progress: BUSINESS & INDUSTRY Fiber internet expanding as fast as demand will allow in Charles City
C2
CHARLES CITY PRESS | WWW.CHARLESCITYPRESS.COM | FRIDAY, MARCH 28, 2025
By Travis Fischer tk fi scher@charlescitypress.com The rollout of fi ber internet service in Charles City contin- ues, but the pace at which local provider OmniTel Communi- cations can expand service still depends on interest in the com- munity. OmniTel began laying down fi ber internet infrastructure in downtown to serve Charles City businesses in the summer of 2023, but since then expan- sion into the city’s residential areas has been slow going. The company currently has about 200 customers in the Charles City community both in the city limits and the sur- rounding area. While the company has kept busy extending service to sur- rounding rural areas north and west of the city, no new fi ber has been placed in the city lim- its in the last year. “Really what we’re looking for is on the north and west side of town, because that’s where our existing fi ber is right now,” said Tanner Snow, an OmniTel marketing agent. The biggest determining fac- tor for OmniTel’s fi ber expan-
sion comes down to interest from the community. Interest- ed households can register on OmniTel’s website, which will inform the company where it should prioritize its expansion efforts. “We’re going to build where we see the most demand,” said Snow. “The more registers we get, the better.” One area of town of partic- ular interest is the northern neighborhood near the city’s water treatment plant. THE CHARLES CITY COUNCIL approved an agreement to up- grade the internet at the plant during its regular meeting on Monday, March 17. With the city expressing a desire to see OmniTel’s fi ber service extend to the plant, OmniTel will have extra incen- tive to attract potential custom- ers between the plant and Om- niTel’s existing line on Shadow Ave. With the water treatment plant utilizing cloud-based ser- vices that require high speed internet at a consistency that its current service provider is not providing, the city received a
Press fi le photo by Bob Steenson A crew from Central Cable Contractors Inc. of Waupun, Wisconsin, installs a fi ber optic main line for OmniTel Communications of Nora Springs. The downtown area and some other parts of town had fi ber installed beginning in 2023, but expansion into other areas has slowed as the company waits for enough interest to be expressed to justify expansion, an OmniTel spokesperson said.
quote from OmniTel Communi- cations with several options for having fi ber internet installed to the plant. The most cost-effective plan is a $15,000 upfront fee for
the installation of a fi ber line from North Grand Avenue to the plant, along with a $150 per month fee for 750MB service. The city is currently paying $250 for 150MB speeds and
has been experiencing notable downtime, city of fi cials said. Residents between North Grand Avenue and the wa- ter plant will be able to take advantage of the new build
should they decide to sign up for fi ber service. “If the city is on board, then that’s where we’ll be looking to build for sure,” said Snow.
Our Colleagues Make the Difference. Join Us! Join the World Leader in Animal Health!
Starting wage is $19/hour
Benefits • $500 Sign On Bonus • Healthcare and insurance benefits beginning on day one • 4 weeks of vacation and 13 holidays per year • Tuition reimbursement up to $15,000 per year and student loan repayment assistance up to $1,800 per year • A 401K plan with a match and profit-sharing contribution
Visit us online at zoetis.com/careers to see our current openings and to apply online.
Made with FlippingBook Ebook Creator