Fiber Optics
Wisconsin's $42 million broadband infrastructure grant sees overwhelming demand
Gov. Tony Evers and the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSC) have announced that the Wisconsin Broadband Office received 124 applications requesting $221.6 million for the Broadband Infrastructure Grant Program.
Mediacom completes fiber optic broadband network expansion in Sussex County, Del.
(UI) — Mediacom Communications has announced the completion of construction to bring ultra-high-speed broadband to underserved areas of southern Sussex County. More than 1,500 homes and businesses in the south-central section of the county now have access to broadband download speeds as fast as 2-gigabits-per-second.
Fiber Broadband Association, NTCA release complete Broadband Infrastructure Playbook 3.0
Playbook 3.0 combines four deep-dive modules that aim to help state broadband offices as they make decisions on key aspects of the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program and complete their initial proposals for NTIA review before a December 27 deadline.
InfoWest acquires assets of SunRiver Fiber Network
(UI) — InfoWest Inc., a majority-owned subsidiary of Boston Omaha Corp., has completed the acquisition of all of SunRiver Fiber Network's assets from Cable Systems of Nevada.
Mainstream Fiber Networks plans rapid Indiana fiber-optic expansion with Searchlight Capital investment
The investment is anticipated to create numerous job opportunities across the state as Mainstream expands service to new markets.
Shenandoah Telecommunications Company to acquire Horizon Telecom for $385 million
Horizon’s unique 7,200 route-mile fiber network is the largest and most dense network across its footprint with over 9,000 on-net locations.
Verizon deploys over 200 miles of fiber in Delaware six months ahead of schedule
Nearly 2,000 homes and businesses in Camden, Dover, Smyrna, Bridgeville and Ocean View now have access to high-speed internet.
altafiber to bring fiber optic network to 65,000 new addresses across Ohio
altafiber has invested more than $1.5 billion into its fiber network to date, reaching approximately 730,000 addresses.
Lumos to invest $100 million in South Carolina fiber optic expansion
As a result of this expansion, Lumos will be the first fiber provider to families, households, and businesses throughout portions of the Greenville market, establishing underserved areas of South Carolina for economic success in the future.
Montana telecom completes $11 million, 380-mile fiber cable burial project
(UI) — Blackfoot Communications, headquartered in Missoula, has recently celebrated the successful culmination of a six-year endeavor, entailing an $11 million investment, to install more than 380 miles of cutting-edge fiber optic cable within the Flathead Reservation vicinity around St. Ignatius, according to Government Technology.
Tachus to invest $100 million in Texas fiber optic network expansion
(UI) — Tachus Fiber Internet, a Texas-based provider, has unveiled plans to inject $100 million into expanding its state-of-the-art XGS Fiber Network. The network is set to revolutionize internet connectivity, offering ultra-fast multi-gig speeds to both homes and businesses in the Southwest Houston region.
IQ Fiber begins construction on $40 million fiber-optic network in Gainesville, Fla.
(UI) — IQ Fiber, North Florida’s only local residential fiber-optic internet service provider, has commenced construction on its 100% fiber-optic network in Northwest Gainesville and Alachua County. IQ Fiber’s initial Phase 1 investment is estimated at $40 million.
Lumos Fiber brings fiber optic network to underserved homes in North Carolina
The North Carolina Department of Information Technology (NCDIT) awarded over $80 million in grants to private companies, including Lumos, to provide underserved households and businesses across 33 N.C. counties with high-speed internet.
AT&T fiber optic cable vandalism sparks investigation in Tuolumne County, Calif.
(UI) — The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office is actively seeking assistance from the public regarding a recent act of vandalism that occurred on Aug. 30, resulting in a widespread disruption of cell service throughout Tuolumne County, California.
Gateway Fiber brings fiber optic network to Missouri with $25 million grant
Marthasville, Mo. became the first community to benefit from the $25 million American Rescue Plan Act grant awarded to Gateway Fiber, through a partnership with the state of Missouri, to bring its 100% fiber optic internet service to the area.
Penn State research uncovers fiber optic cable's role in early sinkhole detection
(UI) — Recent research conducted by a Penn State geosciences associate professor suggests that existing fiber optic cables beneath the University Park campus could serve as a means to predict sinkhole occurrences.
Fiber Broadband Association honors industry leaders at Fiber Connect 2023
This year, Brendan O’Boyle from Preformed Line Products (PLP) won the 2023 Photon Award, and Northern Colorado Community Fiber won the 2023 Star Award. S&N Communications won the Gene Scott Education Award, and Stephen Hardy won the Fiber Lifetime Achievement Award.
