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Glo Fiber, operated by Shenandoah Telecommunications Company (“Shentel”) (Nasdaq: SHEN), is pleased to announce plans to upgrade and deploy a middle-mile network in Ohio, made possible through a grant awarded by the National Telecommunications & Information Administration (NTIA).
The $50 million project will construct approximately 239 miles of fiber-optic cable across 12 counties in Ohio. The project was awarded $27 million in grant funds under the Enabling Middle Mile Broadband Infrastructure Program (Project 39-40-MM212) in mid-2023 to Horizon Telcom prior to the company’s acquisition by Shentel.
Middle-mile Internet infrastructure is crucial for the digital ecosystem as it transports large amounts of data over long distances, enhances local network capabilities, boosts overall network resiliency, and enables future broadband services to rural residential, business, and community anchor locations.
Phase I of the project, comprised of nine contiguous counties on the eastern part of the state, is undergoing an Environmental Assessment and Historic Preservation study conducted by Mannick Smith Group, Inc of Toledo, Ohio. This first phase of the project will install fiber in existing utility corridors, in existing rights-of-way, and on existing utility poles when possible. Approximately 32 miles of cable will be installed underground in existing conduits or through directional boring.
This significant award builds upon Glo Fiber’s ongoing investments in the region, which connects hundreds of community anchor institutions today with fiber, particularly in the K-12, healthcare, and higher education sectors. The proposed fiber expansion will pass within 1,000 feet of over 16,000 households, 500 community anchor institutions, and 2,000 businesses across the region. The nine counties covered in Phase I include Tuscarawas, Holmes, Knox, Coshocton, Muskingum, Fairfield, Perry, Morgan, and Athens. Phase II of the project will include Jefferson, Hamilton, and Clermont counties.
Written comments may be submitted for Phase I on Project 39-40-MM212 in the following way:
Electronically: glofiber.com/en/legal/ntia-middle-mile-program
Email: NTIAmiddlemilegrant@glofiber.com
or by mail: Shentel
RE: NTIA Middle Mile Grant
500 Edinburg Way
Edinburg, VA 22824
