas north and west of Delano in the Town of Franklin, north of Rockford along the county line, and south and west of Buffalo Lake.

How are BEAD changes impacting the fiber versus satellite breakdown in Wisconsin?

Posted on by
Reply

Wisconsin’s The Badger Project looks at BEAD funding and the relatively new focus on satellite…

Experts worry that the federal government will force states to use public funds initially earmarked for fiber-optic instead for much slower but cheaper-and-faster-to-install satellite internet provided by companies like SpaceX’s Starlink and Jeff Bezos’ Project Kuiper.

They spoke with Minnesota-based Christopher Mitchell…

The bill intended for most of the funding to go towards locally-owned fiber-optic networks, Christopher Mitchell, director of the Community Broadband Networks Initiative, a Minnesota-based think tank supporting communities’ telecommunications efforts, said in an email to The Badger Project.

“There was an expectation that only the very remote, intolerably high-cost locations would be left with satellite access,” he continued.

While fiber-optic delivers superfast and virtually uninterrupted internet access, there’s a significant, one-time cost of time and money to bury the cables in the ground, especially in rural areas with few homes. For-profit companies have often refused to make that investment without public funding, because the return is poor in sparsely populated areas.

On the other hand, satellite internet has lower setup costs in both time and money, as only a dish needs to be installed at each home or business. But as technology advances and consumers keep requiring faster internet, the speeds provided by satellite are much slower in general than fiber. Despite improvements, Starlink, the industry leader, does not regularly reach the federal definition of broadband speeds, according to an analysis by Ookla, an organization that provides measurements of telecommunications. Internet delivered via fiber-optic cables can already obliterate that minimum speed.

Starlink also says its internet service can be affected by severe weather. And questions remain if satellite internet companies can deliver on the scale needed across the country.

Recent changes in BEAD requirements has meant more satellite (in the applications) in Wisconsin…

Wisconsin’s original proposal for homes without high-speed internet access had 93% fiber-optic deployment. The revised plan submitted has 73% fiber, 13% fixed wireless, often from towers, and 13% satellite.

Paul Bunyan Communications completes broadband expansion in Sandy Pike, & Wuori Townships (St Louis County)

Posted on by
Reply

From Paul Bunyan Communications…

Paul Bunyan Communications has completed expanding its all-fiber optic network, the GigaZone®, to areas of Sandy, Pike, and Wuori Townships that included over 680 homes and businesses. Those who have signed up for service are being contacted to set up service installation.
“We remain fully committed to bringing all-fiber optic gigabit broadband to the underserved areas in our region. Reliable Internet is no longer a luxury, it’s a necessity, and we’re proud to now serve Sandy, Pike, and Wuori Townships.” said Chad Bullock, Paul Bunyan Communications CEO/General Manager.
“This is a major upgrade for both residents and businesses,” said Leo Anderson, Chief Technology Officer at Paul Bunyan Communications. “With our all-fiber optic network now offering Internet speeds up to 10 Gig, things like remote work, distance learning, telehealth, and streaming are not only possible, but they are seamless. It is a true game changer for these communities.”
Anyone interested in getting connected to the all-fiber optic broadband network in these areas can still sign up for service. The cooperative will return to bring the network up to locations with no construction fee when feasible.
There is no membership fee to join Paul Bunyan Communications, membership is included by subscribing to either local phone service or GigaZone® Internet service.
To check to see if a specific location is within an expansion area and learn more about the expansion construction process, visit http://www.gigazone.com
This project was made possible through the USDA ReConnect 3 Grant Program. This project is estimated to cost $13,588,555 with the USDA grant contributing $10,191,416. Paul Bunyan Communications investing $3,381,112, and Wuori Township contributing $16,026.

Gateway Fiber expands fiber into Moorhead (Clay County)

Posted on by
Reply

Telecompetitor reports…

Gateway Fiber is bringing lightning-fast fiber internet to Moorhead, MN, marking a major milestone in the company’s mission to connect the Fargo-Moorhead metropolitan area. With construction already underway, thousands of Moorhead residents and businesses will soon have access to game-changing symmetrical internet speeds, unlimited data, and more reliable internet than ever before, transforming how the community works, learns, and connects online.

This expansion creates a comprehensive fiber network serving both sides of the Fargo metropolitan region, confirming Gateway Fiber’s commitment to building connected communities and advancing economic development across the Red River Valley.

