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County’s fiber network begins generating subscription revenue; officials say ChoiceLite partnership is on track
Summary
County officials and ChoiceLite reported recurring subscription revenue from the county fiber network, with 2024 subscriptions at about $546,000 and 2025 year‑to‑date at $434,000; ChoiceLite said revenue is a pass‑through to the county and the network aims to grow recurring commercial subscriptions.
Regina Emberton of ChoiceLite updated council on county fiber activity, reporting that annual subscription revenue brought to the county increased from about $406,000 in 2023 to $546,000 in 2024; 2025 year‑to‑date subscription revenue was reported at $434,000.
Emberton explained ChoiceLite aggregates subscription revenue from Internet Service Providers that use the county’s dark fiber and passes the subscription revenue through to the county. In addition to subscription revenue, the county receives connection and splicing fees and a management fee for ChoiceLite to operate the network; Emberton said subscription revenues are distributed to the county on a quarterly basis.
The nut graf: officials described the model as a public‑private partnership where the county owns backbone infrastructure and regional ISPs or service providers (Surf Broadband, Cozy Cloud and others) provide retail service. ChoiceLite said its goal is to at least offset the county’s costs and to enlarge recurring revenue from commercial and institutional customers.
Council members asked how total fiber operating expenses compare with subscription revenue; ChoiceLite said subscription revenue reported to the county does not include additional pass‑through connection/splicing fees and that the county’s larger budget lines include locate and maintenance costs that are not fully visible in subscription totals. ChoiceLite said subscription contracts are usually multi‑year and recurring (average term ~36–42 months), and the county’s annual subscription receipts are expected to grow as more customers sign up.
Ending: ChoiceLite said it recently hired a business development representative focused on Elkhart County and intends to keep reporting quarterly revenue to the county; councilors asked for periodic revenue/expense comparisons and clarified that the county’s fiber capital plan and locate/maintenance costs should be reviewed side‑by‑side with subscription receipts.
