Latest news with #fiberinternet
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Gateway Fiber Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Launches High-Speed Internet Service in Cottage Grove
COTTAGE GROVE, Minn., July 25, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Gateway Fiber marked a significant milestone with a celebratory ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 24, officially launching its high-speed fiber internet service for Cottage Grove residents and businesses. The event, attended by community leaders, residents, business owners, and Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce members, reinforced Gateway Fiber's commitment to bringing next-generation connectivity and community partnership to the area. Cottage Grove becomes the first St. Paul area community to receive Gateway Fiber's 100% fiber-optic internet service, marking a major expansion in the company's Minneapolis metro footprint. This milestone follows the City of Cottage Grove's Request for Proposal (RFP) process, in which Gateway Fiber was selected to design, construct, and deploy state-of-the-art fiber optic infrastructure throughout the community. "Today's ribbon-cutting ceremony is more than just the launch of service," said John Meyer, Chief Customer Officer at Gateway Fiber. "It's a celebration of Cottage Grove's digital future. We're proud to invest in this community and provide fast, reliable internet that empowers families, businesses, and schools." The ceremony at Oakwood Park, which was hosted in collaboration with the Cottage Grove Area Chamber of Commerce, welcomed guests to learn about Gateway Fiber's offerings, connect with company representatives, and enjoy refreshments in the community setting. Attendees had the opportunity to discuss the benefits of fiber internet with the Gateway team and local ambassadors. The expansion of Gateway's network will benefit residents and businesses with access to a new 100% fiber-optic network, delivering reliable, multi-gig symmetrical internet speeds far superior to cable, 5G, or telephone-based internet. Gateway Fiber's network offers symmetrical speeds up to 2 Gbps, enabling seamless remote work, online learning, streaming, and gaming. Gateway Fiber provides simple, flat-rate, month-to-month pricing with no fees, installation charges, or surprise rate hikes. The company also provides whole-home Wi-Fi and outstanding customer service, with ratings nearly 70 points higher than the industry average. Expanding services into Cottage Grove continues Gateway Fiber's commitment to investing in Minnesota by creating local jobs and supporting the local area, following recent launches in communities such as Shoreview, Plymouth, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Champlin, Brooklyn Park, and Maple Grove. About Gateway Fiber Gateway Fiber is on a mission to positively impact communities through a better internet. As data requirements for residences and businesses continue to expand, Gateway is creating a leading, national fiber-to-the-home platform to serve this critical unmet need. Gateway provides faster, more reliable internet with a simple pricing model and industry-leading customer service. In February, Gateway Fiber announced a strategic merger with E-Rate leader WANRack and its residential subsidiary, KWIKOM Communications. The merger creates a more powerful, scalable organization with enhanced growth opportunities for its employees, while expanding the combined organization's offerings to meet the diverse internet needs of commercial, small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), and enterprise clients. For more information, visit View source version on Contacts For more information, press only: David WorkmanPR & Communications Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kinetic Announces $2 Million Fiber Expansion in Shepherdsville
3,800 Bullitt County households will receive Kinetic fiber internet across 52 miles of many Shepherdsville neighborhoods. LEXINGTON, Ky., July 16, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinetic recently announced a $2 million strategic fiber-to-the-home expansion project in Shepherdsville, aimed at transforming the digital landscape for almost 3,800 households across the Pitts Point, Sampson, Hillbrook and Meadowbrook neighborhoods, among many others. By the end of construction, residents in Shepherdsville (Bullitt County) will have access to 52 miles of fiber optic internet. Customers can expect unparalleled internet speeds and reliability, ensuring that Shepherdsville will experience fiber-fast internet to meet increasing digital demands. "The Kinetic expansion of fiber in Shepherdsville is a testament to our dedication to empowering communities with the tools needed for success in today's digital world," said Susan Schraibman, president of Kinetic's Kentucky operations. "We are committed to ensuring that no community is left behind and that every household has access to high-speed, reliable internet." Fiber technology is the backbone of modern internet infrastructure, offering speeds up to 70% the speed of light. This makes it possible for households to enjoy seamless streaming, online learning, telecommuting, and more. Fiber's low latency and symmetrical speeds ensure that users can upload and download data with ease, providing an optimal experience for activities such as online gaming and video conferencing. "The development of Kinetic fiber in Bullitt County marks a significant advancement in our community's infrastructure, ensuring that our residents and businesses have access to reliable, high-speed internet," said Bullitt County Judge Jerry Summers. "This upgrade not only enhances our connectivity but also empowers economic growth and innovation throughout Bullitt County." Recently Kinetic's efforts have been recognized for their