Building Broadband: Comcast pursues Massachusetts MBI funding; Dobson Fiber expands Oklahoma and Tulsa fiber network reach

Comcast pursues funding from the Massachusetts Broadband Institute Grant Program
Comcast has submitted 91 applications in the second round of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program as administered by the Massachusetts Broadband Institute (MBI). The Program will fund the deployment of high-speed broadband to unserved or underserved locations in Massachusetts. If awarded, Comcast’s applications aim to connect the remaining homes and businesses in 91 communities to the company’s Xfinity network. Throughout Massachusetts, Comcast has invested almost $909 million over the last three years in private capital to build, maintain and operate the Xfinity next-generation network. The public-private partnership model, like MBI’s Grant Program, must reach the locations where the economics prevent private investment alone. The company has received over 140 letters of support from local communities nationwide for the applications.

Through the first round of the Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Program, Comcast was awarded grants to connect unserved and underserved residents in Monson, Palmer and Ware, as well as communities in Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. Additionally, Comcast has expanded its network in partnership with the MBI in western Massachusetts, connecting previously unserved homes and businesses, and completed its first public-private partnership with the MBI in September 2018, enabling the launch of gigabit services in nine western Massachusetts towns. Since then, Comcast has completed four Last Mile projects, which included the cities of Montgomery and Worthington, in addition to recent projects in Tolland and Middlefield.

Conexon Connect completes its third Georgia-based FTTH network
Conexon Connect has completed its third electric cooperative fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network, marking its third broadband project completion in Georgia. The 2,500-mile, multi-gigabit network, built in partnership with Sandersville-based Washington EMC, was announced in April 2021 and completed in July 2024. Its first project, a 2,100-mile FTTH network launched in collaboration with Georgia-based Southern Rivers Energy, was completed in fall 2023, while a project built in partnership with Middle Georgia EMC finished earlier this year. Conexon said all of these projects have been completed anywhere from six months to a year ahead of schedule. The $54.5 million Connect, powered by Washington EMC, network now reaches 100 percent of the EMC's 12,200 members across ten counties in rural Georgia. The fiber network provides members access to multi-gigabit-speed symmetrical internet capabilities, phone service, and smart grid capabilities to the co-op's electrical infrastructure. Washington EMC was the fourth partnership project announced by Conexon Connect. Since then, the ISP has expanded and now has 20 FTTH projects across seven states, set to reach nearly 400,000 rural homes and businesses upon completion.

Dobson Fiber expands Oklahoma and Tulsa fiber network reach
Dobson Fiber, an Oklahoma-based leading provider, is rolling out its next broadband technology phase across the Oklahoma City and Tulsa metropolitan areas. The Oklahoma City MSA encompasses Oklahoma City, Yukon, Edmond, Midwest City, Del City, Norman, and neighboring communities. Meanwhile, the Tulsa MSA includes Tulsa, Broken Arrow, Owasso, Sapulpa, Jenks and other surrounding areas. Dobson has completed engineering designs in most of these areas and is currently permitting, constructing and connecting customers. Dobson Fiber's network includes more than 35 communities across a wide geographic area in Oklahoma and five diverse communities in Arkansas. By leveraging its middle-mile network, the company’s fiber network can provide 10 Gbps to residents and 100 Gbps to businesses with the lowest latency in their footprint.

Glo Fiber to light multi-gigabit fiber broadband speeds in Zanesville, Ohio
Glo Fiber plans to deploy next-generation fiber-optic broadband services to approximately 13,800 homes and businesses in Zanesville, Ohio. The service provider will offer symmetrical 5 Gbps speeds to residents and businesses. Over the past five years, Glo Fiber has passed over 275,000 homes and businesses with its fiber networks. 

Omni Fiber expands fiber broadband reach into eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania
Omni Fiber has expanded its fiber network to nearly 20 new markets in eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania. The latest markets in the east of Ohio are Trumbull, Mahoning, and Columbiana Counties and include Austintown, Boardman, Canfield, Columbiana, Girard, McDonald, Mineral Ridge, Niles, Poland, and Salem. Construction began earlier this year, and installations started this month in Niles, Ohio. Installations in other towns will start as soon as construction is completed, which is expected to happen before the end of the year. The new markets in western Pennsylvania are in Mercer, Lawrence, Beaver, and Butler Counties and include Farrell, Hermitage, Sharon, and Sharpsville, where installations will start early in August, and Ellwood City, New Castle, and Zelienople, where construction will begin in the fall this year. This infrastructure will provide internet speeds of up to 10 Gbps to residential and business customers. It will also create hundreds of new jobs at Omni Fiber and local contractors.

RTA brings CBRS-based broadband to Sheridan, Texas
RTA has upgraded Sheridan, TX, utilizing Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS) wireless spectrum and Tarana's G1 next-generation fixed-wireless access (FWA) technology. To inform the Sheridan community about RTA's gigFAST NETWORK, the provider recently hosted a FREE BBQ event at the Library / Community Center, which utilizes RTA's gigFAST® service. In many cases, before this upgrade, residents could only get 25/3Mbps. RTA's locally based technical teams installed and tested the Tarana technology.

SiFi Networks, T-Mobile to provide service to five cities across four states 
SiFi Networks and T-Mobile Fiber are working together to bring fiber-based broadband to five cities across four states, with plans for further expansion. The five cities include Kenosha, WI; Rockford, IL; Palmdale, CA; Oceanside, CA; and Farmington, MI.