Telecom/Electric
Ohio city invests $7 million in fiber optic network
Ohio-based Omni Fiber and the City of Wilmington have partnered to bring broadband access to the majority of the city with a new state-of-the art 100% fiber network.
Canada approves largest telecommunications deal in country’s history with Rogers-Shaw merger
The largest telecommunications deal in Canadian history will go forward after Rogers Communications Inc.’s $19 billion takeover of Shaw Communications Inc. received approval from Ottawa.
Bandwidth IG adds third dark fiber route to San Francisco network
Approximately 300 MW of additional data center capacity is under development in the Silicon Valley market, according to Cushman & Wakefield. The growth demonstrates the immense need for reliable infrastructure to connect compute locations, cloud providers, and network operators across the market.
CommScope to increase U.S. fiber optic cable production to connect underserved communities
CommScope’s expansion will introduce a new HeliARC fiber optic cable, specifically designed for the needs of rural deployments while investing $47 million CapEx in the U.S. toward expanding fiber optic cable production focused on rural applications.
NextEra Energy subsidiary FPL starts moving power underground in Coral Gables, Fla.
(UI) — More than 100 city officials and employees of Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) gathered in a neighborhood in Coral Gables, Fla., to officially start a long-awaited project: the undergrounding of electricity lines in the area as part of FPL's Storm Safe Underground Program.
Empire Access to expand fiber optic network in Pennsylvania
This expansion comes as Empire Access recently announced plans to build fiber in nearby Pennsylvania communities, Williamsport and Scranton.
Luna Innovations wins fiber optic monitoring system contract for major U.S. clean energy project
Luna’s technology will provide temperature, depth of burial, and acoustic monitoring for the power cables that form the backbone of the system. The monitoring services will help ensure safe, efficient delivery of renewable, reliable, low-cost power over the area’s 300-mile transmission line.
Alabama governor approves plan for $660 million in funding for water, sewer, broadband upgrades
Alabama lawmakers gave final approval on March 16 to a spending plan to use $1 billion in federal coronavirus funds largely on a mix of water and sewer infrastructure, broadband expansion and reimbursements to health care providers hit financially by the pandemic.
Zipfly Fiber upgrades copper infrastructure to fiber optic network across Washington, Oregon
With the addition of these markets, Ziply Fiber has announced new fiber construction projects in more than 90 cities and towns across the Northwest since it began its extensive fiber expansion efforts in the summer of 2020.
Crown Electrokinetics partners with telecommunication infrastructure company to build fiber optic network across Northwest US
The agreement expands Crown’s customer base and geographic coverage with operations now in Washington, and soon to expand to Oregon and California.
Metronet expands fiber optic network throughout Grand Rapids, Michigan
Metronet’s fully funded multimillion-dollar investment will provide more residents and businesses throughout the city with access to Metronet’s ultra-high-speed, multi-gigabit fiber optic internet.
PG&E curtails plan to bury over 3,500 miles of power lines in effort to reduce wildfires
(UI) — In order to reduce the risk of wildfires in the western United States, California-based electric utility and natural gas supplier PG&E Inc. has scaled back its plans to lay over 3,600 miles of power lines underground through 2026. Beginning in June, PG&E will be tried for manslaughter in connection with fire fatalities allegedly resulting from its overhead power lines, which were blamed for the deadliest wildfire in California history in 2018.
High-speed fiber internet provider completes fiber network in Connecticut
Through GoNetspeed’s $6.5 million investment, residents and businesses throughout Vernon, Rockville, and South Windsor now have the ability to experience high-speed, symmetrical upload and download internet speeds directly from their home or business.
KCI Technologies acquires Virginia-based telecommunications company
KCI Technologies has acquired National Telecom Design. The acquisition extends KCI’s presence in the telecommunications industry, growing KCI’s engineering, backbone and lateral fiber design, relocation and inspection capabilities for communications clients throughout the Mid-Atlantic.
