Broadband project to connect city facilities, expand service to residents, businesses, schools.
Wecom Fiber, in partnership with the City of Flagstaff, officially launched construction on a $5 million high-speed, multi-gigabit fiber network that will serve 34 municipal facilities, including City Hall, public libraries, recreation centers, fire stations and more. The project is funded through a $2 million grant from the city and $3 million in private investment from Wecom.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Becky Daggett said the announcement represents more than the start of a construction project. “It marks the beginning of a new era for Flagstaff. With the groundbreaking of this fiber broadband network, we are laying the foundation for a more connected city. This is an investment in innovation, and it is going to change the way that we serve our community.”
Mayor Daggett emphasized that the new fiber network will support vital public services such as traffic management and public safety systems, while also helping to bridge the digital divide.
“Fiber to the home means more than just fast internet; it means better access to education, to healthcare, to job opportunities. It means ensuring every family in our city has a fair shot at success in the digital age,” she said.
Beyond the municipal network, Wecom says it is investing approximately $40 million in private capital to expand fiber broadband service to virtually every home and business in Flagstaff, with full project completion expected within three years.
Wecom CEO Paul Fleming said his wife’s grandfather started the family business, Western Electronics Communications, now Wecom, in Mojave County in1956 to improve communications.
“This mission has been at the heart of our family for more than six decades,” he said. “Our goal is really very straightforward: Bring fast, affordable, reliable internet to every corner of Arizona. Where you live should not be the determining factor in whether you have fast, reliable fiber internet.”
Fleming said that Wecom is currently working to deliver fiber service to more than 120,000 households across Arizona, many of them in unserved or underserved areas. He added that Flagstaff’s leadership made the city a natural partner.
“It’s a privilege to be a partner with leaders like Mayor Daggett, the Flagstaff City Council, Coconino County and NAU,” he said. “They understand that improving broadband connectivity is critical for any thriving city such as Flagstaff.”
Greater Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Julie Pastrick said the fiber project will have a significant impact on the region’s economic vitality.
“We know how critical high-speed internet is to our quality of life and to a competitive region,” she said. “You cannot be competitive if you have a lot of your school kids without internet or businesses that have latency or inconsistent coverage. We are going to be an even bigger magnet for business.”
The new broadband infrastructure is expected to benefit residents as soon as this summer, when Wecom plans to activate service for its first customers.
Looking ahead, Fleming said Wecom’s ambitions extend beyond the city limits.
“If all goes well, we will be starting construction early next year on a fiber broadband network to bring the same high-speed internet access to all the residents throughout Coconino County,” he said. “Every police department, every fire department, every school, every business, every resident — you name it — we want to build it for them.” FBN
By Bonnie Stevens, FBN
Courtesy Photo: Community leaders and Wecom Fiber representatives break ground to mark the beginning of construction on a new high-speed broadband network that will connect 34 municipal facilities and expand fiber internet access citywide.
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