Windstream has provided an update on its progress in delivering Kinetic gigabit services to various areas of Nebraska, initiatives that are part of a multi-year plan to bring fiber-based gigabit services to customers throughout the company’s 18-state service territory.
In the past two years, the company has extended fiber-based gigabit services to 56,000 locations in Nebraska, with many other projects underway. Nebraska communities with completed fiber projects and those underway include parts of Ashland, Auburn, Beatrice, Crete, David City, Elmwood, Fairbury, Friend, Hebron, Hastings, Lincoln, Louisville, Milford, Plattsmouth, Superior, Sutton, Seward, Wahoo, Wilber, Waverly, York, Geneva, Juniata, Syracuse and Tecumseh.
In addition to these projects, the company has three more planned under the state’s universal service fund. The projects in rural areas near Bellwood, Osceola and Shelby are awaiting approval by the state’s utility regulator.
The company also has fiber-to-the-home projects in and near David City, Garrison, Louisville, Geneva, and Hebron, all of which received some grants from the Nebraska Department of Economic Development.
“Public-private partnerships have been instrumental to roll out high-speed broadband to customers in the most rural areas,” said Trent Fellers, Kinetic vice president of state government affairs, in a prepared statement about Nebraska Windstream Kinetic gigabit services. “Coupled with our investments, Kinetic forms partnerships with federal, state and local entities to overcome the challenges presented in low-density population areas to serve more customers.”
Kinetic is Windstream’s brand for residential and small business services. Windstream just emerged from bankruptcy and has major plans for fiber broadband expansion, funded by access to approximately $2 billion in new capital.