Fiber Optic Service Reaches Benton County

Some residents and businesses in Benton County will soon have access to high speed internet. Brown County-based internet service provider Mainstream Fiber Networks says it has completed the installation of a 100-mile fiber optic line in the county. The company says it can start connecting residents and businesses to the fiber optic cable, allowing customers to get broadband service.

The ISP was awarded a $3 million grant from Indiana’s Next Level Connections program. The funding required local matching funds, bringing the total project to $6.2 million.

“Benton County has worked tirelessly for years to bring quality high-speed broadband to our communities,” said Paul Jackson, Benton County economic development director. “Today marks a significant step forward in connecting our county and we will continue to build on our fiber infrastructure until every one of our residents has the opportunity for access.”

The project will connect more than 2,400 unserved households and more than 500 unserved businesses in Benton County.

“The pandemic highlighted just how important it is to connect the underserved and unserved areas in our community with quality broadband,” said Indiana State Representative Sharon Negele. “Thanks to this $6.2 million investment in Benton County, thousands of homes and hundreds of businesses will now have access to high-speed, affordable and reliable internet.”

No timeline was given as to when the company will make further expansions of fiber optics in the county.