The city of Warrenton has agreed to allow a new high-speed internet provider to build in the city’s utility corridors, opening the way for more local customers to receive fiber optic internet …
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The city of Warrenton has agreed to allow a new high-speed internet provider to build in the city’s utility corridors, opening the way for more local customers to receive fiber optic internet service.
The owners of Gateway Fiber, a startup founded in Jonesburg, approached the Warrenton city government in December to ask for permission to build their lines in the city’s right-of-way utility corridors. The city’s board of aldermen approved an agreement Jan. 19 to allow that construction.
City Administrator Terri Thorn said Gateway Fiber is currently working with the city’s public works and planning staff to identify exact placement of the fiber optic lines.
“They’re anxious to get started quickly. They’re going to start in the southeast quadrant of town,” Thorn commented. “I’m also pleased to say that they’ve agreed to provide broadband service to all of our city facilities ... at no cost to the city. That will be a really big benefit .”
Gateway Fiber co-founder and President Heath Sellenriek said the business’s service area will contain the entire city limits of Warrenton and Truesdale.
“I just want to say ‘Hurrah,’” commented Ward 1 Alderman Cheryl Dyer. “This is going to be a real plus for our community.”
The right-of-way agreement is a 10 year, renewable contract. Along with provisions about where the fiber lines can be located, the agreement requires Gateway Fiber to restore the ground to its previous condition after the lines are installed, and repair any other accidental damage. It also requires the company to comply with oversight by the city public works director.
A provision requiring Gateway Fiber to provide free service to city facilities is also included as a term of the contract.
Gateway Fiber recently confirmed that it plans to serve Truesdale as well as Warrenton. Truesdale city officials stated in January that they had been contacted for use of Truesdale’s utility right of ways.
“(Right of way use) would be at no cost to the city, but they would be going all along our streets ... to put the fiber in,” said City Administrator MaryLou Rainwater.
Rainwater said the only thing Truesdale will require is an agreement to return land and other utilities to their previous condition once installation is complete.
Truesdale aldermen were just as enthusiastic as their Warrenton neighbors for fiber optic installation, stating the internet speeds Gateway Fiber is advertising are highly impressive compared to current options.
Fiber optic cables send signals using light, rather than electricity. The technology offers higher performance and data capacity than traditional cable or phone lines.
Gateway Fiber told Warrenton city officials it hopes to start laying lines in February and begin offering local service by the spring.
The cost of the fiber optic service would be around $65 to $90 per month for residential customers, based on what internet speed the customer purchases, business representatives said.
