Kirtland City Council Considers New Fiber-Optic Internet Service
Kirtland City Council is reviewing a proposed contract with Chagrin Valley Gig (CVG) to bring a fiber-optic internet service to the city, potentially offering residents significantly faster internet speeds.
The proposed agreement would see CVG, operated by Ohio Gig, install a network offering a standard plan with minimum speeds of 1 gigabit per second, with cheaper options also available. City legislation highlights high-speed broadband as “a critical need” for Kirtland’s residents, citing the increased reliance on internet access for employment, education, and healthcare, particularly as demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ohio Gig currently serves communities across Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga counties and has over 5,800 subscribers and 700 miles of fiber lines in operation.
Founded by Kirtland-area resident Dett Hunter and currently led by his son, Drew Hunter, Ohio Gig emphasizes its commitment to serving rural and underserved communities often overlooked by larger telecommunications companies. The company plans to cover the costs of designing and building an underground network, working with the city to prioritize service areas and obtain necessary permissions, and aims to “substantially complete” the network within four-and-a-half years of starting ground work. Access to reliable, high-speed internet is increasingly vital for attracting new residents and businesses to communities like Kirtland.
The contract also includes provisions for discounted rates and free installation for the first two years, as well as free internet access for City Hall, the Kirtland Community Center, both fire stations, and three intersections for monitoring purposes. Council initially requested proposals for a new fiber internet service in March 2023, noting that many residents had limited broadband options. The contract is scheduled for its third reading and a potential vote at the next City Council meeting on October 20th at 7 p.m. at Kirtland City Hall.
Kirtland City Council is considering whether to approve a contract with an Ohio company to install a new internet service in the city.
As part of the proposed contract, Chagrin Valley Gig would install a fiber-optic internet service in the city in the coming years. The service would offer a standard plan with minimum upload and download speeds of 1 gigabit per second, while cheaper plans would be available with lower speeds.
The city legislation described high-speed broadband internet as a “critical need” that affects Kirtland’s vitality and quality of life.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has manifested the importance of high-speed broadband services for employment, education, consumerism, telemedicine and other resident needs to successfully function and compete in today’s society,” the legislation stated.
CVG is operated by Ohio Gig, a company which operates community internet services throughout the state. CVG will serve Lake, Geauga and Cuyahoga counties.
The proposed contract states that the company also offers a support center in Ohio.
A news release said that Ohio Gig is “dedicated to bringing reliable high-speed internet to the rural and underserved communities that major telecommunications companies have left behind.” It has more than 5,800 subscribers and more than 700 miles of internet lines in Ohio.
Ohio Gig was founded by Kirtland-area resident Dett Hunter and is led by his son, Drew Hunter, the release added.
The news release said that all of the company’s employees are local to their communities. The company also invests in local communities.
“Ohio Gig believes there’s no reason rural communities – the largest representation of the state of Ohio – should have the fewest options for high-speed internet,” the release said. “By serving residents, local businesses, government facilities, schools, hospitals and emergency services, Ohio Gig is taking future-proof underground fiber internet to every underserved rural community willing to partner with them.”
According to the contract proposal posted to the city website, CVG would cover the expenses of designing, engineering and operating an underground-first network, but would work in cooperation with the city. The city would need to approve the initial planning and final design before construction, and would work with CVG to identify priority areas of service.
The company would work to provide internet service to all houses and businesses within the city’s jurisdiction. The city and CVG would work to get permission to build the fiber network in areas served by homeowners associations, but the company would not be required to construct a network in areas where it did not receive a city permit.
CVG would work to “substantially complete” the network four-and-a-half years after it started ground work or a year had passed from the approval of the agreement, whichever would come first.
The company would offer discounted service rates and no installation costs for at least the first two years. It would also provide internet access to City Hall, the Kirtland Community Center and both city fire stations for internal city needs, along with three intersections for intersection monitoring purposes.
The contract also includes language that would allow the company to operate a point of presence center in the city, according to a discussion between company representatives and city officials at a Kirtland City Council Utilities Committee meeting earlier in October.
Council voted in March 2023 to request proposals from providers to construct a new fiber internet service in the city. It said at the time that most city residents received service from one of two companies, though only one company offered what the federal government considered true broadband connectivity.
Council’s next meeting is Oct. 20 at 7 p.m at Kirtland City Hall, 9301 Chillicothe Road. The contract is set for its third reading at that meeting, which is typically when council holds a vote.
