Hotwire, Highlands’ fiber broadband contractor, updated the Town Board April 17 on service buildout, customer counts and operational challenges.

Mike Hall of Hotwire told the board the company is close to 1,000 customers and operates a local, Highlands‑based team of nine full‑time employees. Hotwire said it provides symmetrical fiber to the home and has prioritized areas inside its committed footprint. Hall said the company will upgrade Wi‑Fi access in Founders Park to support large events and is evaluating ways to bring fiber and access points to Main Street storefronts; the physical fiber is in utility corridors behind Main Street buildings, and the company must secure access and power at building owners’ permission to place outdoor access points.

Hall listed installation challenges that slow household drops: missing owner contact information for seasonal properties; uncooperative homeowners’ associations and undeliverable easements; rocky terrain that increases construction difficulty and cost; and utility pole conflicts that can trigger ‘make‑ready’ costs. He said some neighborhoods remain blocked by easement or HOA refusals despite customer orders waiting.

Town manager Josh Ward added operational updates in his report: the Dog Mountain waterline replacement project has secured DEQ/DWI approvals and the town expects to issue bids soon, with a May 22 bid opening and a June board agenda item to award the low bid. Ward also said a third electric feed project (a Southeastern project) will begin work around April 30 and continue through about Sept. 1; work will use an 8‑on/6‑off schedule and may affect traffic on U.S. 64 in the Sherwood Forest corridor.

Why it matters: Broadband availability affects residents, seasonal property owners and business recovery; Hotwire’s growth and proposed Main Street upgrades speak to downtown connectivity goals but depend on property‑owner access and infrastructure work.

Ending: Hotwire requested help from the town to resolve easement and building‑owner access issues and said it will continue coordination with the Chamber and town staff on Wi‑Fi upgrades and marketing to seasonal residents.