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 46,000 locations across the US. Send us your news at [email protected]. Keep up with every installment of The Buildout here and sign up for the Light Reading Broadband newsletter here to get The Buildout in your inbox every Friday.
GoNetspeed grows in the Northeast
GoNetspeed announced progress on its buildouts in parts of New York and New Jersey. In Norwich, New York (Chenango County), GoNetspeed is now available to initial customers. Construction will continue on the $4 million project to ultimately reach 3,100 homes and businesses. Over in New Jersey, GoNetspeed has kicked off construction on a $4.5 million buildout in the unincorporated community of Parlin, located within Old Bridge Township and Sayreville Borough in Middlesex County. That build, announced in July, will ultimately connect 3,100 locations, with the first homes and businesses now expected to receive service by this winter, according to a press release. In April, 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.
Race expands to Dinuba, California
Race Communications will expand to the city of Dinuba, California, in Tulare County. Network construction is expected to start this fall, with Race anticipating a total reach of 4,000 homes and businesses. In a press release, Race Communications said this buildout in Dinuba builds upon a $200 million investment in the state announced in March. Race Communications is majority owned by Oak Hill Capital and last year announced its acquisition of Atherton Fiber to expand its fiber footprint in California.
TDS to expand in Idaho and Oregon
TDS touted plans to grow its reach in southwest Idaho and eastern Oregon. Specifically, the company will build out a gigabit fiber network in the regions of Emmett, Idaho (Gem County) and Ontario, Oregon (Malheur County), delivering connectivity to nearly 10,000 homes and businesses. Construction start dates are still to be determined, according to a press release. TDS, a subsidiary of Telephone and Data Systems, has funding from Oaktree Capital Management.
Fiber build starts on Laguna Pueblo
A new broadband construction project is underway on the Laguna Pueblo, in Cibola County, New Mexico. According to a press release, construction commenced at the end of July to build more than 100 miles of fiber to reach over 1,400 locations. The $26 million project received $13.9 million in grants, including $9 million awarded for last-mile connections through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and a $4.8 million state grant for middle-mile connectivity. The Pueblo of Laguna also contributed a $12.1 million cash match for the project. In a press release, the state’s broadband office said that K’awaika Hanu Internet (KHI), the current wireless ISP for the region, will become the fiber broadband service provider once the network is up and running. Work is expected to be complete at the end of Q1 2027.
Mediacom takes on Indiana builds
Mediacom Communications announced a public-private partnership with the state of Indiana to complete two broadband projects over the next two years. The $2.4 million projects will see Mediacom construct 30 miles of last-mile fiber to reach 400 homes and businesses in Rome City (a town in Noble County) and Wolcottville (a town spanning Noble and LaGrange Counties).
Spectrum ‘nears completion’ in Citrus County
Charter’s Spectrum announced a “milestone” in its buildout effort in Citrus County, Florida. According to a press release, the company’s services are now available to more than 8,000 homes and businesses “as its network expansion nears completion.” Marking the milestone, Spectrum also presented a $15,000 “Beyond the Build Digital Education grant” to United Way of Citrus County to “empower digital access and education for students and families,” states a press release.
Spectrum also gave updates on its progress in rural Michigan this week. That includes Montcalm County, where Spectrum services are now available to more than 1,700 additional homes and businesses within the townships of Belvidere, Bloomer, Bushnell, Cato, Crystal, Douglass, Evergreen, Ferris, Maple Valley, Montcalm, Pine, Reynolds, Sidney and Winfield. Over in Mason County, Spectrum expanded to more than 500 additional homes and businesses in the townships of Amber, Filer, Freesoil, Grant, Hamlin, Pere Marquette, Riverton and Summit.
Comcast expands on the East Coast…
Comcast has kicked off Xfinity services for more locations in Maine, New Hampshire and Florida, reaching a total of 5,200 new locations across the regions.
In the town of Newfield, Maine, located in York County, Comcast is now available to more than 1,200 homes and businesses. Construction kicked off earlier this year.
In Deerfield, New Hampshire, a town in Rockingham County, Comcast Xfinity and business services are now available for over 2,000 homes and businesses throughout the community.
And over in Columbia County, Florida, Comcast services are now available for more than 3,300 homes and businesses in and around the communities of Ellisville, Fort White, Mikesville, Springville, Suwannee Valley and Winfield. Construction is still ongoing on the state-funded project to reach another 2,000 locations by the end of the year.
…and in Indiana, Ohio & Utah
Also this week, Comcast announced that more than 1,100 additional homes and businesses across Allen County, Indiana, now have access to its Xfinity and business services. Communities gaining connectivity include Churubusco, Columbia City, Fort Wayne, Huntertown, Roanoke and Spencerville.
In Ohio, Comcast wrapped work on a buildout, in partnership with the state, reaching more than 2,300 previously unserved rural homes and businesses across five Eastern Ohio counties, including Belmont, Columbiana, Harrison, Jefferson and Mahoning.
In Utah, Comcast commenced construction to bring its broadband network to 2,400 locations in the Summit County regions of Kamas and Francis. The first customers are expected to receive service this fall, with the full build slated for completion by the end of 2026, according to a press release.
Fidium expands in Minnesota
Fidium Fiber is expanding its network in southern Minnesota, across the Waseca County communities of Janesville and New Richland; the Blue Earth County regions of St. Clair and Vernon Center; and to the city of St James, in Watonwan County, according to a press release published this week. Construction on the project commenced in March, with initial locations receiving connectivity starting in May, according to a company spokesperson. The full network is slated for completion in mid-September and will reach over 2,700 locations. Fidium Fiber (formerly Consolidated Communications) was acquired by affiliates of Searchlight Capital Partners, L.P. and British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) in December 2024. Consolidated rebranded itself as Fidium in September 2025.
Vero Fiber grows in Texas
Vero Fiber wrapped work on its network buildout in the Crane County city of Crane, Texas. The new gigabit fiber network now connects more than 1,800 homes and businesses and marks the 13th community in the state to receive service from Vero Fiber, in addition to the communities of Anson and Hamlin, which also received service this year. In April, Vero Fiber Networks (a subsidiary of VFN Holdings) announced the expansion of its existing credit facility to $425 million of committed capital, jointly arranged by Hancock Whitney Bank, Texas Capital and J.P. Morgan.
