Charter/Spectrum says it will strip old coax and build fiber in Gatesville; company targets early 2024 construction

Charter/Spectrum representatives briefed the Coryell County Commissioners Court on a plan to convert abandoned coaxial plant in Gatesville and nearby communities to fiber-optic service. Brad Shealy, identified as vice president of construction for Charter in Texas and Louisiana, said the company stripped assets from the prior operator and intends to “strip all the old coax out” and overlay the network with fiber, using a prebuilt system the company calls FlexSnap to speed construction.

Shealy told the court the FlexSnap approach “allows us to cut construction time by about 65%,” and that the work will reuse existing pole substructure where possible and interconnect back to a major distribution hub in Waco. He said design and permitting are underway, with manufacturing hoped for before year-end and a goal to begin onsite construction in mid–to–late January and to complete the Gatesville work before March.

Court members asked whether the project would include subdivisions and ETJ areas. Shealy said Charter plans to fill service gaps left by the previous operator and can expand into subdivisions after final design, but noted property-access issues such as trimming trees and resolving landowner objections can slow progress. A company representative described safety and traffic-control plans and invited county officials to provide locations for potential laydown yards and staging areas.

The company said it will stage consumables and materials near the work areas and prefers a nearby secured laydown yard; county staff noted one county-owned parcel had been advertised for lease but the vendor found an alternate site. Charter declined to discuss pricing in open court and emphasized its focus was on construction logistics and timeline.

The presentation concluded with the court thanking the company; commissioners said they will follow up on laydown-yard options and permit coordination.