Rexburg hears update on Lightbridge fiber rollout; staff says 200 homes live and more than 1,000 requested service

Brock Walters, representing Lightbridge, told the City of Rexburg council the company has installed roughly 120,000 feet of main conduit across the city and is preparing final work orders for areas west of the railroad. "In the last 4 months ... we put in a 120,000 feet of main lines," Walters said, adding that the work sits in easements along roadways to support future drops to residences.

Walters said Lightbridge has connected about 200 homes to live service, with roughly 160 more either being worked on or provisioned. "It's like 204 or something live on the Internet," he said. He also said more than 1,000 residents have expressed interest in receiving fiber to their homes. Walters described the buildout as moving "basically from west to east across the city" and said some east-side neighborhoods are delayed until a fiber hub and several road bores are completed on Pioneer.

Council members and residents asked when individual homes would see service. Walters explained that service appears only after the company splices fiber and coordinates with the chosen internet service provider. On timing for a recent neighborhood, he said splicing would occur "over the next week or 2" and that affected streets would likely see service closer to May. He described the on-site work process — conduit, "blowing" fiber into the conduit, splicing and connecting the green distribution boxes and ONT equipment at each property — as the path to live service.

Walters highlighted customer demand and the open-access model Lightbridge uses. "49% of the customers ... are asking for a gig service, and 67% are gig plus," he said, noting such speeds are generally available only over fiber. He said multiple providers will be able to offer service over the network, which he argued promotes competition and lowers prices.

Mayor Jerry Merrill thanked Walters for the presentation and council members asked staff to keep residents informed about splicing and activation dates. The council did not take formal action on the presentation; staff and the provider will continue coordination about remaining work orders and neighborhood splicing schedules.