HyperFiber outlines plan to build fiber network in Ocean Shores, estimates first customers within six months

HyperFiber representatives told Ocean Shores residents on Wednesday that the company plans to build a fiber-to-the-home network in the city and begin construction work after permits and a franchise/right-of-way agreement are completed. Dan Kennedy, president and CEO of HyperFiber, said the company aims to complete an initial phase covering about 3,600 homes and that “we will be disruptive to the community,” meaning residents should expect trucks, trenching and other construction impacts during build-out.

Why it matters: Fiber builds change how residents and businesses access high-speed internet and can affect yards, sidewalks and local permitting. HyperFiber said it will advertise construction windows, put door hangers on affected homes, maintain a local presence, and hire local contractors and technicians.

HyperFiber presented a phased construction plan and schedule, pricing and customer support details. Kennedy said the company has invested collectively “right at $400,000,000” and that the initial build in Ocean Shores is part of a wider rollout. Matt Meyer, HyperFiber’s senior vice president of engineering and construction, described construction tactics and timelines, estimating a typical fiber distribution area (250–300 homes) can be finished in about 45–60 days depending on terrain and permitting. Meyer said the company plans lidar and pole-assessment runs and expects design work to start immediately; HyperFiber estimated first customers could be online within about six months if permitting and agreements proceed on schedule.

Pricing and service: HyperFiber said its multi-gig product is advertised at about $85 per month, the 1-gig product around $85 and a 2-gig top tier at $95 per month; the company also described a $200 buyout offer for consumers in existing contracts, no installation fee, and no long-term contract requirement. Kennedy and other HyperFiber staff said they offer a “price for life” guarantee in some markets for gig service and that the company will provide an equipment-and-support package that is generally included in the advertised price.

Technical and operational details: HyperFiber said it will use a mix of aerial and underground deployment depending on local easements and neighborhood layout. The company plans to rely on redundancy with Grays Harbor PUD’s dark fiber for backhaul and told a technical questioner that if backhaul gear needs upgrading HyperFiber would help pay for or build required electronics. Meyer said network segmentation is used to limit outage scope and gave a typical restoration target of two hours and said four hours is a reasonable upper bound for many cut repairs. The company said equipment is agnostic to most customer-owned routers but usually installs its own gateway for typical residential customers.

Community concerns and company responses: Residents raised concerns about construction impacts on yards and sprinkler systems, pricing relative to existing nonfiber providers in the area, seasonal camping lots, and how cable/television viewing would work for some longtime television-dependent residents. HyperFiber responded that it maintains a local advocacy team, offers door-to-door outreach and multiple notifications before construction, will repair yard damage (often within 24–48 hours), and supports managed Wi‑Fi or backhaul solutions for campgrounds and businesses. On video service, HyperFiber staff said licensed pay-TV content distribution is controlled by video providers and that customers who use streaming services can receive local channels via those services.

Local hiring and training: Company representatives said they will hire local market managers, technicians and contractors when possible and expressed interest in apprenticeship or school programs. Kennedy and Meyer described past local hiring and school outreach in other markets as part of their community engagement practices.

Dependencies and next steps: HyperFiber said it is in the design phase and will need the city’s franchise/right-of-way approval and coordination with Grays Harbor PUD for step-off and redundancy points. The company said it expects to begin detailed pole and route assessments (including lidar and pole surveys) as soon as the following week and will publish maps of the planned step-off and phased build areas as designs finalize.

No formal city action or vote was recorded during the presentation. City staff and residents were invited to continue coordination with HyperFiber on permitting, notification preferences (including avoiding leaving door hangers on vacant or seasonal homes) and local hiring opportunities.