Building Broadband: Astound deploys fixed wireless Internet to 26K Northern California homes; Comcast brings broadband to 12K Poland and Boardman, OH locations

Astound deploys fixed wireless Internet to 26K Northern California homes
Astound has launched a new fixed wireless network to expand high-speed internet and Wi-Fi access to more than 26,000 homes in Davis and nearby areas of Yolo and Placer Counties, effective immediately. This includes 2,000 homes in predominantly rural areas of the counties that previously lacked access to high-speed internet. As Astound’s first service offering in the Davis market, the fixed wireless offering will quickly extend its internet and Wi-Fi services to homes in areas without direct access to its physical fiber network and provide an additional reliable option for areas that can access the traditional network.

Comcast brings broadband to 12K Poland and Boardman, OH locations
Comcast has deepened its Ohio presence, connecting 12,000 homes and businesses in Poland and Boardman, Ohio, to multi-gigabit, symmetrical Internet. Poland Township, Poland Village, and Boardman Township have now joined the more than 64 million homes and businesses nationwide with access to Xfinity and Comcast Business products and services, which fuel innovation, productivity, and everyday connection. This build brings Comcast another step closer to connecting over 18,000 new homes and businesses across Poland and Boardman. This expansion is part of Comcast’s latest investments to bring broadband service to Eastern Ohio. Comcast recently brought services to more homes and businesses in Belmont and Jefferson Counties and will be connecting homes and businesses in Springfield Township in the near future.

GoNetspeed completes Ansonia, CT fiber rollout
GoNetspeed has officially completed its $4.3 million fiber network serving Ansonia, Connecticut. With the buildout complete, more than 6,700 homes and businesses can now access GoNetspeed’s multigigabit fiber network. With Ansonia’s construction complete, thousands of Ansonia residents join Bridgeport, Danbury, East Haven, New Haven, Hartford, and more than 40 additional communities in gaining access to GoNetspeed’s service, along with many additional areas that are well on their way to receiving GoNetspeed’s fiber internet.

Oak Hill Capital acquires Hunter Communications
Oak Hill Capital is acquiring Hunter Communications, an Oregon-based, privately owned fiber internet provider. Oak Hill's investment and long-standing digital infrastructure expertise will help Hunter accelerate its fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) network expansion plan within its existing fiber footprint in Oregon and Northern California. Financial terms were not disclosed. Founded in 1994, Hunter is a regional provider of residential, commercial, and enterprise fiber internet, operating more than 3,000 route miles of fiber and serving approximately 100,000 locations. Headquartered in Medford, Oregon, the company delivers multi-gig symmetrical speeds to more than 25,000 customers across the Pacific Northwest. Oak Hill's acquisition of Hunter marks the firm and its predecessors' 22nd broadband communications investment. It comes at a time when demand for high-speed broadband is increasing, particularly in the Tier 2 and Tier 3 markets that Hunter targets.

Pavlov Media launches municipal fiber networks in Lawrence, Kansas and Fayetteville, Arkansas
Pavlov Media has begun construction on its municipal-based fiber networks in Lawrence, Kansas, and Fayetteville, Arkansas, expanding its footprint and bringing fiber-based services directly to existing and future customers in both markets. The company said the expansion will enable apartment owners and managers—particularly those overseeing smaller properties in their portfolios—to benefit from a managed fiber network platform that has traditionally been accessible only to larger communities.

RightFiber lights up fiber network in El Dorado, Ark.
RightFiber is bringing its fiber network to residents and businesses in El Dorado, following a $5 million investment. As part of its Right by You promise, the company provides not only seamless service but also meaningful investments in the communities it serves. Earlier this year, it contributed $10,000 to the United Way of Union County to mark its entry into the community. The company’s broadband internet will soon be available to several neighborhoods. Residents will be notified when services are available by door tags, mail, yard signs and door-to-door team members.

