The Buildout is a column from Light Reading tracking broadband network deployments. This week we're tracking new construction, awards and service launches reaching over 112,000 locations across the US. Send us your news at [email protected]. Keep up with every installment of The Buildout here.
Highline, Nextlink, Nexstream big BOOT winners
Texas finalized awards worth $424.6 million for 13 counties and seven providers as part of its Bringing Online Opportunities to Texas Program (BOOT). This funding marks the second round of BOOT grants (thus, BOOT II), and will connect roughly 54,000 locations in the counties of Bastrop, Carson, Coleman, Edwards, Falls, Irion, Karnes, Liberty, Morris, Newton, Reagan, Throckmorton and Trinity. The state is in the process of finalizing agreements for an additional $277.3 million in available BOOT II funding, to connect 39,000 unserved locations, for a total funding allocation of $701.9 million. Providers awarded thus far for BOOT II include Highline ($138.2 million across three grants), Nextlink ($89 million, five grants), Nexstream ($77.5 million), VTX Communications ($51 million) and RTA ($43 million). Plains Internet and Resound Networks also picked up roughly $12.8 million each.
Massachusetts awards $12.6 million to Comcast, Verizon (but mostly Comcast)
Massachusetts awarded $12.6 million this week through the state's Broadband Infrastructure Gap Networks Grant Program to two providers to deliver connectivity to roughly 1,440 locations across 96 cities and towns. The bulk of the funds, $11.3 million, went to Comcast. Verizon will receive $1.35 million to cover three of the selected communities. This round of funding follows an initial round of Gap Networks Awards announced in July 2024 wherein Verizon received $37 million and Comcast $2.69 million (with Spectrum getting $4.9 million).
United, MTE complete partial construction in Wilson County
United Communications and Middle Tennessee Electric (MTE) completed the first phase of their fiber buildout in Wilson County, Tennessee, according to a press release. The $16 million project connects more than 10,000 households in the region, including approximately 2,000 previously unserved locations. The build is part of United/MTE's larger Project Unite, through which they seek to connect every home and business in Middle Tennessee "through local partnerships and strategic grant funding." United is the service provider arm of Middle Tennessee Electric, an electric cooperative.
Spectrum connects more rural Tennessee homes
Also in Tennessee, Charter's Spectrum has launched its services for more than 3,100 homes and businesses throughout McMinn and Meigs Counties. The build is part of Spectrum's multi-year $9 billion expansion in the rural US, supported with over $2 billion in grants from the FCC's Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and local governments, to reach 1.75 million new locations.
Comcast comes to Florida's Charlotte County
Comcast is investing $15 million to expand its network to "thousands" of homes and businesses in Charlotte County, Florida. In a press release, the company said that areas including Port Charlotte and Rotunda West are serviceable now, with more connections coming to the areas of Rotunda West, Gulf Cove and South Gulf Cove as well.
Vermont CUD signs agreement with Fidium Fiber
Fidium Fiber (Consolidated Communications) has finalized an agreement with Vermont's Chittenden County Communications Union District (CUD) that will see Fidium deliver its fiber broadband service to more than 140 homes and businesses in the CUD. Specifically, Fidium's network will connect unserved and underserved locations in parts of Essex, Jericho, Shelburne, Westford and Williston. According to a press release, the build is being funded with a grant from the Vermont Community Broadband Board (VCBB) as well as funds from Fidium.
Armstrong connects parts of Butler County
Fiber provider Armstrong (part of Armstrong Group) has completed construction to deliver its service in parts of Butler County, Pennsylvania. The company installed 970 miles of fiber infrastructure throughout the regions of Cranberry, Gibsonia, Mars, Seven Fields and Valencia; with work coming to Zelienople Borough in "early 2025," according to a press release. The fiber infrastructure project will bring connectivity to over 44,000 homes and businesses. Armstrong has received over $12 million in grants from the Pennsylvania Broadband Development Authority to expand broadband in Butler County, according to local reporting. In July 2024, Armstrong Group agreed to pay a $6.5 million settlement in order to resolve allegations that the company "violated the False Claims Act by knowingly violating the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) rules governing the agency's High-Cost Program and submitting improper costs in order to inflate the subsidies it received from the federal Universal Service Fund (USF)," between 2008 and 2023, according to the DOJ.