Efforts to create a fiber-to-home network in Columbus could get started as early as next week.
The Columbus Board of Works has approved a master license agreement and a master easement agreement with Meridiam Infrastructure North America Corp. The company has agreed to create a fiber-to-premise network that officials say will reach at least 85% of Columbus and is also creating networks in Bloomington and Shelbyville.
City Director of Finance, Operations and Risk Jamie Brinegar said Bloomington already has “shovels in the ground,” and Meridiam has indicated that it would be able to start work in Columbus two weeks after the approval of the two agreements.
“The hope is first quarter of next year, they will be working on fiber to the home for people to sign up,” said Brinegar.
The licensing agreement approved by the board gives Meridiam access to the city’s conduit.
“You approved the master agreement with Meridiam, so what we’ve done is incorporated some of that language, then, to allow licensing and easements to get in the right of way, essentially,” said City Attorney Alan Whitted. “So in order to implement this agreement for the conduits and then also other areas where conduit isn’t located they’re going to use, we’ve given them that approval.”
He added that while much of the city’s approval was included in a master development agreement that the board voted on in June, officials wanted to run it by the board again in the interest of transparency and covering all the bases.
The master easement agreement is also a subset of the master development agreement, said Brinegar. He added that Meridiam will still come to the city’s engineering department with special use of right-of-way requests as needed.
In July, Columbus City Council approved a tax abatement for Hoosier Networks — a fiber network utility provider established by Meridiam — that will save the company 95% on personal property taxes every year for 20 years on $28 million in new equipment for the fiber-to-premise project. City officials also plan to use some of Columbus’ American Rescue Plan funds to help cover the cost of connection for low-income residents.
Senior Investment Director Nick Phillips told Columbus officials in July that Meridiam will initially have an exclusive contract with one internet service provider (ISP). The contract will be for five years with the option for two one-year extensions, making the maximum term seven years. After the initial contract period is over, Meridiam will then be open to forming agreements with other providers.
It was announced in September that GigabitNow would serve as the initial ISP. It’s expected that Columbus residents will be able to sign up for service in early 2023, with final residents receiving service by the end of 2024. Community members can visit gigabitnow.com/columbus/ to learn more and pre-register to receive information about service availability.
County officials are also working with Meridiam on their own broadband project. The Bartholomew County Council voted to approve a 20-year tax abatement for Hoosier Networks in September. Meridiam, in turn, will invest about $33 million into buying and distributing fiber optic cable throughout the county, said County Commissioner Tony London. The county also plans to invest $4 million in COVID-19 relief funds to reach several remote locations.
