Telecom/Electric
$20.4 million fiber-broadband project to benefit over 8,000 customers in Lumpkin County, Ga.
The combined venture will enable Kinetic to lay more than 450 miles of optical fiber cable to bring high-speed internet to residences, businesses and schools.
Consumers Energy proposes new buried power line program to strengthen Michigan grid
The pilot will study real-world resiliency improvements that result from burying power lines, and how those improvements compare with other approaches to improving electric service for nearly 2 million Michigan homes and businesses.
Wellington City Council adopts digital map for underground infrastructure management
(UI) — The Wellington Underground Asset Map, backed by a $4 million investment, aims to revolutionize the installation and maintenance of buried infrastructure, including telecommunications cables, gas pipes, and other vital services.
Utility Broadband Alliance reaches 100-member milestone
CenterPoint Energy, Duke Energy and Lower Colorado River Authority are the newest utility members to join the utility-led Alliance, which incorporated in 2021 and seeks to help accelerate utilities’ journey toward a more secure, resilient and future-proof grid.
Penelec begins upgrading underground electrical network in Cambria County, Pa.
The work includes installing new underground transformers and protective devices designed to rapidly detect and isolate damage when problems occur and reroute electricity to nearby cables to prevent or shorten the duration of power interruptions.
Biden administration pledges nationwide internet access by 2030 using domestically-made cables
Biden said more than 35,000 projects are already funded or underway to lay cable that provides internet access. Some of those are from $25 billion in initial funding as part of the “American Rescue Plan.”
Biden-Harris administration awards $930 million for middle-mile infrastructure
(UC) — The Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has announced over $930 million to expand middle mile high-speed Internet infrastructure across 35 states and Puerto Rico.
ComEd awarded $14.5 million federal grant to deploy fiber optic infrastructure in underserved Chicago communities
The Middle Mile Grant will leverage ComEd’s planned infrastructure investment to affordably bring new middle-mile infrastructure into 24 communities in need, representing 440,000 households in communities like North Lawndale, Englewood, Woodlawn and South Shore.
Lumos invests over $50 million in North Carolina fiber optic expansion project
"One of our strategic actions is to increase the availability of high-speed broadband throughout the County – this investment allows us to do just that," said Desiree Patrick, Harnett County Community Relations Director.
Fiber Broadband Association expands state broadband resources with Workforce Development Guidebook
(UI) — FBA’s Workforce Development Guidebook notes that, according to the government’s calculations, 150,000 telecom jobs will be created by BEAD, while research by the Fiber Broadband Association estimates the industry will need over 205,000 new jobs in the next five years to construct, operate, and maintain these new networks in every state.
Fermaca Networks launches “first of its kind” fiber optic route from West Texas to Central Mexico
“This $175 million investment is the first phase of Fermaca Networks’ Mexico network expansion. It marks the first phase of bringing much sought Long Distance Dark Fiber availability between the US and Mexico," said Edgar Mosti, Chief Revenue Officer of Fermaca Networks.
Peak Utility undergoes corporate realignment to improve utility, telecom services
As part of Peak’s growth strategy, the new structure will align the company’s businesses by region to better meet client needs and provide its customers with comprehensive utility and telecommunications services.
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.
- Deadline to submit abstracts for Underground Infrastructure Conference's 30th anniversary education program extended to July 19
- Drilling under the LSU campus
- OSHA investigation launched after worker found unconscious in Kansas City, Mo., sewer pipe
- 26th annual directional drilling survey: More fuel on the fire
- Restoring power to Minnesota’s northwest angle
- Vermeer Debuts New Horizontal Directional Drill
- Sewer maintenance: Myth-busting, best-practice training
- Berkeley pushes PG&E to bury power lines to mitigate wildfire risk
- Houston faces hurdles in transitioning to underground power lines amid severe weather concerns
- Calgary declares state of emergency over water pipeline repairs