Midco Completes Citywide Fiber Network in Jamestown, Boosts Connectivity

Midcontinent Communications completed a multi month construction project in Jamestown that brings high speed internet, television and phone service to every home and business in the city. The company reported the build installed roughly 108 miles of fiber and passed about 9,600 homes and businesses, a footprint that Midco marked with a ribbon cutting attended by local business leaders and the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce. Residents and businesses are now able to register for service through Midco’s signup channels.

The immediate effect is expanded access to modern broadband infrastructure across Jamestown. Fiber networks typically offer greater capacity and reliability than older copper based connections, which matters for telework, remote learning, streaming and cloud based business operations. For a city that serves as the economic center of Stutsman County, the new network changes the baseline for what local firms and institutions can expect from connectivity.

Local officials praised the private investment and highlighted partnerships Midco has developed with area organizations for community events and storm recovery efforts. That history suggests the rollout will extend beyond consumer internet service into collaborative projects that support resilience and civic activity. A fiber backbone also complements emergency response capabilities, allowing faster coordination and communication during severe weather events that periodically affect the region.

From a market perspective, the arrival of fiber can influence competition and prices, though those outcomes depend on how many households adopt service and whether other providers expand offerings in response. The project’s scale, passing about 9,600 addresses, creates a large potential customer base that could support additional services and business models, including business class connections for manufacturers, health care providers and ag tech firms that rely on low latency links for data transfer.

Policy implications are practical and immediate. Local leaders will need to monitor adoption patterns to ensure the benefits reach low income households and small businesses. Digital inclusion programs, targeted outreach and partnerships with schools and health centers can help convert infrastructure into measurable economic gains. The partnerships already noted between Midco and community organizations provide a starting point for such efforts.

In the longer term, citywide fiber positions Jamestown to compete for remote workers and data intensive businesses that prioritize robust connectivity. The upgrade is a foundational investment in the local economy, one that can increase productivity, support new services and strengthen the community’s ability to respond to emergencies. As residents begin signing up, local officials and business leaders will be watching subscription and usage trends to quantify the economic impact of the network.