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Fiber provider pitches free installation in Pottsville as residents fault Optimum service
Summary
At a Pottsville city meeting, a representative of a small fiber company said installation and infrastructure would be free to the city and customer pricing could start at $1; residents in the meeting criticized Optimum for poor customer service and gaps in coverage.
A representative who identified their company as a fiber provider based in Conway, Arkansas, told a Pottsville city meeting they would cover the town with fiber and would not charge the city for installation or infrastructure, saying customer plans could start at about $1.
The presenter said the company has built fiber in nearby towns and aims to reach homes on longer driveways; they asked the city for guidance on fees and permitting to proceed. "Installation is free, all the infrastructure is free to the city," the speaker said, adding the firm’s network design would serve homes beyond immediate clusters.
Residents used the same portion of the meeting to criticize the incumbent cable provider Optimum. One commenter said Optimum had repeatedly refused to connect a home despite neighboring houses being served: "Optimum will not connect to my house ... I'm within an eighth of a mile ... and they won't connect me because they said I'm too far from the hookup," the speaker said, characterizing the customer‑service experience as "frustrating." No Optimum representative spoke in the meeting excerpt.
City participants asked practical questions about siting and appearance in the historic downtown, whether new equipment would use city property or resources, and whether service would be restricted to inside city limits or reach outlying areas. Speakers also discussed whether any new proposal would require canceling an existing contract with another provider and requested additional pricing comparisons for future meetings.
The meeting did not record a formal decision or vote on the fiber proposal in the provided transcript excerpt; the presenter asked for follow‑up on fees and coordination and indicated they would return with more detailed information. The city agreed to request further details and pricing for subsequent discussion.
