Federal Broadband Program Sees First Completion with Visionary Broadband
Federal Broadband Program Sees First Completion with Visionary Broadband
Visionary Broadband Becomes First to Complete NTIA-Funded Middle Mile Project
GILLETTE, Wyo. (June 4, 2025) — Visionary Broadband has achieved a national milestone, becoming the first broadband provider in the U.S. to complete a National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) Middle Mile Grant project. The project, located in Campbell County, marks a major step forward in closing the digital divide in rural America.
Backed by $1.26 million in federal funding and over $1 million in matching investments from Visionary, the project delivered critical infrastructure upgrades including 11.5 miles of new fiber construction, the installation of a new communications tower, upgrades to two additional towers and the deployment of five licensed microwave links and routers. These enhancements now provide high-capacity, reliable middle-mile connectivity across a stretch of rural northeast Wyoming where broadband access has historically lagged.
The completed infrastructure now supports more than 100 new fiber passings along Force Road, west of Gillette, and expands wireless coverage to an additional 30 to 40 homes in the Oriva Hills area. The project also creates a secondary, fiber-fed broadband route into the Town of Wright — an important addition that enhances network reliability and competitive service delivery to local businesses and residents.
This completed build also aligns with Visionary’s ongoing work under Wyoming’s Capital Projects Fund (CPF).
“This project exemplifies how public-private partnerships can deliver fast, effective broadband expansion,” said Brian Worthen, CEO of Visionary Broadband. “We’re proud to lead the nation in completing this work and look forward to continuing to serve rural communities with the reliable connectivity they deserve.”
Visionary’s rapid completion of the project demonstrates its readiness to execute quickly at scale and its commitment to rural broadband access, network resilience and infrastructure growth in the Mountain West.
For more information about Visionary Broadband and its broadband services, visit vcn.com.
About Visionary Broadband
Visionary Broadband was founded in 1994 in a rural community in Wyoming. It is a homegrown company that has developed technical abilities with a focus on reliability. Today, the rural internet provider serves five states and has a proven track record of connecting the most rural communities, bringing a commitment of efficiency, reliability, and affordability to its customers. To learn more, visit vcn.com.