2023 VISIONARY SPOTLIGHT AWARDS | CHANNELVISION 69 Rural and Underserved Connectivity Bluebird Network Bluebird Network has accelerated its innovation to keep pace with the increased digital demand to provide and strengthen connectivity for underserved communities in the Midwest. Bluebird is delivering on its promise to help bridge the digital divide and give communities equal access to connectivity throughout the region with its aggregated services including fiber-based services, cutting-edge data center offerings and ongoing network expansion. In 2022, Bluebird added more than 500 new fiber route miles to the network. Bluebird continues to expand its network into new and underserved areas, delivering the fast, high-quality fiber-based internet and transport service options businesses require and that communities can benefit from. DC-BLOX DC BLOX’s data centers are located to meet the needs of underserved markets in the Southeast, U.S. DC BLOX develops core infrastructure that attracts technology-dependent companies and jobs, helping local businesses achieve their digital transformation goals. DC BLOX recently announced the groundbreaking on its new international subsea cable landing station (CLS) in Myrtle Beach, S.C. In addition, a new dark fiber route linking Myrtle Beach with the connectivity hub of the Southeast in Atlanta is under construction. DC BLOX also acquired the Southeastern fiber assets from Light Source Communications and Ascendant Capital Fiber that includes a unique dark fiber network connecting South Carolina to Georgia that is in development. FirstLight Fiber FirstLight’s mission is to expand its high-performance fiber network to reach businesses and communities across its geography, with a special focus on the underserved or unserved. During the past year, FirstLight focused on two regions: Western New York and rural Western Maine. In Maine, its fiber expansion brings high-speed fiber connectivity to rural areas that have lacked quality internet access. It transitioned 300 miles of its ILEC service territory from the legacy copper network to fiber-to-the-home service. In Western New York, FirstLight constructed 773 miles of fiber in the region to bring high-speed, symmetrical broadband services to numerous organizations. FirstLight exceeded its goal of building an additional 1,700 route miles of fiber in New York State in 2022. GeoLinks GeoLinks’ trademarked ClearFiber hybrid networks makes the company capable of providing high-speed internet to the underserved and unserved. Using solar relay stations, GeoLinks reaches rural communities and anchor institutions without requiring a connection to the electric grid, enabling the service to expand to territories that competitors can’t reach. This technology lets GeoLinks deploy high-speed broadband to thousands of locations in previously unserved areas through the Connect America Fund (CAF) and to secure funding for additional deployment under the Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF). LiveOak Fiber LiveOak Fiber is building a fiber network to bring affordable, reliable internet services to underserved communities in the Southeastern United States. To address the number of households and businesses that lack access to broadband internet, LiveOak has invested $160 million in fiber network infrastructure for key markets. With this investment, LiveOak is deploying 2,500 miles of fiber to serve more than 200,000 people in Okaloosa County, Fla., and Glynn County, Ga. Most recently, LiveOak Fiber announced it will acquire the fiber network assets of Alma Telephone Company, which allows it to expand its footprint in the region. Ziply Fiber Ziply Fiber remains committed to building out a 100-percent fiber network with attention to underserved communities across its four-state Northwest region. Ziply Fiber understands the critical importance of connectivity to small and rural towns traditionally overlooked by larger internet service providers. Expansion into underserved areas enables communities to keep their local businesses afloat, and it raises home values and invites economic growth through commercial and residential development. Last year, Ziply Fiber completed 1,700 new fiber route miles and this year launched its first edge-out market
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