Bluepeak on March 20 announced today a franchise agreement with the city of Norman, Oklahoma, to build a high-speed fiber network to meet the community's growing needs now and in the future.
The roughly $55 million expansion project will bring Bluepeak service to nearly 55,000 residences and businesses in Norman. That figure makes Bluepeak’s investment in Norman the internet provider’s largest investment in a single market outside of South Dakota to date, as stated by a press release. Bluepeak currently offers service in the states of South Dakota, North Dakota, southwest Minnesota, Wyoming and Oklahoma.
The Bluepeak fiber service offers a minimum service tier of 1 Gbps for $50 per month. Homes can receive up to 5 Gbps, and businesses are eligible for data speeds of 10 Gbps and greater. Each Bluepeak internet speed package includes eero Secure, which protects devices from online threats, ads and allows for customized content filtering.
Rich Fish, CEO of Bluepeak, commented:
“Our fiber-to-the-home network is built to enhance growth, spur economic development and meet the needs of consumers in Norman well into the future. We couldn’t be more pleased with the partnership we’ve struck with the city of Norman to provide better options for internet connectivity here.”
According to Broadbandnow.com as cited by Bluepeak, Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation in internet coverage, speed and availability. A Kansas City Federal Reserve study estimated 30 percent of Oklahomans have access to fewer than two wired internet providers.
Further, the ISP notes that research from a 2020 report by Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond on “Bringing Broadband to Rural America” determined that broadband access and adoption is linked to increased job and population growth, higher rates of new business formation and home values, and lower unemployment rates.
“The city of Norman welcomes Bluepeak as the newest member of our community infrastructure team,” concluded the Mayor of Norman, Larry Heikkila. “We welcome their investment in our city and look forward to a long and mutually beneficial relationship here in Norman.”
Bluepeak already deploys internet for residents in other Oklahoma communities with service available in the communities Stillwater, Enid, Lawton, and others.
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