Fiber optic Internet company planning $7 million investment in Dover
DOVER (WJER) (June 14, 2022) – City officials are working with a new fiber optic company that promises to bring a new source for cheaper, high-speed internet access to Dover.
Council Monday authorized Interim Mayor Shane Gunnoe to sign an agreement with Omni Fiber, a Cincinnati-based Internet service provider founded just this year.
The contract allows the company to install its fiber optic network on city-owned utility poles for a fee.
“In exchange for that authorization, they’re going to invest about $7 million into our community running fiber to individual homes as requested by those residents, offering higher speed Internet at a 25 to 50 percent savings over what they’re currently paying.”
Councilman Kevin Korns says he doesn’t yet see a downside to the arrangement.
“I see advantages,” he said. “Competition is good. Goodness knows we need competition in that field in the area because it’s kind of monopolized right now with just a couple of providers, and prices just keep going through the roof.”
He says a fiber optic network would give Dover an advantage in recruiting companies looking to move to the area.
Gunnoe says the work could start as soon as July and take about five months to get the whole city online.