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Surf Internet is celebrating efforts to move several Illionois communities in their fixed-wireless footprint to fiber.
By: Brad Randall, Broadband Communities
Efforts in a trio of communities along Route 1 in Illinois will form a new corridor of fiber access, according to Surf Internet’s latest announcement.
The communities that will make up the corridor, Momence, Grant Park, and Beecher, have all been in Surf’s fixed wireless footprint since 2002, the company said.
Momence is the first of the communities to see fiber access.
According to Surf, the move to fiber marks a major step forward for residents and businesses.
The company said their project in the Route 1 corridor will also tie into their broader network in the northwestern portion of Indiana.
Momence Mayor Chuck Steele said infrastructure makes all the difference for communities of Momence’s size.
The city, located within Kankakee County, has a population of a few thousand residents and straddles the banks of the Kankakee River.
“Fiber internet keeps us competitive with larger cities, while making sure our residents and businesses don’t have to leave town to find the opportunities they deserve,” Steele said, according to Surf’s release.
While service has launched in Momence, Surf expects fiber service to launch in Grant Park soon and says construction plans are also underway in Beecher.
According to Surf Internet, the project represents $5.25 million in investment.
“This private investment complements Surf’s ambitions under the state’s Connect Illinois program and positions the company well for upcoming federal BEAD awards, both of which are expected to play a transformational role in expanding broadband access across the state,” Surf’s release stated.
When all is said and done, over 4,200 locations in the three communities will gain access to plans starting at 2 Gig and Surf’s multi-gig fiber internet, Surf announced.
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