Twin Lakes Proposal Would Expand Fiber Internet To Eastern Portion Of County

Monterey and surrounding areas could gain access to Twin Lakes internet services if a new company proposal gains funding.

General Manager and CEO Jonathan West said the company is focusing more on rural areas where it is costly to build, not necessarily within city limits.

“The reality is this grant really changes things,” West said. “It takes the entire eastern portion of the county, and basically says yes. We’re going to build that area to every single resident in that area that doesn’t have service available to them today.”

The $15 million project impacting some 2,400 homes named a finalist for state ARP broadband funding last week. West said he anticipates the grant to be awarded within the next 30 days.

“Once we hear from that state that we are a winner, that is our hope, then we’ll begin construction immediately upon receiving that contract,” West said.

West said a few sections on the northern and southern county lines are also included. West said Twin Lakes is currently installing fiber lines in Monterey, but the additional state funding would expand that effort.

“We’re already building fiber to serve a lot of different places in Putnam County, but it has to meet the business model. It has to be economical in order to do that,” West said. “There’s some restrictions. The most rural areas just don’t pencil out without some type of support. That’s the reason we submitted the application to the state and why we’re so excited about the potential of getting it. It really expands the area in which construction would take place.”

West said he believes the Twin Lakes proposal has made it this far since it focuses on unserved areas. West said over $1.4 billion worth of applications were submitted to the state to consider.