Construction of 339-mile power line begins in New York City
Construction has begun on an underground electrical transmission line that will bring Canadian hydropower to New York City as part of an effort to make the Big Apple less reliant on fossil fuels, state officials announced Wednesday.
Georgia to use $240 million in federal cash to build broadband
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp said the state will spend another $240 million in federal COVID-19 relief funds to construct broadband internet to rural locations that don’t currently have connections.
KUB continues investment in East Tennessee water, sewer, natural gas, and fiber optic infrastructure
As infrastructure across the U.S. ages and communities begin to feel the impact, Knoxville Utilities Board continues what it started 15 years ago to ensure its safe and reliable utility services do not suffer as a result of aging infrastructure.
Infinera, NEC deploy solution to connect underground fiber optic networks in US, Mexico
Infinera and NEC Corp. have deployed the partnership’s ICE6 technology, a solution that will help establish a 100% underground and ultra-low latency fiber network to connect Laredo, Texas, with the city of Monterrey in Mexico.
Kentucky governor announces $203 million for broadband expansion
Kentucky took a step toward closing its digital divide when Gov. Andy Beshear announced $203 million in broadband investments to connect areas with no internet access or chronically slow service.
Conterra to invest $22 million in North Carolina broadband infrastructure
Conterra Ultra Broadband Holdings announced its continued investment in fiber network growth across Union County, North Carolina, with its initial investment of $9.6 million and an additional estimated $12.7 million expected over 5 years.
PG&E moves power underground in plan to bury 10,000 miles
Pacific Gas & Electric Co. is working on an ambitious project to bury thousands of miles of power lines in an effort to prevent igniting fires with its equipment and avoid shutting down electricity during hot and windy weather.
Broadband expansion has companies looking to recruit skilled workers
Although major federal investments are aiming to bridge the internet access gap, the funds can only go so far without an increase in the number of workers capable of building and installing high-speed internet infrastructure.
Fiber Comes Home
The inexorable wave of fiber to the premises continues its march across America and indeed, much of the world. And to my delight, fiber is finally arriving at homes in my suburban community.
$1 billion hydropower project's fate rests with Maine supreme court
A stalled $1 billion energy corridor aimed at bringing Canadian hydropower to the New England power grid could be given new life — or spiked for good — by the state’s high court.
$3 million grant funding broadband internet installation in rural Michigan communities
Merit Network was awarded a $2.99 million Economic Development Administration grant under the CARES Act Recovery Assistance Grant to support construction of 70 miles of middle-mile fiber optic infrastructure in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan.
Big US energy transmission projects inch closer to approval
The federal government has finished another environmental review of a proposed transmission line that will carry wind-generated electricity from rural New Mexico to big cities in the West.
Unity-based telecom is bought by Idaho company
Unity telecommunications has been bought by Direct Communications to serve high-speed internet to rural communities.
FOSA supports new Federal Highway Administration "Dig Once" regulations
The Fiber Optic Sensing Association supports new "Dig Once" policies that go into effect on March 3.
Harbor Link breaks ground on new Baltimore underground conduit project
Harbor Link begins work on a Baltimore telecommunications project that will install 60 miles of conduit to be used for fiber optic cables.
PG&E Announces New Electric Infrastructure Safety Initiative to Protect Communities from Wildfire Threat
PG&E announces a new initiative to protect communities from wildfire threats by expanding its underground electric distribution power lines.
- DeLa Express seeks FERC approval for Permian-to-Louisiana gas pipeline project
- OSHA penalizes Houston contractor over safety violations resulting in worker's death
- Fiber infrastructure has no known expiration date, Fiber Broadband Association research concludes
- Nevada OSHA fines Elon Musk's Boring Company over safety violations in Vegas tunnel project
- Damage prevention and safety: Turning awareness into action
- Ditch Witch 1030
- Michigan lawmakers introduce bills to create septic codes throughout the state
- Indiana American Water to gain 8,000 water customers with Silver Creek Water acquisition
- Arkansas governor allocates $42 million for water infrastructure projects
- Federal judge finds Flint, Mich, in contempt over lead water pipe crisis