IdeaTek, a regional internet service provider, told the Miami City Council that it plans a roughly $10,000,000 private investment to build fiber‑to‑the‑home service in Miami, Oklahoma, and offered a low‑cost package for eligible households.

The presentation came during the council’s regular meeting and was delivered by John Terry and James Cristalic of IdeaTek. Terry said the company intends to “bring some quality, good paying jobs with benefits to the region” and to deliver “affordable 8 gig symmetrical fiber” to “every home and business, not cherry picking.” Cristalic said IdeaTek will participate in the federal Lifeline/EDA equal‑access program and offer a discounted package “I believe it’s $24.99 a month” for eligible families.

The proposal and company background

John Terry introduced himself as a representative of IdeaTek and said the company submitted a permit last week and is ready to begin conversations with the city. “We’re very excited to bring a $10,000,000 private investment here,” Terry said. He described the offering as month‑to‑month service with “no contracts,” no data caps and no throttling.

James Cristalic traced IdeaTek’s origins to a high‑school project and described the company’s track record serving small communities in Kansas. “When we come in our pricing package, you know, they start $40 a month,” Cristalic said, adding that the company hires locally, may open a local office and supports community groups such as chambers and school boosters.

Technical design, customer support and installation

IdeaTek told the council it plans fiber‑to‑the‑home (FTTH) with a dedicated fiber strand for each subscribing residence or business. “Fiber to the home. Yep,” Terry said when asked directly about the design. The company said its submitted design is primarily underground, though it may use aerial attachments on poles in constrained locations or hybrid configurations where warranted.

On resiliency and repair, IdeaTek representatives said the network is segmented into separate vaults and pedestals so localized damage would affect only a few homes, while damage to a main backbone would require heavy equipment to fix. Cristalic described local contractor oversight and a layered accountability structure: a field supervisor, a project manager and a company executive available if local issues are not resolved.

IdeaTek emphasized regional, in‑house customer support. “All of our troubleshooting, all of our support is in house, which means that when you call, when you have an issue, you’re going to talk to somebody from this region,” Cristalic said.

Pricing and low‑income assistance

IdeaTek said its standard packages begin around $40 per month and include an “Freedom” add‑on for equipment and unlimited technician visits. The company described participation in a federal equal‑access/Lifeline‑style program and said the discounted package for eligible households is “$24.99 a month,” which the presenters said they will offer in partnership with local school enrollment outreach.

Questions from council members and staff focused on product mix (IdeaTek will offer internet and phone for business customers, not traditional TV), whether equipment is leased (customers may use their own equipment or opt for the company’s managed router), installation methods (bored or trenched underground as the design requires) and yard restoration standards after construction.

Discussion versus decision

The meeting record shows the IdeaTek presentation and a question‑and‑answer period; the transcript contains the company’s permit submission but does not record any formal agreement, approval, contract award or city direction approving construction. The presentation concluded with IdeaTek asking to be added to the city’s permit/contractor list; the council did not take a formal vote on the IdeaTek project during the portion of the transcript provided.

Votes at a glance

- Claims list (item a): Motion to approve (mover/second not specified in transcript excerpt). Roll call recorded as Eastep — Aye; Stockel — Aye; Jones — Aye; Barnes — Aye; Parker — Aye. Outcome: approved (vote recorded in meeting transcript).

- Claims list for Vance Auto Group (item b): Motion to approve and second recorded; vote tallies and final outcome are not specified in the transcript excerpt provided.

- Approval of minutes from the Oct. 7, 2025, regular meeting (item c): Motion to approve recorded; vote tallies and final outcome are not specified in the transcript excerpt provided.

Why this matters

Council members and residents identified broadband access as a local need; IdeaTek’s presentation outlined a business model that emphasizes FTTH service, local hiring and a low‑cost option for eligible households. The transcript records a company permit submission and preliminary discussions about design and installation; no contract award or council authorization for construction appears in the provided excerpt.

Next steps noted in the meeting

IdeaTek said it has submitted a permit and requested follow‑up meetings with city staff to coordinate design and attachments. The company asked the city to add it to permit lists and to coordinate on pole attachment or underground routing where necessary. No formal action or schedule was recorded in the transcript excerpt for council approval of construction or financing.