Ripple Fiber expands Massachusetts footprint, bringing fiber broadband to Merrimac
Ripple Fiber is deepening its Massachusetts fiber broadband footprint with plans to launch service in Merrimac. In partnership with the Merrimac Municipal Light Department, Ripple Fiber is bringing fiber internet to over 3,000 households throughout the town. With construction now underway, the provider anticipates its first customers in the area to begin enjoying service by Spring 2026. Ripple Fiber is now investing in Essex County with this expansion into Merrimac. Construction continues in nearby Worcester County, specifically in Holden and West Boylston. The provider recently celebrated the launch of service for its first customers in the state, as more than 11,000 homes are now going live in Holden. In early 2026, Ripple Fiber will celebrate the opening of its new Clinton office with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Ripple Fiber dedicates $250M to establish Washington State fiber broadband presence
Ripple Fiber plans to enter Washington state, establishing the company’s network expansion out to the West Coast. With an anticipated investment of nearly $250 million, this initial project will be the first step in bringing high-speed fiber internet service to more than 200,000 homes across Grays Harbor County and King County. Construction will begin in the coming weeks in Ocean Shores and Federal Way, while Ripple Fiber aims to launch service to its first customers in Washington in the first quarter of 2026. The timing of the deployment is notable since nearly two-thirds of Washington residents still lack access to fiber internet, according to a Reviews.org report published earlier this year.

Surf Internet nears completion of its Hartford, Michigan, fiber build
Surf Internet's fiber network in Hartford is nearly complete, with service already available to the first group of homes and businesses. The project, which began with a groundbreaking on October 15, will bring fast, reliable fiber internet to nearly 1,000 locations across the city by mid–to-late December. Construction has been moving forward in three phases. The first area went live at the end of October, providing fiber service to more than 250 homes and businesses. A second area covering 300+ additional locations was scheduled for completion by the end of November. The third and final area, reaching nearly 400 locations, will be finished in December. Surf engaged additional construction crews to accelerate the timeline and ensure steady progress throughout the fall.

Vero Fiber wraps acquisition of BendTel
Vero Broadband recently completed the acquisition of BendTel, following final regulatory approval from the FCC.  The closing brings the long-standing Central Oregon telecommunications provider fully into the Vero organization. The addition of BendTel’s staff, infrastructure, and customer base further accelerates Vero’s investment in fiber internet service in Central Oregon. Vero began deploying Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) services in several Bend neighborhoods, including the Portland Avenue and River West areas, earlier this year.  With the BendTel transaction now complete, Vero is positioned to accelerate its residential fiber expansion into communities such as Old Bend and the Orchard District. Vero will continue to invest in new fiber construction while integrating BendTel’s operations, customers, and local expertise into the Vero Fiber platform.

Wecom Fiber secures $195M in BEAD funding to connect 66K rural Arizona locations
The State of Arizona has awarded Wecom Fiber $195 million to connect rural and underserved communities with high-speed broadband. Wecom will use the funding, along with private matching funds, to connect more than 66,000 Arizona homes and businesses across 17 project areas and eight counties. The federal budget was allocated by the State of Arizona's Broadband Equity & Deployment (BEAD) program following a rigorous public process and has been approved by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA). In total, Governor Hobbs announced $967 million in BEAD awards, Arizona's largest-ever broadband investment.

As part of the BEAD allocation, Wecom will build a fiber network to deliver broadband service in eight communities:

• Yavapai County: $49.5 million in BEAD funding to connect an estimated 13,000 homes and businesses in two project areas
• Coconino County: $42.3 million to connect 10,500 homes/businesses in three project areas
• Mohave County: $24.5 million to connect 6,500 homes/businesses in two project areas
• Navajo County: $21 million to connect 6,600 homes/businesses in three project areas
• Pinal County: $20 million to connect 19,000 homes/businesses in three project areas
• Maricopa County: $16.5 million to connect 6,100 homes/businesses in two project areas
• Gila County: $16.7 million to connect 3,200 homes/businesses in one project area
• La Paz County: $4.8 million to connect 700 homes/businesses in one project area