NEWPORT – A cable company has finished construction of Newport’s first fiber optic internet network.
Astound, which is headquartered in New Jersey, first came to Newport after acquiring CoastCom in 2016. After three years of construction, the $4.6 million project has laid 55 miles of fiber optic infrastructure from Agate Beach to South Beach in the south.
The construction required work both above and below ground and covers 5,000 homes and 900 businesses in Newport, including government buildings, schools, fire stations, libraries and clinics. Three hundred South Beach-area homes will also be able to access the internet which boasts speeds up to 5 gigabytes per second.
The company also recently completed 108 miles of fiber construction in Tillamook. Fiber optic internet was introduced to Waldport in 2017 by Wave Broadband, which is now part of Astound.
According to a press release from the company, the network is not susceptible to service disruptions tied to power outages so if residents have access to a generator or alternate power source, they can still access the internet.
Pricing ranges from $30-75 a month, depending on internet speeds. Area residents and businesses can sign up by calling 800-427-8686 or by visiting Astound’s website.
