Superior broadband pilot construction begins soon, but users will have cost to connect

Shelley Nelson, Superior Telegram, Wis.
·1 min read
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Jul. 18—SUPERIOR — Work will begin later this summer to install a fiber optic network in the neighborhoods west of the University of Wisconsin-Superior to Tower Avenue between Belknap and North 21st streets.

The Superior City Council approved two agreements Tuesday, July 16, for construction of the network, and oversight and engineering of the ConnectSuperior broadband pilot project.

Hanco Utilities based in Lake Nebagamon will install the conduit and fiber network after submitting the low bid of $1.47 million among eight bids received for the project. ENTRUST (formerly known as Magellan) will provide construction oversight and engineering for the project for a little shy of $403,000.

The project came in under the projected budget of $2.2 million and will stop short of connecting individual homes and businesses in the area.

Councilor Brent Fennessey asked what it will cost to connect individual properties in the pilot area.

Estimates in the business plan put those costs at $700 per premise, but the actual cost has not been determined, said Stephanie Becken, broadband manager.

"A lot of those costs are skewing a little bit high because (estimates) were done when fiber prices were really high, when supply chains were a little bit wiggly," Becken said.

Fennessey, who has consistently voted against the city-owned utility, was the only council member to vote against the agreements.

In other business, councilors adopted changes to the city's cigarette, tobacco and vape product license ordinance that will give the council more oversight of licenses issued. Under the new regulations, the council would determine whether to issue a license and provide the authority for the council to revoke, suspend or not renew licenses for problematic businesses.