The City of Bloomington, Ind., has inked an agreement with Meridiam for a $50 million high-speed internet investment.
Meridiam will build and operate an open-access-model fiber network that will reach at least 85 percent of Bloomington residences. The City of Bloomington will partner in the digital equity components with up to a $1 million investment.
For several years, Bloomington sought a partner to develop, build and operate a fiber-to-the-premises (FTTP) system featuring open architecture, which allows multiple service providers to use the same infrastructure. After extensive discussions and site visits, Meridiam and the city signed a letter of intent in August 2021.
Meridiam’s network will launch with an exclusive internet service provider (ISP) partner to ensure strong community engagement. After the exclusive period ends, the network will become a full open-access network, open to other ISPs, including local providers, for the lifetime of the network. M
