MetroNet Fiber Announces Ames Plans

For several months, the Ames City Council and staff have been considering whether or not to conduct a feasibility study for a fiber-to-the-home network. Now a private company based in Indiana says they will build fiber to Ames beginning next year.

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Representatives of MetroNet Fiber made a presentation to the council this week outlining a $20-30 million dollar fiber network in direct competition with incumbents Mediacom and CenturyLink. The project will launch in spring 2020 and take approximately two years to complete, according to the company.

What's not clear about MetroNet's announcement is whether they plan to build FTTP to the entire community, something that some city leaders have said is a priority for Ames. MetroNet says they will provide the city with detailed maps of planned service areas, but that detail won't be available until the time of construction. City Councilman David Martin, who has been advocating for a feasibility study, has asked to have further discussion of the city's internet future on a future council agenda.

CLICK HERE to read a story in the Ames Tribune.