affordability and service quality for rural areas, as highlighted by Newsweek's "Best for Rural Internet" award in 2025. Kinetic is also proud to sponsor free Wi-Fi service throughout the 10-acre Gatton Park on the Town Branch in Lexington, scheduled to open later this summer. For more information about the fiber expansion in Shepherdsville and other Kinetic projects, please visit About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers reliable fiber-based broadband to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses in 18 states. The company's quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services backed by robust security and friendly customer success experts. Kinetic is focused on expanding its fiber network and bridging the digital divide to deliver modern solutions to customers in underserved areas. Additional information about Kinetic is available via our customer portal at or The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises, government entities and educational institutions across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is privately held and headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Category: Kinetic View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Sign in to access your portfolio
CNET
12-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Futureproof Fiber Gives Homeowners an Edge, but Access Isn't Always Fair
We live in a fast-evolving digital age, making a high-speed internet connection as essential as running water and electricity. But a lack of affordable internet options perpetuates what is known as the broadband divide -- the gap that divides those who can or can't digitally connect in meaningful ways. A lesser-known discussion point around the broadband divide goes beyond a lack of internet access. Lack of fast internet -- fiber internet, specifically -- negatively affects home values, hurting long-term wealth-building. Economically, the broadband gap stifles growth in underserved areas by limiting access to online education, remote work, telemedicine and e-commerce. It hinders the development of a skilled workforce and prevents businesses from fully participating in the digital economy. Socially, it exacerbates existing inequalities, isolating communities from vital information, civic engagement and social connections, perpetuating a cycle of disadvantage. "The economic and social consequences of being digitally invisible are real," said Nicol Turner Lee, senior fellow and director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution and author of Digitally Invisible. Fiber-optic technology has substantially faster speeds than DSL and cable, the technologies it's replacing and has greater reliability and all-weather access than satellite and fixed-wireless solutions. It's widely considered the gold standard of internet connections. It is crucial for data-heavy activities. Fiber-connected neighborhoods are experiencing significant appreciation in property values, while already marginalized communities are left further behind. A Fiber Broadband Association and The Brattle Group study shows homes with a fiber connection have an average 14% increase in home value compared with homes without fiber. This figure stuck out to me as someone who covers the housing market for a living. Homeownership is a widely accepted strategy for wealth-building and financial security in the personal finance community. When your home's value increases, whether due to general price appreciation or through upgrades like a fiber connection, your home equity growth accelerates, increasing your overall net worth. The higher your property's value, the bigger the profit when selling it. Locating local internet providers The broadband divide shouldn't hinder wealth-building through homeownership, but it does. The Federal Communications Commission shows only 46% of US households have access to fiber broadband, with low-income and rural communities disproportionately affected by the lack of internet service provider options. Why fiber internet is best When it comes to speed, fiber internet is a game-changer. It uses light to send data through glass, which is much faster than dated coaxial copper wires or latency-ridden satellite technology. It has the bandwidth to handle our country's increasing demand for higher speeds and more data. You have a few options for high-speed broadband, including wireless and (certain) satellite connections, fixed-wireless access, cable and fiber-optic technology. "Fiber is also more reliable than a cable operator, and a lot of that has to do with the fiber technology versus the technology that cable operators use," said Dan Gillan, chief revenue officer at Dobson Fiber. Cable internet signals can be affected by electromagnetic interference, weather conditions and signal loss over long distances. Fiber-optic cables, however, are immune to electromagnetic interference and, compared to cable, are less prone to weather-related disruptions and degradation over long distances. "With fiber, once it's in the ground, you're not going to have to dig it back up 50 or even 100 years from now," said Brian Whitacre, a professor at Oklahoma State University who specializes in rural economic development. "It's kind of future-proof from that standpoint," he said, meaning if you invest in a property with fiber, you're investing in a technology that will stand the test of time. Fiber simply offers better speed, bandwidth and longevity for your money. Here's a comparison between the different internet connection types and the speed-to-price ratio each offers. How fiber internet is impacting home values Home prices are determined by a range of factors, including location, age, proximity to quality school districts, market conditions and recent upgrades or renovations. "Having a fiber connection could be likened to having a pool