- disoculated / Foter / CC BY-SA
The state announced announced a $1 million grant for Fibertech Networks. Fibertech will provide high-speed data and Internet service in portions of Sussex County.
The announcement was made at the Burris Logistics corporate headquarters in Milford.
Fibertech recently announced a merger with a similar firm in a $1.9 billion deal. The companies will retain their networks that operate on the East Coast and Central States. Click here for other stories on Fibertech.
Burris is one of the nation’s largest temperature-controlled food distribution companies and leaders of the company stressed the critical nature of their data communication network. Burris has tapped into the fiber network installed a year ago to support company operations.
Burris offers more than 60 million cubic feet of freezer warehousing space in 17 strategic locations across the country.
Delaware ranks as one of the top two states in statewide Internet speeds. However, areas to the south have lagged behind northern Delaware, an area where Verizon, Comcast, Fibertech and other companies have systems running along the Interstate 95 corridor.
The completion of construction of nearly 36 miles of Fibertech line added access in an area extending from Middletown to Georgetown.
The project was led by the state Department of Technology and Information (DTI) and funded by the Delaware Economic Development Office. High-speed connections are now essential in efforts to retain and attract new businesses.
At that time, Gov. Jack Markell announced that new grant funding would be provided to private companies that offer the best plans to use the new fiber line to reach underserved Delawareans, with a focus on key sites like public schools and libraries, health care facilities, and places that provide government services.
“In a 21st century economy, we can only ensure all Delawareans have opportunities to reach their potential if everyone has access to these services, so despite our recent success in expanding access, we won’t be satisfied until that is the case. I congratulate Fibertech on this grant award and thank them for their work to further our state’s mission of universal broadband access.”
Fibertech, which already operates more than 300 miles of fiber optic network throughout Delaware’s three counties, will expand its network, building approximately 18 miles of new network to Seaford in the west and approximately 18 miles of new network to Lewes on the east. Both network segments will connect in Georgetown and therefore offer connectivity to Fibertech’s existing network infrastructure running through Kent and New Castle Counties with further connections to Philadelphia and New Jersey.
“The open-access network and investments we have made in Delaware have long helped bring more affordable broadband to businesses in New Castle and Kent counties,” said Mike Hurley, senior vice president for Fibertech. “We look forward to bringing these same capabilities to Sussex County and other areas. This project will facilitate building a transparent and agile infrastructure for state and local government that at the same time enhances modern commerce and increase regional competitiveness for businesses and underserved sectors.”
Other efforts in Sussex County have worked to improve access to high speed fiber networks. Sussex County government is funding a fiber optic ring for its operations in Georgetown that could be extended to include homes and businesses.
In addition, a joint effort between the county and the municipality of Selbyville led to the extension of a fiber-optic line from neighboring Maryland into an industrial park. Click here for stories on the above projects.
Funding for the grant comes from the Delaware Broadband Fund, established in 2013 by House Bill 96. The legislation provides that the fund will support and enhance rural broadband initiatives in under-served areas of the State, as well as broadband access at public schools and public libraries.
