C Spire, a southeast regional wireless service provider, revealed nine communities where they will build Gigabit FTTH service . These communities were selected from thirty-three who participated in C Spire’s “Get Fiber First Challenge,” a contest of sorts for communities to demonstrate their desire to have C Spire deploy Gigabit FTTH. The selected communities will follow a process very similar to Google’s Fiberhood concept, in determining where FTTH service gets built first.
The selected communities, all of which are in Mississippi include Batesville, Clinton, Corinth, Hattiesburg, Horn Lake, McComb, Quitman, Ridgeland and Starkville. Residents within these communities will be asked to pre-register with a $10 refundable deposit.
When enough residents from a neighborhood pre-register, C Spire will commit to build out that neighborhood with FTTH. Pre-registrants will also be required to submit a valid credit card number. C Spire says that if enough pre-registrations happen, they may build multiple communities at a time. Residents may pre-register at http://www.cspire.com/fiberhome/fiber_first_finalists.html, although C Spire says this site isn’t quite ready yet.
C Spire also announced pricing for its Gigabit fiber service. Internet access alone of 1 Gbps will be priced at $80 per month. A double play of phone and 1 Gbps will run $100 per month, while a double play of TV and Internet will go for $140. Their triple play offer will be priced at $160 per month. C Spire Wireless customers will receive a $10 monthly discount on all packages.
Communities participating in the Get Fiber First Challenge “…developed creative, aggressive campaigns featuring rallies and town hall meetings, local celebrations, door-to-door canvassing, mobilization of neighborhood groups and homeowner organizations, dedicated websites, social media campaigns and even stadium and freeway billboard advertisements.”
C Spire joins a host of service providers who are embracing the Gigabit FTTH trend, including AT&T, CenturyLink, Google, and early pioneers of the ultrabroadband movement, EPB of Tennesse.