Gigapower, the open access fiber venture, to expand in 6 states, including MN

Posted on by
Reply

Broadband Breakfast reports...

Gigapower, the open access fiber joint venture between AT&T and BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management firm, has completed network construction in six states and is serving “just under 70 communities,” according to Jeff Seidenfaden, Gigapower’s chief revenue officer.

The six states are Florida, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Minnesota. Seidenfaden said the venture continues to pursue its goal of reaching 1.5 million fiber locations nationwide. Gigapower has not disclosed how many fiber passings it has completed to date.

Woodstock Communications Deploys FTTP in Hatfield (Pipestone County) with MN State Grant

Posted on by
Reply

The Pipestone Star reports…

Woodstock Communications has begun construction of a fiber optic internet network in the Hatfield area.

Work started east of Pipestone along State Highway 30 earlier this month. Woodstock Communications General Manager Terry Nelson said the project includes installing about 45 miles of fiber that will pass 116 homes in the project area. He said the fiber will be installed this fall and internet service is expected to be ready by the end of the year.

There will be no charge to residents in the project area to connect their residences. Projected pricing for broadband service is $44.95 for 100 megabits per second (Mbps) uploading and downloading speed, $54.95 for 250 Mbps, $74.95 for 500 Mbps and $104.95 for 1 gigabit per second. Nelson said that pricing is consistent with what Woodstock Communications charges in the rest of its service areas.

The project is estimated to cost $2,150,576. Woodstock Communications received a $1,612,932 grant from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) last year to help pay for it. The Pipestone County Commissioners voted in 2023 to provide $268,822 for the project, which would cover half of the local match for the grant. Woodstock Communications will pay the other half.

The project in the Hatfield area is phase one of a four-phase project to provide fiber internet access to all the rural parts of Pipestone County for an estimated $15,733,299. Woodstock Communications plans to seek other grants in the future to help fund the projects.

Recent conference panel: How are new data center deployments driving additional fiber deployment?

Posted on by
Reply

Fierce Network reports…

Leaders from the data center and fiber industries came together in Austin, Texas this week as the Datacloud USA and Metro Connect conferences joined forces. And for good measure the conference organizers included the power generation companies, dubbing their 2025 show Datacloud Energy USA/Metro Connect Fall.

Fiber industry executives said they are getting plenty of requests from data center developers. But those developers are often pushing projects out of major metro areas in order to chase available power. So, they’re asking for fiber in places that don’t otherwise make economic sense for providers.

Sound familiar? Bringing fiber to remote areas is, of course, the goal of the government’s Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program, which continues to evolve and so far has not resulted in many new connections.

Could the data center industry step in to connect parts of rural America? That depends in part on whether fiber providers are willing to take the terms offered by data center builders, primarily hyperscalers.

But there is some push back from the providers…

“Just because you can, doesn’t mean you should,” said David Kamphuis, VP carrier sales at fiber provider Segra, part of Cox Communications. “We have to do what is right, fiscally.”

Kamphuis was part of a panel at the Datacloud show entitled “How are new data center deployments driving additional fiber deployment?” moderated by Digital Bridge managing director Horace Zona. Some of the panel’s commentary sounded similar to the talking points fiber providers use when asked why government subsidies are needed to connect certain areas of the country.

“If it made sense on Day One to build it, it would have already been built. It hasn’t gotten built for a reason,” explained Dan Davis, CEO and co-founder of Arcadian Infracom.

So, what does it take to get fiber providers to commit to a data center build?  “You have to have a belief set not just in the one place, but all along these routes,” Davis said. He added that the cost of a fiber build is typically around $300 million, a fraction of the $2 billion to $3 billion a hyperscaler may be spending on the data center at the end of the route.

Gateway Fiber building FTTH to Elk River and Otsego (Wright and Sherburne Counties)

Posted on by
Reply

Business Wire reports…

Gateway Fiber announced today that it is bringing its ultra-fast, 100% fiber-optic internet service to Elk River and Otsego, MN, joining other Twin Cities communities, including Blaine, Coon Rapids, Maple Grove, Plymouth, and others, as the company expands its footprint in the area. Construction on the new network is set to begin in September, with the first customers scheduled to come online later this fall. Most residents will see service available in 2026.

By building a brand-new 100% fiber network directly to homes and businesses, Gateway Fiber is delivering the speed, reliability, and customer service that modern communities need to thrive. Unlike other technologies that rely on outdated cable or copper lines, fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) technology provides the bandwidth capacity necessary to handle today’s connected households and tomorrow’s demands.

