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MSUA awards multiple contracts to build municipal fiber network; board told service could reach most households within a year
Summary
The MSUA approved material, construction and node-shelter contracts for a planned municipal fiber network and was told staff will bring a loan request for construction at the next meeting; trustees said the project aims for broad local penetration and affordability.
The MSUA voted on March 17 to advance a municipal fiber project by approving multiple contracts for materials, construction and a fiber node shelter, with staff saying they will return at the next meeting with a loan proposal for construction.
Mayor (name not provided) praised staff work and said the city has pursued true fiber for about three years; "Everybody will have fiber," the mayor said, adding the network will also be a long-term revenue source for the city. A staff member involved in the project said the design phase is complete and the materials package was put out for bid; the awarded materials contract (Border States) covers unit-priced components needed to start construction.
The board also approved a construction award for Benton Triage LLC to install the fiber and a contract to Newcom Solutions for a fiber node shelter not to exceed $569,399, which includes a base project cost of $520,150 and optional items such as a fire-suppression system and exterior grounding. A staff member explained the node shelter will "house all the equipment" where fiber comes into the city and serve as the main hub for distribution.
Staff described the procurement approach as unit-price bidding because the exact number of components is an estimate and the final agreement will include language allowing MSUA to increase or decrease scope based on needs and funding availability. Trustees were told the project is contingent on the authority securing construction funding; staff said they expect to present a loan package for construction at the next meeting.
Trustees and staff emphasized expected community benefits. The mayor said the fiber network will support economic development even if it only breaks even financially, and a project staffer noted local co-ops have offered operational support such as call-center services. Staff also said the city’s upcoming AMI meter rollout will complement the fiber project.
Board members asked about expected household penetration rates; one trustee referenced examples from Ponca City and Sallisaw where penetration reached about 40%, while the mayor estimated the local penetration could be "up in the 60% range" because of limited existing competition. Staff said pricing goals include keeping service affordable.
The board approved each contract by roll-call-style voice votes. The meeting record shows the awards were contingent on legal review and confirmation of funding availability for each contract, and staff repeated that additional procurements (equipment within the node shelter, service drops, and the fiber feed to the city) remain to be contracted.
