Brightspeed plans fiber network in Superior

Shelley Nelson, Superior Telegram, Wis.
·3 min read

Nov. 22—SUPERIOR — ConnectSuperior is facing competition as work is underway to design the first phase of the new broadband utility in Superior.

Brightspeed, headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, is pushing ahead with plans to build a fiber to the on-premise network in Superior.

Engineering and design of a new high-speed internet in Superior is complete and construction is expected to begin on the network in mid-December, said Kelly Shipley, Brightspeed government affairs and public policy director. She said a large portion of the infrastructure technology such as wire center electronics and optical line terminals are already in the installation phase and expected to be complete by the end of the year.

"Our planned Brightspeed Fiber Internet network build in Superior will provide approximately 13,400 homes and businesses access to our state-of-the-art network," Shipley said. "This has already grown from our initial plans as we have learned more and identified additional opportunities to expand locally."

The company anticipates bringing its first customers in Superior online by March 2024, Shipley said. Pricing for the services is $59 per month for 200 megabytes per second service; $69 per month for 500 Mbps; and $79 per month for 1 Gbps service.

Brightspeed participates in the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program to provide discounts up to $30 per month for qualified customers, Shipley said.

"Brightspeed independently made the decision to invest in Superior as part of its first phase of fiber builds following the launch of the company in October 2022," Shipley said. "The city's plans have not influenced our decision to continue with our plan of bringing high-speed connectivity to the residents and businesses of Superior."

The company was established with Apollo-managed funds acquiring Lumen Technology's incumbent local exchange carrier assets in 20 states in the Southeast and Midwest. The company now serves former CenturyLink customers.

The build in Superior is part of the company's $2 billion, multi-year investment to bring high-speed internet connectivity to more than three million homes and businesses across 20 states, Shipley said.

She said the company has been in contact with the mayor and city councilors as Brightspeed has developed its plan.

Mayor Jim Paine said they have received emails and he's had one meeting with the company. He said there are distinct differences between what ConnectSuperior is planning and what Brightspeed plans to build, which is a network that will be largely aerial rather than underground, making it much more vulnerable to weather-related outages.

Shipley said about 84% of the Brightspeed network will be aerial, while the remaining 16% would be buried fiber optic lines.

ConnectSuperior would be built primarily underground because of wind and ice conditions in Superior.

"Even if they build that network, it would be no different than Spectrum right now," Paine said. "It will be a monopoly that will be charging too much for a service where customers have nowhere else to go. It isn't solving the problem."

ConnectSuperior would invite competition among internet service providers utilizing a city-owned network that will be built primarily underground.

"The biggest risk is failure," Paine said. "You heard the biggest criticism of ConnectSuperior is 'what if we fail.' But the fact is public utilities almost never fail. Public utilities have at least a 100-year history in the United States, and we can provide services affordably."

Paine said while a company is likely to leave if the business doesn't make enough money in the community, ConnectSuperior is 100% committed to serving the city with high-speed internet.

"We believe Brightspeed Fiber Internet will provide the citizens of Superior with the connectivity they need to thrive in today's digital world," Shipley said.