Broadband Expansion Continues in Itasca and St. Louis Counties

Posted on by
Reply

Paul Bunyan Communicaitons sent me an update and press release, for folks outside of Minnesota, I want to share the email intro to the press release sent during the first week or September!

The weather has turned quickly, a sure sign that the end of construction season is on the horizon.   We continue to make great progress on our broadband network expansion construction and, if mother nature cooperates, we anticipate each project will be built before freeze-out.

And today does feel like winter is coming, even in the Twin Cities, three hours from Paul Bunyan…

As the end of construction season approaches, Paul Bunyan Communications is on track to complete its planned broadband expansion projects across parts of Itasca and St. Louis Counties before freeze out.
Status of Paul Bunyan Communications Broadband Expansion projects:
• Itasca County:
City of Coleraine- Construction is completed with fiber splicing taking place. Services should become available in October
City of Bovey- Construction has started and is over 50% completed. Services should become available this winter.
Bearville(s) Township- Construction is done. Fiber splicing is in progress. Services should become available this winter.
• St. Louis County:
Sandy, Pike, & Wuori Township- Construction is done, fiber splicing is 75% done. Services should be available by the end of September
Alango & Owens Township- Construction is done and fiber splicing has started. Services should become available this winter.
Angora Township- Construction is done and fiber splicing has started. Services should become available this winter.
Balkan Township- Construction has started and is expected to be completed by mid-October. Services should become available this winter.
French Township- Construction is done. Fiber splicing has started. Services should become available this winter.
Great Scott Township & unorganized township north of Great Scott- Construction will start later this month and is expected to be completed by mid-November. Services should be available by end of winter.
Once the network is operational in an area, customers who signed up will be contacted to schedule service installations.
Sign Up Now to Ensure Fiber Optic Connection Residents and businesses in these expansion areas are encouraged to sign up for service now, before construction crews move on to ensure the fiber optic connection is brought up to the location. That can be done online at http://www.gigazone.com, by phone, or in person at our Grand Rapids Customer Service & Technology Center.
Services Available Upon Completion Once the network is live, customers will have access to Paul Bunyan’s GigaZone® services, including high-speed fiber-optic Internet with speeds up to 10 Gig and dependable, low-cost unlimited local and long-distance GigaZone® voice services.

EVENT Sep 3: ILSR and AAPB Community Broadband Film Series II – Rocketeers: The UTOPIA Fiber Story

Posted on by
Reply

From ILSR and AAPB…

Slated for Tomorrow, September 3rd from 4 to 5:00 pm ET, the livestream event will feature the film “Rocketeers: The UTOPIA Fiber Story” – an eye-opening documentary about how a publicly-owned fiber network has ignited local Internet choice and competition across dozens of cities, delivering connectivity at the speed of light.

Registration is free here.

Lismore Telephone and Nobles County kick of FTTP project funded by ReConnect and MN State Grants

Posted on by
Reply

The Worthington Globe…

Many local companies are working together to bring enhanced broadband services to underserved, rural Nobles County residents, using approximately 637 miles of fiber to provide high-speed internet to 1,550 households and sites.

Bill Loonan, general manager of Lismore Cooperative Telephone Company, met with Nobles County commissioners and other project stakeholders Wednesday morning in Bigelow to kick off the Fiber-to-the-Premises (FTTP) project.

They are working on a project in the area…

[Nobles County Board Chairman Gene] Metz said Nobles County invested $4 million into this project — money set aside from wind production tax revenues the county received.

“Our counties decided to spend their production tax to bring that service to everybody in the rural area,” Metz said.

Total project costs amount to $27.4 million. Funding for the project consists of 50% loan and 50% grant, with $13.7 million requested through grants and $5.7 million requested through loans. An additional $8 million is a cash substitution amount for the loan portion.

Lismore Cooperative applied for and received a grant of $19.4 million from the Rural Development Broadband ReConnect Program through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Another grant was received through the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant program. In all, $208,598 was awarded specifically for the FTTP project in Bigelow.

More details…

The total FTTP project cost for Bigelow alone adds up to $695,328. The project area encompasses about 4.16 miles of buried fiber that will serve 113 locations, of which 19 are unserved and 94 are underserved.

Nobles County has awarded $35,000 toward the Bigelow project and the City of Bigelow has funded $15,000. The FTTP network is aimed at bridging the digital divide in the rural city of Bigelow.