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Brightspeed announces initial fiber build markets for Howell, Texas counties

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Brightspeed announced this week it will build a large segment of its planned fiber optics network in Missouri, where it expects to deliver, by the end of 2023, over 130,000 new fiber passings in parts of Howell, Moniteau, Oregon, Texas and Wright counties.

According to a frequently-asked-questions document posted on CenturyLink’s website, Brightspeed, a “dynamic new company” will replace CenturyLink as internet service provider in 20 midwestern and southeastern states, including Missouri and Arkansas, as the result of a sales transaction that has recently completed.

As part of the transaction, Brightspeed plans to build faster, more reliable internet to the region; it aims to add 180,000 fiber passings in Missouri in subsequent years of its build plan, for a total of over 310,000 fiber-enabled locations across its Missouri operating territory.

Brightspeed, in a press release, said the company plans to invest more than $2 billion in its fiber optics transformation, which is expected to reach up to 3 million homes and businesses over the next five years, including in many rural and suburban settings where fiber and advanced technology have not historically been deployed.

Brightspeed will initially be comprised of incumbent local exchange carrier assets and associated operations of Lumen Technologies, which are the subject of a pending acquisition by Apollo-managed funds. The company recently announced that it had secured all necessary state-required regulatory approvals in the 20 states in the sales transaction.

The parties expect to obtain final Federal Communications Commission approval in the third quarter and to close the transaction in early fourth quarter.

Brightspeed has announced several of its state-specific fiber build plans over the last few weeks.

The company is conducting network design and construction groundwork across its multistage territory as it prepares for day one operations.

“We are pleased to outline the initial build specifics for Missouri and are thrilled that we will be reaching so many communities,” said Chief Operating Officer of Brightspeed Tom Maguire. “Access to high-quality internet service has never been more relevant to today’s households and businesses, whether for work, education, healthcare or entertainment. Brightspeed intends to be a leader in developing connectivity solutions that best benefit our customers in the Missouri cities, towns and neighborhoods we are privileged to serve.”

According to Maguire, Brightspeed’s 2022-23 build plan for Missouri will bring faster, more reliable internet and Wi-Fi to over 130,000 residential and business locations in markets within Boone, Carroll, Cass, Cedar, Dent, Gasconade, Howell, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette, Lawrence, Marion, Moniteau, Nodaway, Oregon, Phelps, St. Charles, Texas and Wright counties.

“Beyond our own substantial network build in Missouri, we look forward to working with stakeholders at state and local levels to further expand fiber-based internet in our serving territory through the Missouri Department of Economic Development Broadband Infrastructure grant program, and other opportunities as they arise,” Maguire said.

Expanding affordable broadband connectivity to every part of Missouri — rural, urban and suburban — has been a top priority for Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s administration.

“High-speed internet access is critical for our kids to learn, farmers to access markets, and businesses to grow. Just this year, we approved nearly $400 million in funding opportunities to expand internet access across our state. We appreciate Brightspeed’s investment that will help connect hundreds of thousands of Missourians and increase economic opportunity for Missouri families,” Parson said in a statement on Wednesday. 

According to Maguire, Brightspeed’s next-generation FTTP (residential fiber to the premises) architecture, supported by technology vendor partners, is designed to help the company accelerate deployment and market availability.

“The company’s planned XGS-PON-based network will be capable of delivering download and upload speeds in excess of 10 gigabit per second (Gbps) and service reliability vital to helping today’s households and businesses thrive in the digital economy,” Maquire said. XGS-PON is a kind of optical network, evolved from G-PON (gigabit-passive optical network), with a higher bandwidth.

Brightspeed plans to announce further state-specific network build plans over the next several weeks.

For more information about Brightspeed, visit the company’s website, www.brightspeed.com.

West Plains, West Plains Daily Quill, Quill, internet, Brightspeed, fiber optics, fiber optics network, network, Howell county, Texas county, CenturyLink, connection, online, computer


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