CHICO, Calif. — The City of Chico has officially commenced construction on North Valley Fiber, a city-owned municipal utility aimed at providing high-speed internet access to residents, businesses and public agencies. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Monday, August 4, near Chapman Elementary School, marking a significant step toward bridging the digital divide and fostering economic growth.
“Thanks to those who have worked so hard to move this forward, we literally are laying groundwork for Chico’s future in connectivity, empowering and thriving digital and that’s directly certain it’s definitely something to celebrate today,” Mayor Kacey Reynolds said.
The multi-phase project promises to deliver up to ten gigabit (10G) internet to underserved areas, supporting economic growth and innovation. The fiber network is expected to enhance municipal services, emergency response, and smart city initiatives, while also future-proofing technology for next-generation applications.
“It will allow us to offer service at a much lower rate than the current encumbers, incumbents, and will allow us to kind of control that cost and keep it down and directly increase competition in this area,” Josh Marquis said. Marquis is a Deputy Director for The North Valley Fiber Project.
Construction is anticipated to take approximately 18 months, with the first customers expected to be connected by October 1, 2025. President of FiberTel, Daniel Gray, said the project should be fully completed by April 2026.
The project is a collaborative effort with Fibertel Inc., EntryPoint Networks, and Harter Management Group, funded by the Federal Funding Account Grant through the California Public Utilities Commission, the American Rescue Plan Act, and City funds.
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