or another amenity that improves your quality of life," Turner Lee said. "As the internet becomes much more transformative and embedded in probably everything that we do, having access to technology is definitely an incentive for any person who wants to not only live, but thrive in this new digital ecosystem," Turner Lee said. Homes with fiber internet tend to cost more, not just because it's the best broadband option, but because there's greater buyer demand in well-connected metro areas. A Brookings Institution study shows markets with access to fiber internet also tend to have higher income levels, greater diversity in job opportunities, better educational outcomes, larger populations and increased potential for future business and infrastructure development. All of these are factors that positively influence property values. "The extent to which economic opportunities are available for people, of course, makes a difference in whether or not that neighborhood is going to be enticing for people," Turner Lee said. What a home fiber connection means for wealth accumulation Owning a home is an asset that increases in worth over time. Therefore, its value directly affects your wealth accumulation. As your home's value rises, your net worth increases. Any percentage increase in home value translates to a significant gain on your initial investment. If you purchase a home equipped with fiber, or an ISP chooses to install it after you buy, you can expect bigger home equity returns. Factoring in the average value-add of fiber -- around 14%, according to the Benton Group -- a home with fiber would be worth roughly $40,000 more than one without after just 10 years (using an annual appreciation rate of 3%). The broadband divide is a fiber divide: Who gets left behind? You'll find fiber in most cities and suburbs these days, but it's a different story if you're in a low-income or rural spot. The problem? Fiber is expensive to install. Internet companies can make it work in cities because they get lots of customers in a small area. But in rural areas, where houses are far apart, they just don't see the profit, said Chao Jun Liu, senior legislative associate at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. Worse still, due to the lack of ISP options, experts say low-income and rural communities end up paying more for broadband than those in high-income areas. "There's a huge competition component here," Liu said. "In those rural areas, in those low-income communities, there's no one to compete against, so the providers can get away with it." But it's not just about availability. The higher hurdle is getting people to actually adopt and use broadband, Whitacre said. "A lot of people have fiber available to them, but they can't afford to pay, you know, $50, $80, $100 a month for a regular connection." Despite its name, the broadband marketplace is the opposite of "broad" or a "marketplace." Even urban or metro areas have just a handful of internet options. Of the 46% of households eligible for fiber internet, only a tiny fraction -- less than 3% -- have access to more than one provider. ISPs have little incentive to offer competitive pricing or improve service quality if they operate like a virtual monopoly. The broadband -- or fiber -- divide isn't just an economic issue. It exacerbates inequalities and puts a double burden on marginalized communities: paying more for significantly less capable internet service. Unequal internet access, unequal opportunity The fact that properties with a fiber connection are considered more valuable reflects the growing importance of seamless internet access. Even though fiber can be more expensive to install, it's faster, more reliable and can stand the test of time. But fiber internet is more than just a tool for staying connected. It's a catalyst for economic growth and upward mobility. Fiber access can be traced along the geographic lines dividing the US, which are, more often than not, drawn along the fault lines of economic disparity. Broadly speaking, wealthier urban and suburban areas get access to fiber first. Although fiber access is improving, homes in rural areas and low-income city areas still lack it, so they don't have its full benefits, said Gary Bolton, president and CEO of the Fiber Broadband Association. This digital disparity limits their access to essential services and economic opportunities while further exacerbating existing inequalities by denying them the long-term value added by fiber connectivity. "We need to continue to close the broadband divide so that we're not disservicing people without access or foreclosing on opportunities that they could actually benefit from," said Turner Lee. While systemic change at the government level is crucial, there are ways you can help bridge the gap. One is through informed voting. Support representatives who prioritize broadband expansion, especially in underserved areas, and regulations that aim to make internet access more affordable. But getting broadband isn't just about infrastructure -- plenty of people can use it but don't. Another option is to volunteer your time to teach digital skills in your community. Empowering more people to utilize the internet can drive up adoption rates and ensure access translates to real opportunity. Advice for homebuyers Internet connectivity is a key factor in a home's value and ability to keep up with the demands of modern life. It's a consideration that buyers should weigh alongside other factors like location, size or condition. Here are some tips to keep in mind while you're house hunting: Research available ISPs in the area. If you need a certain type or quality of internet connection, start by confirming its availability in your target areas. Online tools are a good start, but call local ISPs to verify service at specific addresses. Check speed