Closing the digital gap in a state where only 38% of residents have fiber-optic service access*
Brightspeed, the nation’s third-largest fiber broadband builder and provider of the country’s fastest internet service, as determined by HighSpeedInternet.com’s Annual Service Provider Review 2025, today announced the completion of its fiber network build in the following Ohio counties: Crawford, Defiance, Erie, Holmes, Morgan and Putnam. In Van Wert County, the Brightspeed fiber build has entered the final phase of construction. Nearly 37,000 families and businesses in those counties now can access reliable, blazing-fast connectivity to work remotely, learn online, shop, connect with healthcare providers, and thrive in today’s digital world.
“At Brightspeed, we know connectivity is about more than just having service. It’s about opportunity,” said John Mizerak, director of government affairs at Brightspeed. “By replacing outdated copper with advanced fiber, we’re giving families, students, and small businesses in rural and underserved communities the fast, dependable internet they need to succeed. This is about ensuring no community is left behind in the digital age.”
Brightspeed fiber network deployment
Brightspeed is committed to closing the digital divide for households, remote workers, students, and small businesses across the Buckeye State. To date, more than 231,000 Ohio locations are fiber-enabled. When Brightspeed’s statewide buildout is complete, nearly 429,000 homes and businesses will have access to its multi-gig fiber internet service.
In addition to its private investment, Brightspeed was awarded $13.8 million in funding from the Ohio Residential Broadband Expansion Grant (ORBEG) program funded through the American Rescue Plan Act, the Broadband Expansion Authority and BroadbandOhio to extend its planned fiber network build by more than 8,300 across the company’s footprint in the state.
Connecting with the community door to door
As part of its community-first, customer-friendly approach, Brightspeed representatives are currently visiting neighborhoods across the following Ohio communities to share information about the availability of its fiber internet service: Amherst, Belle Center, Bucyrus, Cortland, Crooksville, Cygnet, Defiance, Eaton, Edison, Fredericktown, Glouster, Jacksonville, Jefferson, Johnstown, Leavittsburg, Lebanon, Lima, Lorain, Mansfield, McConnelsville, Millersburg, Morrow, Mount Gilead, Napoleon, Newton Falls, Orrville, Rittman, Russells Point, Sheffield Lake, Shelby, Swanton, Van Wert, Vermilion, Vienna, Warren, Wauseon, Woodville and Wooster.
Here’s what residents of those communities can expect:
- Who: Friendly, fully trained sales representatives wearing Brightspeed-branded apparel.
- What: Information about Brightspeed’s fiber internet service, plan options and benefits.
- Why: To help bridge the digital divide by expanding access to fast, affordable, and reliable internet in areas where quality options have historically been limited.
To learn more about Brightspeed’s services or check availability, visit www.brightspeed.com.
*According to BroadbandNow
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