City-owned network seeks to improve internet service, lower costs for Superior, Wisconsin residents

The city of Superior (WI) recently broke ground on a city-owned fiber network that aims to lower costs and provide more reliable internet service for residents. Utility crews began installing tubes that house fiber optic cables for the first phase of the ConnectSuperior network in a neighborhood near the University of Wisconsin-Superior. The fiber installation is expected to cost $1.47 million, and the city has budgeted $6.25 million for the first leg of the project with funding from the American Rescue Plan Act. The city will own and operate the open access network, which means multiple internet service providers could use it and compete for customers. The first phase of the buildout is expected to offer service to around 860 households and businesses, according to Stephanie Becken, broadband manager for ConnectSuperior. She said the goal is to build a network that offers high-speed internet to the city’s entire population of roughly 27,000 residents.