Key Highlights
- Truvista Fiber will assume ownership of Commerce’s municipal fiber network, upgrading infrastructure and maintaining service continuity for current customers.
- The acquisition aims to enhance connectivity for Commerce’s businesses and potentially expand fiber services to residents in the future.
- Commerce’s decision to sell its network aligns with a broader trend of communities partnering with traditional providers for better infrastructure and service quality.
- Truvista’s growth strategy includes organic expansion and acquisitions, with recent deals significantly increasing its network reach and service offerings.
- Community leaders see the partnership as a way to support economic development, education, and healthcare through improved fiber connectivity.
Truvista Fiber has reached a deal to acquire the City of Commerce, Georgia’s business-centric municipal telecommunications network, expanding its business service reach in the state.
Upon closing, the network will operate under the name Truvista Fiber. Under the agreement, Truvista Fiber will assume ownership and operation and upgrade all of the existing network infrastructure, bringing its proven expertise in fiber-optic deployment, network management, and customer service to Commerce.
Carla French, President and CEO of Truvista Fiber, said in a prepared statement that its "continuous goal is to provide an unmatched customer experience, and we look forward to providing this experience to our new customers utilizing best-in-class fiber technology and our portfolio of business offerings."
Truvista said that current Commerce fiber customers do not need to take any action at this time. Truvista will maintain continuity of service while implementing network enhancements with no to minimal disruption. Additional details regarding service upgrades, timelines, and customer support will be communicated directly to current customers in the coming months.
While Commerce only offered fiber services to business customers, Truvista hinted that it could expand service to possibly consumers.
“This strategic transition positions the community for the future, with Truvista delivering a full suite of advanced services to residents, businesses, and institutions,” the company said.
Municipal network realities
Like other communities that have moved on to building a municipal network, Commerce found it would be easier to hand off responsibility for running the network to a traditional provider.
Getting into the fiber-based service business reflected the community’s dedication to being a full-service utility provider. Commerce provides electric, water, gas, and sewer.
The City of Commerce offers fiber to its commercial businesses within its fiber district.
"When we looked at what it would take to upgrade our telecom infrastructure to bring cutting-edge connectivity to support economic growth, education, and healthcare to our city, we quickly realized we needed a partner,” said Dr. J. Clark Hill III, Commerce Mayor. “In Truvista, we found a company that has an understanding of the culture of our town as well as the technical experience to bring a technology-forward future to our businesses."
Commerce is hardly alone in moving to sell off community-run telecom service network assets to a traditional service provider.
In late 2021, Comcast acquired Braintree, Massachusetts-based Braintree Electric Light Department’s (BELD) broadband business. Comcast had already been an incumbent provider in Braintree for 18 years at that time.
When BELD conducted a study at that time showing it would need to make a major, multi-million-dollar investment in network infrastructure over the next few years to maintain quality of service, it found those costs would have required a significant increase in customer rates.
“After evaluating our options, we are confident the best decision is to connect our residential and business customers with Comcast’s best-in-class network, products, services, and customer experience,” said Bill Bottiggi, BELD’s general manager, in a statement.
Truvista’s inorganic build strategy
Truvista, an independent service provider with roots dating to 1897, when it operated as the Chester Telephone Company, has continued to expand its reach through organic growth and targeted acquisitions of smaller community-run providers.
Its latest acquisition of Commerce City’s network reflects Truvisita’s expansion strategy, with the past year a big one for growth for the provider.
In 2025, Truvista expanded its network by 5,750 miles, reaching tens of thousands of homes and businesses.
Later, in December 2025, Truvista made its acquisition of SlyTel, which offered residential fiber broadband services.
Truvista said the Commerce City and SlyTel deals align with the service provider’s strategic goals of expanding broadband access in growing communities while investing in future-ready technology.
"We are excited to bring the City of Commerce network and customers into Truvista," said Carla French, President and CEO of Truvista Fiber. "Our continuous goal is to provide an unmatched customer experience, and we look forward to providing this experience to our new customers utilizing best-in-class fiber technology and our portfolio of business offerings."
Like Commerce City, Sylvester City, Georgia’s leaders felt it would be better to hand off the operations of its network to a provider like Truvista.
"The telecommunications industry has become complex enough that we were looking for a partner with the ability to invest in the network and offer residents the best products, while keeping our commitment to top-tier customer service. We found that with Truvista, and we are excited for what this will mean for our city."
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About the Author
Sean Buckley
Sean is responsible for establishing and executing the editorial strategy of Lightwave across its website, email newsletters, events, and other information products.