options and ask about any data caps or contracts. If you need a certain type or quality of internet connection, start by confirming its availability in your target areas. Online tools are a good start, but call local ISPs to verify service at specific addresses. Check speed options and ask about any data caps or contracts. Check the home's network setup. Ideally, you want Ethernet ports Ideally, you want Think long-term about connectivity. Consider how your needs might change and how your connection type could affect resale value. Homes with good internet, especially fiber, are valued higher than those without. While real estate can be a valuable asset, it's essential to recognize that wealth can be built through other avenues. Consistently contributing to a retirement account, like a Roth IRA or 401(k)s is one option, investing in the stock market through diversified funds and saving your money in high-yield accounts are all effective strategies to accumulate wealth, especially when done in tandem.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Fireworks by Kinetic to Light Up Lexington Legends Park July 5
Spectators can enjoy fireworks after the July 5 game at the Legends ballpark courtesy of Kinetic Fans looking for a full evening experience can bring family and friends to enjoy the post-game show LEXINGTON, Ky., July 03, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kinetic, a local residential and business fiber internet provider, is proud to announce its sponsorship of the post-game fireworks show following the Lexington Legends' July 5 game against the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs. "We're excited to sponsor this year's fireworks show," said Susan Schraibman, Kinetic's president of Kentucky Operations. "This weekend is special for our community and our country, and we couldn't think of a better way to celebrate than right here with the Lexington Legends." Kinetic is a local fiber internet provider in the Lexington area known for their affordable rates, 99.9% reliability, and no annual contracts or data caps. Eligible customers switching to fiber internet plans can expect enhanced online experiences across gaming, streaming and working from home. Throughout their "All American Weekend," the Lexington Legends will have activities for the family and a full list can be found here. Kinetic is also proud to sponsor free Wi-Fi service throughout the 10-acre Gatton Park on the Town Branch, scheduled to open later this summer. Residents can find more information about eligibility for Kinetic Internet or services, by calling 859-255-0200 or visiting 99.9% Service Availability: As measured by Windstream from March 2023 to March 2024, Kinetic service reliability is calculated by dividing Available Customer Hours by Total Customer Hours, excluding planned maintenance, emergencies (like hurricanes, winter storms, floods), and other uncontrollable events. About Kinetic: Kinetic, a Windstream company, offers reliable fiber-based broadband to consumers and small to medium-sized businesses in 18 states. The company's quality-first approach connects customers to new opportunities and possibilities by delivering a full suite of advanced communications services backed by robust security and friendly customer success experts. Kinetic is focused on expanding its fiber network and bridging the digital divide to deliver modern solutions to customers in underserved areas. Additional information about Kinetic is available via our customer portal at or The company also offers managed cloud communications and security services to mid-to-large enterprises, government entities and educational institutions across the U.S. as well as customized wavelength and dark fiber solutions to carriers, content providers and hyperscalers in the U.S. and Canada. Windstream is privately held and headquartered in Little Rock, Ark. Category: Kinetic View source version on Contacts Media Contact:Victoria Carman Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
03-07-2025
- Forbes
Best Internet Providers For Gaming In 2025
AT&T's inclusion of unlimited data on every fiber plan is a major advantage, especially for power users and households with multiple devices online at once. There are no throttled speeds, soft caps or overage penalties to worry about—just consistent, high-speed internet across all tiers. From the 300 Mbps starter plan to the ultrafast 5 Gbps option, each delivers full access without restrictions, making AT&T a potential top-tier choice for gaming-heavy users who don't want to micromanage their bandwidth. Why We Like It What sets AT&T Fiber apart is the combination of symmetrical upload and download speeds and total data freedom. Unlike providers that tie unlimited data to higher-priced plans or add-on fees, AT&T includes it up front. For gamers, that means a smoother experience when uploading gameplay, streaming in high resolution or gaming across platforms. The network is also highly reliable in areas where fiber is available, which helps reduce latency and packet loss. What We Don't Like AT&T's fiber plans aren't as widely available as some competitors', often limited to major cities and suburban hubs. And while the service itself is competitively priced, new customers may be required to pay a $99 professional installation fee, depending on location. If fiber isn't offered in your area, AT&T's alternative copper-based plans are much slower and less suitable for gaming or high-bandwidth activities. Who It's Best For AT&T Fiber is ideal for gamers who want maximum speed, low latency and the freedom to download, stream and play without thinking twice about data caps. It could be a good choice for content creators, multiplayer enthusiasts and large households where multiple users may be online at once. If AT&T Fiber is in your area, it's one of the strongest options available.
