CITY OF CHICO BREAKS GROUND ON HIGH-SPEED FIBER OPTIC NETWORK CONSTRUCTION
CITY OF CHICO BREAKS GROUND ON HIGH-SPEED FIBER OPTIC NETWORK CONSTRUCTION
CHICO, CA –– The City of Chico is proud to celebrate the groundbreaking of North Valley Fiber, the city-owned municipal utility that marks a bold step toward a more connected future. This transformative initiative will deliver reliable, high-speed internet access to residents, businesses, and public agencies-bridging the digital divide, supporting economic growth, and ensuring Chico remains at the forefront of 21st-century connectivity.
City officials, project partners, and community leaders will gather on Monday, August 4 at 9:00 AM, on 16th Street near Chapman Elementary School, to commemorate the launch of construction on the state-of-the-art fiber optic network. This multi-phase project will deliver fast, reliable, and future-proof broadband services to the Chapman Elementary School neighborhood and surrounding areas, supporting economic growth, innovation, and essential public services.
“This groundbreaking represents a major step forward in ensuring our community has access to the high-speed connectivity necessary for the future,” said Josh Marquis, Deputy Director, Information Systems. “This investment in fiber optic technology will improve business competitiveness, enhance City services, and provide our residents with the digital infrastructure they deserve.”
Project Highlights:
- High-Speed Internet Access – The fiber network will deliver up to a ten gigabit (10G) internet to underserved areas, bridging the digital divide.
- Supporting Economic Growth – Businesses and entrepreneurs will benefit from improved broadband access, driving innovation and job creation.
- Enhancing Public Services – The fiber network will improve municipal services, emergency response, smart city initiatives, and infrastructure management.
- Future-Proofing Technology – The projects fiber optic backbone will support next-generation applications, including smart city solutions.
Construction is expected to take approximately 18 months, with the first customers being connected as early as October 1, 2025. The project is being developed in collaboration with Fibertel Inc., EntryPoint Networks, and Harter Management Group with funding provided by the Federal Funding Account (FFA) Grant, which was awarded through the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), with additional funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), as well as City funds.
The City of Chico invites residents and businesses to stay informed about project updates by visiting northvalleyfiber.com.
Located in Butte County, California, Chico is the cultural and economic center of the northern Sacramento Valley and the largest city north of Sacramento. Known as a college town, the home of California State University, Chico and for Bidwell Park, one of the largest urban parks in the United States. For more information, visit www.chicoca.gov. ###