The Buildout is a column from Light Reading tracking broadband network deployments. This week we’re tracking new construction, awards and service launches reaching over 40,000 locations across the US. Send us your news at [email protected]. Keep up with every installment of The Buildout hereand sign up for the Light Reading Broadband newsletter here to get The Buildout in your inbox every Friday.
Louisiana to connect 15K BEAD BSLs by 2027
Louisiana shared updates on its progress with its BEAD buildout this week. The state said it is targeting early 2027, by the end of Q1, to complete BEAD broadband construction to 15,000 broadband serviceable locations (BSLs) across 23 parishes. Those locations will be built out by a range of BEAD winners in the state, including Cajun Broadband (2,221 locations in Iberia, Plaquemines and Vermillion parishes); Nextlink Internet (2,041 locations in Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Natchitoches and Webster parishes); Pelican Broadband (977 locations in Red River parish); REV (2,434 locations in East Baton Rouge, Livingston and St. John the Baptist parishes); Skyrider Communications (704 locations in Caldwell and Jackson parishes); Star Communications (302 locations in Avoyelles, Iberville, Pointe Coupée and West Baton Rouge parishes); and Swyft Fiber (5,830 locations in Jefferson Davis, Rapides, Sabine, St. Landry and Tensas parishes). Louisiana aims for “statewide access” by 2028. Louisiana is spending $498.7 million of its original $1.4 billion BEAD allocation on deployment to connect 127,108* BSLs, with nearly 81% of locations to receive fiber, 8.4% to receive low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite, 5.9% licensed fixed wireless, and 5.1% hybrid-fiber coax, according to an NTIA summary. Relatedly this week, Louisiana also announced it completed the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review process for BEAD projects covering over 50,000 BSLs. (*Note that the location numbers are somewhat in flux, as Louisiana cites 124,000 locations in its latest press release versus NTIA’s 127,000, a difference which Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar tells Light Reading is “most likely” due to some BSLs being removed from the BEAD map since Louisiana’s proposal was approved.)
Comcast hits Michigan milestone
Comcast announced a “significant construction milestone” in Jackson County, Michigan, where the company has surpassed the halfway point in its Xfinity network deployment. Construction is nearing completion in the regions of Concord, Horton, Leslie, Onondaga and Rives Junction, with work also underway in Hanover, Jackson, Munith, Parma and Pleasant Lake. The full project will reach over 7,400 locations once complete by the spring of 2027, with locations becoming serviceable on a rolling basis, according to a press release.
Also this week, Comcast announced it completed its network expansion in the borough of Bloomsbury, New Jersey, located in Hunterdon County, connecting nearly 400 homes and businesses to its Xfinity and Comcast Business services.
Ziply Fiber lights up more of PNW
More locations in parts of Oregon and Washington can now receive service from Ziply Fiber. That includes 250 addresses in Aumsville, Oregon, a city in Marion County, with work continuing over the next several weeks to reach 1,600 locations in the region in total. Ziply began work in the Pacific Northwest this summer.
Over in Kettle Falls, Washington, a city in Stevens County, Ziply Fiber service is now available to the first 350 homes and businesses, with work underway to deliver service to 650 addresses across the city in total. Ziply construction is also ongoing in Fairfield, Washington, with the first 200 locations now receiving service, according to a press release. Construction will continue “over the next several weeks” to ultimately connect 500 addresses throughout the Spokane County town. Ziply Fiber was acquired by Bell Canada (BCE) in August 2025.
GoNetspeed connects Carteret, NJ
GoNetspeed continues its conquest of New Jersey, with the company next to take on the Borough of Carteret. According to a press release, GoNetspeed will invest $8 million to reach more than 6,300 homes and businesses in the Middlesex County region. Construction is set to begin as early as spring 2027, with initial connections anticipated by next summer. Earlier this year, T-Mobile announced it will invest $2 billion in order to form a 50/50 joint venture with Oak Hill Capital to acquire and combine GoNetspeed with Greenlight Networks. The deal is expected to close in 2027.
Archtop Fiber live in Sand Lake, NY
Archtop Fiber officially launched services in the town of Sand Lake, New York, located in Rensselaer County. Construction in the area commenced in June and was completed in August, delivering Archtop Fiber service to more than 1,500 homes and businesses. Archtop Fiber is a portfolio company of Post Road Group, an alternative asset manager.
Glo lights up Circleville, Ohio
Glo Fiber, operated by Shenandoah Telecommunications (Shentel), has completed network upgrades in Circleville, Ohio. The company transitioned its network to XGS-PON technology for 6,000 homes and businesses in the Pickaway County region, according to a press release.
