Vast Broadband Vice President of Market Development Desi Stoops made a presentation to the City Council on Monday regarding the company’s plan to launch new cable and high speed internet service in Bartlesville, saying half the city could be online in as little two years .
During a Sept. 7 meeting the council voted to authorize a franchise agreement with Clarity Telecom LLC, a subsidiary of Vast Broadband, that will allow the company, operating now as Bluepeak, to offer cable and high speed internet services locally in exchange for five percent of the gross revenues from both the services and advertising. The agreement is similar to those with other companies holding a franchise agreement with the City of Bartlesville, including Sparklight, an existing cable and internet company operating in Bartlesville.
Stoops said the company, which currently offers services in South Dakota and portions of Western Minnesota, was purchased by GI Partners in February and is in the process of transitioning its name and brand to Bluepeak. He said Bluepeak anticipates spending in excess of $250 million in Oklahoma, offering services in Bartlesville and several other Oklahoma communities.
“We want to have a local presence and to be transparent,” he said. “We are excited to be a part of the community.”
He said the company aims to have services available for half of Bartlesville within two years and should have 90 percent online availability within three years.
“One gig will be the lowest speed we’ll offer,” he said. “We’ll offer two gig to residential customers and will offer commercial (services) as well.”
In responding to questions from the council, Stoops said the cost for Bluepeak services will be “extremely competitive.”
He said the first phase of the project involves the installation of 129 miles of aerial distribution fiber and 82 miles of underground fiber past 14,000 homes in Bartlesville. He said notices will be sent to residences and businesses prior to construction, first with a postcard and then individual notices and door tags one week prior to construction.