Utilities and internet services aren’t a luxury in the 21st century. It’s not news to anyone that having accessible internet service and Wi-Fi is a way of life. Without access to the internet, not only will you be disconnected from friends, family, and loved ones, but you also won’t be able to use typical services or business features that may have transitioned to an online-only business model. All that to say, there are cities in the U.S. that have transcended the standard service model and offer unusual utility and internet service models, most of which include fiber-optic options.
Lehi City, Utah
This city in Utah is building a fiber-optic broadband network so that its community has access to high-speed internet services. What would be included in this type of model? A reliable internet connection, virtually unlimited bandwidth potential, and multi-gig internet speeds, among other benefits. While the service is in the works, the pricing model has already been released, including residential and business, and it even participates in the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP.)
There will be various internet service providers (ISPs) working with Lehi Fiber to help customers select the best option for their needs. Providers include IntelliPop, XMission, SumoFiber, Beehive Broadband, and CentraCom. Pricing for residents is available in various ranges depending on their speed preference and usage. While this project is still in the works, Lehi City is allowing residents to register their addresses to preregister to receive fiber faster. Instead of just installing as the town sees fit, the city is using a preregistration option to prioritize not only fiber updates, but also who receives the network the quickest given their interest via the form.
Breckenridge, Colorado
Breckenridge has dealt with limited internet and connectivity issues for years, especially during peak season. With the Fiber9600 project, users will have not only competitive pricing, but also faster internet speeds and more connectivity across town. Breckenridge and ALLO Communications are teaming up to provide this access, and they feel they are better positioned than anyone else to invest in the community and improve the lives of its citizens and visitors.
ALLO will be offering fiber and fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) to replace existing copper infrastructure such as telephone wires and coaxial cable. Services from ALLO include internet, TV, and phone.
Lewis County, Washington
Deploy an open-access fiber network to boost broadband competition and lower prices by 2026 — that’s the goal of Lewis County, Washington. In 2021, the Public Utility District announced it would be deploying fiber across the county’s 2,450 square miles, which includes about 75,000 Washingtonians, or about 30,000 households. This development would also be part of a 25-year public-private partnership with ToledoTel, which is planning to install, supply, and maintain the new fiber optic network for homes and businesses.
Alford, Massachusetts
Despite being one of the smallest towns in Massachusetts and the country, Alford now has some of the fastest internet in the country. The town installed the AlfordLink system, a fiber-optic network that includes gigabit speeds and is operated by Westfield Gas & Electric/Whip City Fiber. Subscriptions started at over $100 initially with an option to pay extra for phone service. In 2014, the town voted to fund this system in tandem with the Massachusetts Broadband Institute, and after almost a decade, residents are seeing incredible speeds and connectivity.
Wilson, North Carolina
Wilson became North Carolina’s first gigabit city in partnership with Greenlight, which offered gigabit residential services to Wilson initially almost a decade ago. In 2016, Greenlight partnered with the Wilson Housing Authority to connect hundreds of public housing residents to $10-per-month, low-cost, fast internet access, many of whom wouldn’t have been able to afford access otherwise. Because of Wilson’s continued investment in its fiber infrastructure to help local businesses as well as residents, it’s continuing to lead the way in terms of internet service and utility access.
During the pandemic, Wilson and Greenlight helped install more than 3,000 feet of fiber so that remote learning could continue successfully. Wilson will be offering OpTIC (optical telecom installation certification) with Wilson Community College to ensure that experts in the fiber industry will continue to thrive and grow as fiber expands across the U.S. This will also be paired with a 2,000-hour apprenticeship — one that’s approved by the U.S. Department of Labor. Wilson continues to lead the way in terms of fiber and fiber education.
Chattanooga, Tennessee
“Welcome to Gig City.” Residents and visitors may have seen this giant sign at the Chattanooga airport. What could possibly make the city promote its internet service so boldly? Well, Chattanooga was the first city in the U.S. to have a citywide gigabit-per-second fiber internet network, and the city’s government built it itself. Chattanooga’s innovative internet service allowed it to be a sought-after location and become a startup hub.
Having the nickname “The Gig” has enabled Chattanooga to compare with some of the country’s larger cities and even get on the radar of individuals and businesses who may not have otherwise considered this southeastern city. Because of the Electric Power Board's efforts to establish fiber internet service in Chattanooga, it also eventually became the largest taxpayer in the entire city and was also cited as a major driver of new jobs and economic benefits.