Municipal broadband moves forward as Frontier files for bankruptcy

As the city of Fort Dodge (IA) makes its next move in building municipal broadband service, Frontier Communications said its recent bankruptcy filing will only position it to serve communities like Fort Dodge better. The Chapter 11 filing, announced April 14 by Frontier, will cut its bondholder-backed debt by $10 billion. The company, one of two broadband internet service providers in Fort Dodge, has said through press releases that the filing will not affect any of its customers, employees or service offerings. The company has a physical presence in Fort Dodge. A municipal utility in the works could give the struggling company a run for its money after an overwhelming majority of voters approved the measure last November. City Manager David Fierke said that as things stand, Frontier has invested little in providing innovative or even competitive service for residential needs.