Great Plains Communications expands fiber network to underserved Indiana communities
The company will utilize Next Level Connections (NLC) Broadband Grant Program funding to expand their network to reach more homes and business in specific unserved areas of Southeastern Indiana.
Fiber Broadband Association President wins 2023 Chairman’s Award for advancing fiber deployments across U.S.
Among many FBA successes to date, Gary Bolton’s leadership has expanded fiber broadband’s public policy influence, workforce development initiatives, FBA’s research library, and FBA membership—more than doubling it in less than three years.
Caltech research reveals underground fiber optic cables as effective earthquake detectors
(UI) — In California, a network of underground fiber optic cables serves as a vital internet connectivity conduit. However, a Caltech study showed that these underground cables could function as earthquake sensors, detecting and quantifying seismic activity.
OFS launches fiber solutions program to install broadband across the country
Manufacturing facilities in Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts, and New Jersey enable OFS to support the goals of both the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and the Build America Buy America Act.
CommScope expands fiber optic operations, brings 250 jobs to Catawba County, North Carolina
(UI) — Telecommunications infrastructure provider CommScope plans to add 250 new jobs with a $60.3 million investment to expand its fiber-optic cable manufacturing operations in North Carolina’s Catawba County, Governor Roy Cooper said on July 25.
Zayo to expand fiber network infrastructure across the nation
Zayo Group Holdings, Inc. announced a series of expansions to its independent fiber network infrastructure, including new long-haul dark fiber routes, increased fiber capacity for existing routes, additional 400 Gbps (400G)-enabled routes and new IP points of presence (PoPs).
James Q. Crowe, fiber optic, telecommunications pioneer dies at 74
Crowe Company announced that James Q. Crowe, a technology and telecommunications visionary who spearheaded the fiber optic telecommunications revolution, died July 2nd in Paradise Valley, Arizona, after a battle with pulmonary arterial hypertension.
$20.4 million fiber-broadband project to benefit over 8,000 customers in Lumpkin County, Ga.
The combined venture will enable Kinetic to lay more than 450 miles of optical fiber cable to bring high-speed internet to residences, businesses and schools.
Biden administration pledges nationwide internet access by 2030 using domestically-made cables
Biden said more than 35,000 projects are already funded or underway to lay cable that provides internet access. Some of those are from $25 billion in initial funding as part of the “American Rescue Plan.”
ComEd awarded $14.5 million federal grant to deploy fiber optic infrastructure in underserved Chicago communities
The Middle Mile Grant will leverage ComEd’s planned infrastructure investment to affordably bring new middle-mile infrastructure into 24 communities in need, representing 440,000 households in communities like North Lawndale, Englewood, Woodlawn and South Shore.
Liberty VI continues fiber network construction work in St. Croix, St. Thomas
(UI) — The ongoing work will employ various underground technologies to mitigate roadway disruptions, such as utilizing a micro-trenching technique that minimizes pavement breakage and dust emission by producing a minimal cut and using existing ducts whenever feasible.
Editor’s Log: A fiber road paved by HDD
(UI) — By the late ‘90s, fiber backbone construction was marching across the land like Sherman to Atlanta. It was the early version of cryptocurrency – every investor was going to become a multi-millionaire overnight. The market for directional drills hit unprecedented – and unrealistic – highs. HDD was the perfect technology to aid the expansion of fiber installation, along with trenching and plowing. It was the telecom version of the early 1980s oil boom.
Lumos invests over $50 million in North Carolina fiber optic expansion project
"One of our strategic actions is to increase the availability of high-speed broadband throughout the County – this investment allows us to do just that," said Desiree Patrick, Harnett County Community Relations Director.
- OSHA issues 16 citations following fatal sewer confined space incident
- 27 pipeline safety violations tied to deadly Pa. chocolate factory explosion
- Contractor gas line strike triggers home explosion in Missouri
- Comprehensive microtrenching FAQ: Key insights on the Vermeer MTR516 microtrencher
- Fiber construction market looks very strong through 2030
- T-Mobile to expand fiber broadband infrastructure footprint with $4.9 billion Metronet acquisition
- First tunnel boring machines complete testing for Hudson Tunnel Project
- NWPX grows water infrastructure portfolio with Colorado precast facility
- Cityside launches $100 million fiber build in Corona, Calif.
- FiberLight to build 1,400-mile West Texas dark fiber network in $350 million expansion