The Buildout: Fidium Fiber expands in Maine and New Hampshire

Consolidated's Fidium Fiber announced more broadband network construction and launches in multiple regions. In Maine, Fidium Fiber has expanded to more than 4,000 homes and businesses in Oakland, plus parts of Belgrade and Sidney. Elsewhere in Maine, the company started construction to bring its network to more than 9,600 homes and businesses in Windham, and parts of Gorham and Standish; as well as more than 5,300 homes and businesses in Belfast. And over in New Hampshire, Fidium Fiber said it has started construction in Bartlett and Tamworth, to connect more than 3,800 homes and businesses. Construction is also underway in Jefferson, New Hampshire, to connect more than 700 homes and businesses. Fidium Fiber also said it will start construction "as soon as November 11" to bring its network to more than 3,500 homes and businesses in the regions of Belmont and Gilmanton, New Hampshire.

Comcast broke ground in Pixley, California – a rural area in Tulare County – to build out its Xfinity network to 6,200 unserved locations. The project, which has a mix of federal and private funding, is expected to be completed by early 2026, according to a press release.

Ritter Communications' RightFiber has started construction in Paducah, Kentucky. According to a press release, the $13 million project is expected to be complete "by summer 2025." RightFiber did not specify its intended reach, but there are roughly 11,000 households in Paducah, according to census data. Ritter Communications was acquired by private equity firm Grain Management in 2019.

Fiber firm Zero dB Communications has started construction on a $10.6 million project to bring broadband to 2,500 locations across Adams County, Washington. The project has $10.3 million in funding from the Washington State Broadband Office, awarded in February 2022, plus $300,000 from Adams County.

The USDA last week announced $63.8 million in awards through its Community Connect Program to provide broadband in 12 states. Among the recipients were Pulse, the municipal broadband network in Loveland, Colorado, which was awarded $1.037 million to expand its service into Big Thompson Canyon. In Virginia, funding also went to Citizens Telephone Cooperative ($5 million) in Carroll County to build a fiber network reaching 1,838 residents and 22 businesses, as well as the BARC Electric Cooperative ($4.5 million) in Rockbridge County to reach 820 homes and businesses. And in Wisconsin, the USDA awarded $8.6 million to expand broadband to 1,574 residents and 43 businesses in the rural counties of Barron, Burnett and Washburn: $4.3 million will go to CTC Telcom, and $4.3 million will go to the Chibardun Telephone Cooperative.